Psychology

2024: The Russian market for psychological services showed record growth and reached ₽49,7 billion

The volume of the Russian market for psychological services reached ₽49,7 billion in 2024, having increased by more than 2.3 times compared to the level of 2020, when the figure was ₽21,9 billion. This is stated in a study by the analytical company Gidmarket, published at the end of March 2025. According to calculations, the average annual growth rate, taking into account inflation, amounted to 12.6%.

According to RBC, the consumption of psychological services per capita increased from ₽150 to ₽340, which reflects the growing awareness of citizens in matters of psychological well-being. Such dynamics indicate the transformation of the market from a highly specialized sphere into a mass service.

The study revealed several key stages in the development of the psychological services market in Russia. In 2020, the market volume was ₽21,9 billion with an increase of 20.2% compared to the previous 2019. In 2021, the figure increased to ₽24,3 billion with a more modest increase of 10.6%. A noticeable acceleration in growth occurred in 2022, when the market volume reached ₽30,8 billion with an increase of 26.8%.

The most significant jump was observed in 2023 - the market volume grew by 28.3% and amounted to ₽39,5 billion. In 2024, the growth trend continued, although the pace slowed down somewhat - the increase was 26%, and the total market volume reached a record ₽49,7 billion.

The main drivers of the development of the psychological services market were crisis periods in the life of the country. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 led to an increase in anxiety disorders by 35% and caused the first massive transition of psychological services to the online format. In one year, the share of remote consultations increased by 25%.

The events of 2022-2024 triggered a new round of demand, especially for PTSD therapy and family counseling. The number of such requests increased 1.8 times during the specified period.

In parallel with quantitative changes, there was a qualitative transformation of public consciousness. According to VTsIOM, the share of Russians who consider the appeal to a psychologist "shameful" decreased from 47% in 2020 to 22% in 2024.^[1]

2023: The increase in the number of psychologists in Russia over 4 years by 18% to 57.7 thousand.

By the end of 2023, the number of psychological counseling specialists in Russia reached 57.7 thousand. For comparison, in 2019, their number was estimated at 48.8 thousand. Thus, for four years, an increase of about 18% was recorded. Such dynamics indicate an increase in the demand for psychological services in the country, as reported in the BusinesStat review, published on July 10, 2024.

The report said the most common form of psychologist service was counselling. If the specialist has any method of therapy, he can carry out long-term work in the form of psychotherapy (individual or group). The published data take into account the provision of consultations in remote and face-to-face formats.

Analysts emphasize that the number of psychologists in the Russian Federation is growing steadily. One of the factors is the development of Internet services for the selection of psychologists and online platforms for psychological counseling, such as Live, I Understand, Alter, Sigmund Online, Yutok. At the same time, the increase in demand for the services of specialists in this area may be associated with various stress factors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the difficult macroeconomic situation, the geopolitical situation, high inflation, etc.

Gradually, more and more people made a choice in favor of this profession [psychologist], the authors of the report point out.

In 2020, the number of psychological counseling specialists in Russia reached 50.5 thousand, an increase of 3.5% compared to the previous year. In 2021, an increase of another 4.4% was recorded with a final result of 52.8 thousand, and in 2022 the increase was 4.8% - up to 55.3 thousand. At the end of 2023, an increase in the number of specialists by 4.3% was noted^[2]

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