Urinary Catheter Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis - Global - 2025-2031 - Includes: Intermittent Catheter Market, Foley Catheter Market, and External Catheter Market
Description
Global Urinary Catheter Market Report, 2025 Edition
Executive Summary
The global urinary catheter market was valued at over 3.7 billion dollars in 2024. It is expected to grow at a 2.9 percent CAGR to reach over 4.5 billion dollars by 2031. Urinary catheters remain an essential tool in the management of bladder emptying dysfunction, urinary retention, post-operative drainage and long-term continence care across hospitals, ambulatory facilities, long-term care centers and homecare environments.
This report covers the complete global market for intermittent catheters, Foley catheters and external catheters. It quantifies units sold, average selling prices, market values, growth rates and competitive shares. It also includes analysis of procedure volumes, market drivers and limiters, pricing trends, and product portfolios. Historical data is provided for 2021 through 2024, with forecasts extending to 2031.
A major shift toward in-home catheterization continues to shape the global market. Intermittent catheter use is rising faster than Foley catheter use in several regions. Because homecare requires a greater number of catheters per patient, this shift increases overall unit volumes and drives total market growth. These changes also influence competitive positioning, purchasing models and the emergence of antimicrobial products aimed at reducing catheter-associated infections.
The report evaluates the long-term trajectory of each catheter segment, the impact of regulatory guidelines, and the competitive landscape across global regions.
Market Overview
Urinary catheters are used for temporary or long-term bladder drainage, management of urinary incontinence, relief of urinary retention and post-surgical recovery. They are commonly used across a wide range of care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers and homecare environments.
The market is divided into three primary segments: intermittent catheters, Foley catheters and external catheters. Intermittent catheters are increasingly adopted for bladder-emptying dysfunction, especially as patients gain access to homecare programs and self-catheterization training. Foley catheters remain important for acute care and post-surgical applications, while external catheters provide an alternative for male patients where indwelling catheterization is not recommended.
The most significant trend influencing the global urinary catheter market is the systematic shift from hospital-based catheterization to home-based self-catheterization. Intermittent catheters are increasingly preferred because they reduce the risk of long-term indwelling catheter complications, such as urinary tract infections or bladder inflammation. In countries where homecare programs are well established, intermittent catheters are growing at rates as high as five to six percent annually.
Hospitals and clinics continue to use a mix of catheter types based on condition severity, patient mobility, infection risk and procedure type. Post-operative care frequently requires Foley catheterization, but guidelines increasingly recommend removing Foley catheters as soon as possible after surgery to reduce infection risk. As a result, hospitals maintain steady demand for Foley catheter products but experience limited market growth relative to homecare-driven intermittent catheter demand.
The global market also reflects increasing interest in antimicrobial and antiseptic-coated catheters. These products are designed to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), especially in regions where reimbursement penalties discourage hospital-acquired infections. As reimbursement models evolve, antimicrobial catheters gain incremental market share and support sustained premium pricing.
Commoditization remains a challenge for many catheter manufacturers. Catheters are relatively homogeneous products, which increases price competition across suppliers. As low-cost competitors expand, premium companies face pressure to differentiate through coatings, comfort features, insertion aids, customer support programs and bundled purchasing arrangements.
Overall, the urinary catheter market reflects a balance of strong clinical need, rising homecare use, shifting guidelines, price pressure and growing interest in infection-prevention products.
Market Drivers
Increase in Incidence of BPH
Benign prostate hyperplasia is a highly prevalent condition among aging men. Many BPH treatment procedures require post-operative catheterization because patients often experience difficulty urinating immediately after intervention. As BPH procedure volumes increase, the demand for catheters rises accordingly.
Europe shows notable growth in BPH treatment procedures, contributing directly to catheter demand. As demographic trends continue to expand the population of older adults, BPH management is expected to remain a major driver of the urinary catheter market.
Increase in Homecare Market
A clear shift toward home-based catheterization is one of the strongest drivers of global market growth. Intermittent catheters are preferred in homecare because they can be self-administered, cause fewer long-term complications and reduce dependence on long-term indwelling catheters.
In some countries, intermittent catheter usage in homecare environments is growing at five to six percent annually. Because intermittent catheter users require multiple catheters each day, unit volumes rise significantly. Hospital catheter use remains relatively flat, making homecare the primary growth engine across international markets.
Manufacturers that offer strong homecare support programs, user-friendly designs and educational resources are positioned to benefit most from this trend.
Responsibility for Infection and Antimicrobial Products
Hospitals increasingly face financial consequences when catheter-related infections occur during hospitalization. As reimbursement structures penalize CAUTIs, clinicians and purchasing departments are more likely to consider antimicrobial catheters.
Antimicrobial coatings carry a price premium but can help reduce infection risk when other prevention strategies are insufficient. These products are expected to gain market share over the forecast period as facilities align purchasing decisions with infection-control objectives.
Antimicrobial catheters are available in multiple formats, including silver alloy-coated Foley catheters and antiseptic-impregnated intermittent catheters. As infection-prevention standards become stricter in developed regions, adoption increases accordingly.
Market Limiters
Commoditization of Catheter Products
Catheters are becoming increasingly homogeneous, especially in high-volume categories such as intermittent and Foley catheters. Commoditization reduces the ability of manufacturers to maintain premium pricing. Low-cost producers benefit from price competition, but specialty products designed for comfort or infection prevention struggle to maintain higher prices.
This trend suppresses average selling prices across regions and reduces overall market value. Even as unit sales increase, revenue growth remains constrained by price pressure.
Cost-Reducing Purchasing Models
Group purchasing organizations have significant influence in the healthcare sector. GPOs negotiate lower prices for hospitals and long-term care facilities, which drives down prices for premium catheter products. Manufacturers often offer substantial discounts to gain access to high-volume contracts, especially in the homecare market.
In addition, purchasing models aimed at cost containment are emerging in Europe. In the Netherlands, for example, intermittent catheters have daily cost limits. If patients exceed the daily allowance, they must pay out of pocket. This model has reduced ASPs in the Netherlands significantly and may influence other regions considering similar policies.
Lower prices create challenges for manufacturers attempting to maintain margins and support product development.
CDC Recommendations and Shifts in Clinical Practice
CDC guidelines recommend catheterization only when necessary. These guidelines encourage reduced use of indwelling catheters and favor external or intermittent catheters for many patient groups.
The recommendations state that:
External catheters should be used for incontinent male patients when appropriate.
Intermittent catheterization is preferred for bladder emptying dysfunction.
Catheters should be removed as soon as clinically possible after surgery.
If infection rates do not improve, antimicrobial catheters should be considered.
While these guidelines improve patient safety, they reduce total catheter usage in certain settings. The shift toward reducing indwelling catheter use restricts growth in the Foley catheter market and reduces overall utilization in hospitals.
Market Coverage and Data Scope
Quantitative Coverage
Market size
Market shares
Market forecasts
Growth rates
Units sold
Average selling prices
Qualitative Coverage
Growth trends
Market limiters
Competitive analysis and SWOT
Mergers and acquisitions
Company profiles and product portfolios
FDA recalls and regulatory updates
Disruptive technologies
Disease overviews
Time Frame
Historical data from 2021 to 2024
Base year 2024
Forecasts to 2031
Data Sources
Primary interviews with urologists, procurement departments and industry leaders
Government physician and hospital datasets
Regulatory updates
Hospital private data
Import and export statistics
iData internal databases
Markets Covered and Segmentation
Intermittent Catheter Market
Includes single-use intermittent catheters in hydrophilic, uncoated and specialty formats.
Foley Catheter Market
Includes indwelling catheters in silicone, silicone elastomer-coated, antimicrobial-coated and uncoated varieties.
External Catheter Market
Includes male and female external catheter devices designed to avoid indwelling placement.
Competitive Analysis
Coloplast
Coloplast was the market leader in the global urinary catheter market in 2024. The company’s product offerings include Self-Cath and SpeediCath intermittent catheters, as well as the Conveen MEC product line. Coloplast’s broad range of catheter solutions enables hospitals to negotiate bundled contracts across multiple product categories.
Coloplast is expected to maintain its leadership position because of strong demand for intermittent catheters and its extensive distribution network in the homecare market.
Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson was the second-leading competitor in 2024. BD offers intermittent, Foley and external catheters, including BARDEX Infection Control, Lubri-Sil I.C., BARDEX Lubricath, Bacti-Guard silver-alloy coated catheters and several uncoated silicone and elastomer-coated Foley products.
BD’s diversified portfolio allows it to serve a wide range of clinical applications and gain share across both hospital and homecare environments.
Wellspect Healthcare
Wellspect Healthcare was the third-leading competitor and participates exclusively in the intermittent catheter market. The company offers the LoFric line, which includes hydrophilic coated catheters designed to reduce friction during insertion and improve patient comfort.
Wellspect’s focus on intermittent catheters allows it to target high-growth segments driven by homecare adoption.
Technology and Practice Trends
Technology trends in urinary catheters continue to focus on comfort, infection reduction and ease of use. Major developments include:
Wider adoption of hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters designed for smooth insertion and minimal irritation
Growth in antimicrobial-coated catheters in response to CAUTI reduction mandates
Increased use of compact catheters that improve portability and discretion for home users
Continued shift toward single-use intermittent catheters as standard of care
Improved connector and drainage bag designs that reduce contamination risk
Greater integration of patient education and digital support programs to improve adherence and proper catheter usage
These trends support improved patient experience and align with global infection-prevention initiatives.
Geography
This report provides global coverage across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Why This Report
Which catheter segment is expected to grow fastest and why
How homecare trends are reshaping the global urinary catheter market
What role antimicrobial catheters will play in the future of urinary infection management
How price competition and GPO contracting will influence ASPs
How CDC and international guidelines are affecting catheter utilization patterns
Which competitors are gaining or losing share and what drives their positioning
How catheter designs are evolving to improve patient comfort and clinical efficiency
This report provides quantitative modeling, competitive analysis and long-term forecasting to support strategic planning across product development, marketing, pricing and sales.
About iData Research
iData Research is a premium market intelligence firm headquartered in Canada with offices across North America and Europe.
Over the last 20 years, the company has specialized in device-level sizing, procedure models, pricing trends, and competitive share across MedTech.
Since 2005, iData has supported global OEMs, mid-market innovators, and investors with triangulated data based on units and ASPs, with country-level forecasts and analyst access across Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and APAC.
Reports are available with flexible licensing to fit commercial, strategy, and investment workflows.
Executive Summary
The global urinary catheter market was valued at over 3.7 billion dollars in 2024. It is expected to grow at a 2.9 percent CAGR to reach over 4.5 billion dollars by 2031. Urinary catheters remain an essential tool in the management of bladder emptying dysfunction, urinary retention, post-operative drainage and long-term continence care across hospitals, ambulatory facilities, long-term care centers and homecare environments.
This report covers the complete global market for intermittent catheters, Foley catheters and external catheters. It quantifies units sold, average selling prices, market values, growth rates and competitive shares. It also includes analysis of procedure volumes, market drivers and limiters, pricing trends, and product portfolios. Historical data is provided for 2021 through 2024, with forecasts extending to 2031.
A major shift toward in-home catheterization continues to shape the global market. Intermittent catheter use is rising faster than Foley catheter use in several regions. Because homecare requires a greater number of catheters per patient, this shift increases overall unit volumes and drives total market growth. These changes also influence competitive positioning, purchasing models and the emergence of antimicrobial products aimed at reducing catheter-associated infections.
The report evaluates the long-term trajectory of each catheter segment, the impact of regulatory guidelines, and the competitive landscape across global regions.
Market Overview
Urinary catheters are used for temporary or long-term bladder drainage, management of urinary incontinence, relief of urinary retention and post-surgical recovery. They are commonly used across a wide range of care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers and homecare environments.
The market is divided into three primary segments: intermittent catheters, Foley catheters and external catheters. Intermittent catheters are increasingly adopted for bladder-emptying dysfunction, especially as patients gain access to homecare programs and self-catheterization training. Foley catheters remain important for acute care and post-surgical applications, while external catheters provide an alternative for male patients where indwelling catheterization is not recommended.
The most significant trend influencing the global urinary catheter market is the systematic shift from hospital-based catheterization to home-based self-catheterization. Intermittent catheters are increasingly preferred because they reduce the risk of long-term indwelling catheter complications, such as urinary tract infections or bladder inflammation. In countries where homecare programs are well established, intermittent catheters are growing at rates as high as five to six percent annually.
Hospitals and clinics continue to use a mix of catheter types based on condition severity, patient mobility, infection risk and procedure type. Post-operative care frequently requires Foley catheterization, but guidelines increasingly recommend removing Foley catheters as soon as possible after surgery to reduce infection risk. As a result, hospitals maintain steady demand for Foley catheter products but experience limited market growth relative to homecare-driven intermittent catheter demand.
The global market also reflects increasing interest in antimicrobial and antiseptic-coated catheters. These products are designed to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), especially in regions where reimbursement penalties discourage hospital-acquired infections. As reimbursement models evolve, antimicrobial catheters gain incremental market share and support sustained premium pricing.
Commoditization remains a challenge for many catheter manufacturers. Catheters are relatively homogeneous products, which increases price competition across suppliers. As low-cost competitors expand, premium companies face pressure to differentiate through coatings, comfort features, insertion aids, customer support programs and bundled purchasing arrangements.
Overall, the urinary catheter market reflects a balance of strong clinical need, rising homecare use, shifting guidelines, price pressure and growing interest in infection-prevention products.
Market Drivers
Increase in Incidence of BPH
Benign prostate hyperplasia is a highly prevalent condition among aging men. Many BPH treatment procedures require post-operative catheterization because patients often experience difficulty urinating immediately after intervention. As BPH procedure volumes increase, the demand for catheters rises accordingly.
Europe shows notable growth in BPH treatment procedures, contributing directly to catheter demand. As demographic trends continue to expand the population of older adults, BPH management is expected to remain a major driver of the urinary catheter market.
Increase in Homecare Market
A clear shift toward home-based catheterization is one of the strongest drivers of global market growth. Intermittent catheters are preferred in homecare because they can be self-administered, cause fewer long-term complications and reduce dependence on long-term indwelling catheters.
In some countries, intermittent catheter usage in homecare environments is growing at five to six percent annually. Because intermittent catheter users require multiple catheters each day, unit volumes rise significantly. Hospital catheter use remains relatively flat, making homecare the primary growth engine across international markets.
Manufacturers that offer strong homecare support programs, user-friendly designs and educational resources are positioned to benefit most from this trend.
Responsibility for Infection and Antimicrobial Products
Hospitals increasingly face financial consequences when catheter-related infections occur during hospitalization. As reimbursement structures penalize CAUTIs, clinicians and purchasing departments are more likely to consider antimicrobial catheters.
Antimicrobial coatings carry a price premium but can help reduce infection risk when other prevention strategies are insufficient. These products are expected to gain market share over the forecast period as facilities align purchasing decisions with infection-control objectives.
Antimicrobial catheters are available in multiple formats, including silver alloy-coated Foley catheters and antiseptic-impregnated intermittent catheters. As infection-prevention standards become stricter in developed regions, adoption increases accordingly.
Market Limiters
Commoditization of Catheter Products
Catheters are becoming increasingly homogeneous, especially in high-volume categories such as intermittent and Foley catheters. Commoditization reduces the ability of manufacturers to maintain premium pricing. Low-cost producers benefit from price competition, but specialty products designed for comfort or infection prevention struggle to maintain higher prices.
This trend suppresses average selling prices across regions and reduces overall market value. Even as unit sales increase, revenue growth remains constrained by price pressure.
Cost-Reducing Purchasing Models
Group purchasing organizations have significant influence in the healthcare sector. GPOs negotiate lower prices for hospitals and long-term care facilities, which drives down prices for premium catheter products. Manufacturers often offer substantial discounts to gain access to high-volume contracts, especially in the homecare market.
In addition, purchasing models aimed at cost containment are emerging in Europe. In the Netherlands, for example, intermittent catheters have daily cost limits. If patients exceed the daily allowance, they must pay out of pocket. This model has reduced ASPs in the Netherlands significantly and may influence other regions considering similar policies.
Lower prices create challenges for manufacturers attempting to maintain margins and support product development.
CDC Recommendations and Shifts in Clinical Practice
CDC guidelines recommend catheterization only when necessary. These guidelines encourage reduced use of indwelling catheters and favor external or intermittent catheters for many patient groups.
The recommendations state that:
External catheters should be used for incontinent male patients when appropriate.
Intermittent catheterization is preferred for bladder emptying dysfunction.
Catheters should be removed as soon as clinically possible after surgery.
If infection rates do not improve, antimicrobial catheters should be considered.
While these guidelines improve patient safety, they reduce total catheter usage in certain settings. The shift toward reducing indwelling catheter use restricts growth in the Foley catheter market and reduces overall utilization in hospitals.
Market Coverage and Data Scope
Quantitative Coverage
Market size
Market shares
Market forecasts
Growth rates
Units sold
Average selling prices
Qualitative Coverage
Growth trends
Market limiters
Competitive analysis and SWOT
Mergers and acquisitions
Company profiles and product portfolios
FDA recalls and regulatory updates
Disruptive technologies
Disease overviews
Time Frame
Historical data from 2021 to 2024
Base year 2024
Forecasts to 2031
Data Sources
Primary interviews with urologists, procurement departments and industry leaders
Government physician and hospital datasets
Regulatory updates
Hospital private data
Import and export statistics
iData internal databases
Markets Covered and Segmentation
Intermittent Catheter Market
Includes single-use intermittent catheters in hydrophilic, uncoated and specialty formats.
Foley Catheter Market
Includes indwelling catheters in silicone, silicone elastomer-coated, antimicrobial-coated and uncoated varieties.
External Catheter Market
Includes male and female external catheter devices designed to avoid indwelling placement.
Competitive Analysis
Coloplast
Coloplast was the market leader in the global urinary catheter market in 2024. The company’s product offerings include Self-Cath and SpeediCath intermittent catheters, as well as the Conveen MEC product line. Coloplast’s broad range of catheter solutions enables hospitals to negotiate bundled contracts across multiple product categories.
Coloplast is expected to maintain its leadership position because of strong demand for intermittent catheters and its extensive distribution network in the homecare market.
Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson was the second-leading competitor in 2024. BD offers intermittent, Foley and external catheters, including BARDEX Infection Control, Lubri-Sil I.C., BARDEX Lubricath, Bacti-Guard silver-alloy coated catheters and several uncoated silicone and elastomer-coated Foley products.
BD’s diversified portfolio allows it to serve a wide range of clinical applications and gain share across both hospital and homecare environments.
Wellspect Healthcare
Wellspect Healthcare was the third-leading competitor and participates exclusively in the intermittent catheter market. The company offers the LoFric line, which includes hydrophilic coated catheters designed to reduce friction during insertion and improve patient comfort.
Wellspect’s focus on intermittent catheters allows it to target high-growth segments driven by homecare adoption.
Technology and Practice Trends
Technology trends in urinary catheters continue to focus on comfort, infection reduction and ease of use. Major developments include:
Wider adoption of hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters designed for smooth insertion and minimal irritation
Growth in antimicrobial-coated catheters in response to CAUTI reduction mandates
Increased use of compact catheters that improve portability and discretion for home users
Continued shift toward single-use intermittent catheters as standard of care
Improved connector and drainage bag designs that reduce contamination risk
Greater integration of patient education and digital support programs to improve adherence and proper catheter usage
These trends support improved patient experience and align with global infection-prevention initiatives.
Geography
This report provides global coverage across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Why This Report
Which catheter segment is expected to grow fastest and why
How homecare trends are reshaping the global urinary catheter market
What role antimicrobial catheters will play in the future of urinary infection management
How price competition and GPO contracting will influence ASPs
How CDC and international guidelines are affecting catheter utilization patterns
Which competitors are gaining or losing share and what drives their positioning
How catheter designs are evolving to improve patient comfort and clinical efficiency
This report provides quantitative modeling, competitive analysis and long-term forecasting to support strategic planning across product development, marketing, pricing and sales.
About iData Research
iData Research is a premium market intelligence firm headquartered in Canada with offices across North America and Europe.
Over the last 20 years, the company has specialized in device-level sizing, procedure models, pricing trends, and competitive share across MedTech.
Since 2005, iData has supported global OEMs, mid-market innovators, and investors with triangulated data based on units and ASPs, with country-level forecasts and analyst access across Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and APAC.
Reports are available with flexible licensing to fit commercial, strategy, and investment workflows.
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