ICF + PwC
ICF and PwC have collaborated for nearly 20 years to produce the ICF Global Coaching Study research, with periodic updates released every few years.
PwC’s extensive experience in market research and analysis allows for a thorough examination of coaching industry trends, challenges, and opportunities. This comprehensive approach provides a more nuanced understanding of the coaching landscape.
The research is always commissioned by ICF and conducted by PwC, ensuring no implied bias occurs during this study. This allows ICF to accurately and transparently disseminate the data to our members, and offer unparalleled value to our coaching community with the utmost integrity.
Industry Growth and Optimism
The 2023 ICF Global Coaching Study reveals that coach practitioners are optimistic about the future of coaching. The industry experienced robust growth in both the number of coach practitioners worldwide and in annual revenue, indicating that the coaching industry has emerged stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering impacts.
This study was designed to engage with as many coach practitioners as possible to provide an up-to-date picture of the coaching profession and empower coaches to embrace the opportunities and meet the challenges ahead. Whether you’re a coach, a potential client, or simply interested in the industry, this report is a valuable resource.
Key Findings
Who would have thought? Even in the midst of a global crisis, the coaching industry didn’t just survive — it thrived! The 2023 ICF Global Coaching Study reveals just how resilient and adaptable the industry truly is. Despite the unpredictability brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, coaching saw unprecedented growth. Here are some highlights:
- A new industry milestone: There are an estimated 109,200 coach practitioners worldwide, breaking the 100,000 mark for the first time ever. And the number is growing at an accelerated rate — up 54% between 2019-2022 alone.
- Growth in the number of coaches has also led to an increase in total annual revenue, which this report estimates to be at $4.564 billion (USD), up an astounding 60% since 2019.
- Almost half of all coach practitioners (48%) are Generation X, and Millennials account for one in 10 globally, from 21% in Eastern Europe to 8% in North America and 7% in Oceania.
- There was a 15% jump from 2015 in the number of female coach practitioners globally (72%), possibly due to challenges and adaptations needing to be made during the pandemic. The majority of coaching clients (58%) are also female.
To uncover more insights, visit our Online Store to get the 2023 report.
ICF Member Price: $95 USD
Non-Member Price: $295 USD
Please Note: Once you have completed the Shopping Cart transaction, you can access the report by clicking the “Download” button to the left of the report title. You may also access it anytime via the "My Downloads" page.
Industry Growth and Optimism Executive Summary
Pressed for time? Get the Executive Summary of the 2023 ICF Global Coaching Study. This summary shares key data, insights, and key takeaways, all in a quick, scannable format. It’s everything you need to make smart decisions on the go — no deep dive required!
100 Club Slide Deck
As an added bonus, ICF offers our “100 Club” slide decks, which include responses and key findings from countries, territories, states, provinces, and other locations where more than 100 valid survey responses were submitted.
These slide decks create a quick digest of robust data from areas with the largest sample sizes, and are perfect to use for your own presentations to show the growth of the profession in a comprehensible way.
Methodology
The 2023 study survey totaled 14,591 responses from 157 countries, and is large and global in scale. More than 100 survey returns were received from 27 countries across all major world regions, with 90% of the responses coming from coach practitioners.
How to Use the Study
Feeling a bit daunted by the mountain of data in this report? Don’t sweat it — turn that data into your personal growth toolkit! With a few clever strategies, you’re not only enhancing your own career, but you are also contributing to the ongoing professionalization of the coaching industry.
Here’s how to make it happen:
Show Off Your Strengths: The report’s insights reveal a surge in coaching demand. Shine a spotlight on what makes you unique and showcase your special skills. Your unique value proposition can help you stand out in a bustling marketplace.
Find Your Niche and Own It: The data’s got clues on emerging trends. Dive into these niches and sharpen your expertise where it’s needed most. Being a go-to expert in a hot new area can set you apart from the crowd.
Upgrade Your Toolbox: Use the latest trends in this data to identify new tools and techniques to tackle current client challenges. Keep your practice fresh and exciting by integrating innovative approaches that address today’s needs.
Past ICF Global Coaching Studies
Seeing how the profession has grown over the years adds value to your cumulative knowledge of industry trends. Past data can quickly lead to future forecasting, and you can adapt as the industry changes if you know the history. Make sure to check out our past installments of the ICF Global Coaching Study for the trends that shaped our profession.
2020 ICF Global Coaching Study
The 2020 ICF Global Coaching Study provides important benchmarking data as the last coaching industry research conducted entirely before the outbreak of COVID-19.
Key Findings:
- Estimated global total revenue at $2.8 billion USD, an increase of 21% from 2015.
- Nearly all coach practitioners (99%) report that they have completed some coach-specific training, and 93% of managers/leaders using coaching skills have received some coach-specific training.
- The importance of credentials and certifications is on the rise. Almost three in four coach practitioners (74%) said they currently hold a credential or certification from a professional coaching organization. More managers/leaders using coaching skills agree that clients expect their coaches to be certified/credentialed. The proportion of respondents who strongly agree rose from 37% in 2015 to 55% in 2019.
- The typical coaching client is between 35 and 44 years old (37%).
ICF Member Price: $25 USD
Non-Member Price: $125 USD
Download the Executive Summary (PDF) | Access the Final Report
2016 ICF Global Coaching Study
For the first time, the 2016 study includes data specific to individuals who self-identify as managers and leaders who use coaching skills within their organizations.
Key Findings:
- Estimated that there are 53,300 coach practitioners worldwide and 10,900 managers/leaders using coaching skills.
- Globally, the majority of clients are sponsored (paid for by a third party like an employer) at 53%.
- 51% of respondents report being able to affect social change in a positive way.
Download the Executive Summary (PDF)
2012 ICF Global Coaching Study
Despite a global economic downturn, the coaching industry continued to grow.
Key Findings:
- Coaches said they had experienced an increase in clients (59%) and an increase in the number of their coaching sessions (49%).
- Approximately 76% of the estimated global total of professional coaches represent the high-income regions of North America, Western Europe, and Oceania, although these three regions only make up 11% share of the global population.
- The majority of respondents view their prospects over the next 12 months in a positive light and are looking ahead with confidence.
Download the Executive Summary
2007 ICF Global Coaching Study
This study was one of the largest pieces of research undertaken at the time. Not only does the study provide data on key demographic characteristics of the industry, but it also provides a pioneering analysis of global coaching revenues.
Key Findings:
- The estimated global coaching revenue was $1.5 billion USD, with 30,000 professional coaches worldwide.
- Approximately 68% of respondents indicated that they were female and the biggest concentration of all respondents being between 46 and 55 years (38.8%). Closely mirroring the known demographics of the coach, the majority of coaching clients were also female (56.5%) and were predominantly between 38 and 45 years (35%).
- More than half of the survey respondents (51.8%) agreed that their clients are increasingly expecting them to be credentialed.
