BIHIMA has released Q4 data on hearing technology market figures for 2025, revealing continued overall growth across the year with some variation across market sectors.
- Public (NHS) hearing instrument sales increased by 6.5% for 2025 (1,886,835) compared to 2024 (1,771,579).
- Private hearing instrument sales for the year (520,818) went up by 10% from 2024 (473,961).
- Q4 hearing instrument data increased in public sales against Q3, but with a decrease in sales for private practitioners and the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
BIHIMA – the British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association – has released the latest Q4 2025 data on hearing instrument usage in the UK and ROI, as well as overall 2025 market figures.
The year ended with fluctuations across the sector, with UK private sales decreasing 5% from 136,550 in Q3 to 129,371 in Q4, and ROI sales declining by 13% from 29,263 in Q3 to 25,506 in Q4. UK public sales (NHS) rose by 15%, from 438,765 in Q3 to 503,462 in Q4.
However, the full-year results for 2025 show meaningful growth when placed in context with 2024 figures. Building on last year’s increase where the total market data for 2024 saw overall increases compared to 2023 sales levels – the 2025 totals suggest continuing demand, with market sales amounting to 2,407,653: a 7% increase from 2024.
Breaking the figures down, UK public sector sales reached 1,886,835 units in 2025 (which includes 783,999 dispensed by independent retailers carrying out NHS contracts), up 6.5% on 2024 totals for NHS and related public provision.
Private UK sales also held firm through 2025, culminating in 520,818 unit sales for the year.
Although Q4 showed a modest dip from Q3, the total annual private volume remains 10% above 2024 annual private sales, capturing sustained consumer engagement.
Sales of rechargeable products have remained static for public sales in Q4, with a small drop in private sales in the same period, however the percentage of all private product sales remains at over 91%. We’ve also seen another increase for the ROI, where over 76% of all hearing instrument sales are now rechargeable.
BIHIMA Chairman Paul Surridge said: “These results show continued momentum in hearing instrument acquisition across the UK and ROI. The levels of demand for hearing care are well documented, and while quarterly shifts in the data reflect normal market dynamics, the annual growth suggests increasing access and prioritisation of hearing care.”
When all the data is considered together, the full-year picture for 2025 illustrates some quarterly fluctuations but a continued upward trajectory in overall hearing instrument acquisition across the UK and Ireland.
Paul continued, “We look forward to reflecting on hearing instrument data in the year ahead, which will continue to provide vital insights for clinicians, policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to understand how service access, technology advancements and consumer behaviour shape the hearing instrument market.”
