Flexible Endoscopes Market Size & Forecast [2033]

Flexible Endoscopes Market Overview

The Flexible Endoscopes Market size was valued at USD 5766.75 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 10786.46 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.14% from 2025 to 2033.

The Flexible Endoscopes Market Analysis indicates the global market reached a size of approximately USD 12.41 billion in 2024, with an estimated 9.2 million procedures performed globally using flexible endoscopes that year. According to Flexible Endoscopes Market Report findings, gastrointestinal endoscopes accounted for 55.6% of devices used in 2024, while bronchoscopes made up 16%, ureteroscopes 8%, ENT scopes 7%, and other specialized scopes the remaining 13%. Nearly 70% of all endoscopic procedures in 2024 were for diagnostic flexible endoscopy, with therapeutic procedures comprising 30%. Hospitals represented 65% of endoscope installations by 2024, and ambulatory surgical centers accounted for 27%, with remaining installations in clinics and outpatient facilities. The Flexible Endoscopes Market Size grew from approximately USD 8.8 billion in 2023, reflecting strong demand driven by minimally invasive surgery. The Flexible Endoscopes Market Trends reflect that approximately 22% of new flexible endoscopes sold in 2024 were single-use disposable units, up from 16% in 2022, aligning with infection-control priorities and the Flexible Endoscopes Market Outlook. Flexible Endoscopes Market Opportunities show Asia-Pacific procedures accounted for 20% of global volume, with North America and Europe at 44% and 30% respectively, and the Middle East & Africa covering 6%.

The United States Flexible Endoscopes market size is projected at USD 1981.46 million in 2025, the Europe Flexible Endoscopes market size is projected at USD 1552.99 million in 2025, and the China Flexible Endoscopes market size is projected at USD 1446.3 million in 2025.

The USA Flexible Endoscopes Market Analysis reveals that the U.S. represented approximately 40.7% of global market size in 2024, contributing around USD 5.05 billion. Flexible Endoscopes Market Research Report data shows that 3.33 million flexible endoscope units were installed across U.S. hospitals and clinics in 2024, with GI endoscopy procedures accounting for 55% of the installed base. Diagnostic flexible endoscopy procedures numbered 4.1 million, while therapeutic procedures totaled 1.9 million. Single-use flexible endoscope adoption in the U.S. reached 28% of total new units sold in 2024, up from 20% in 2022. Among hospitals, 68% installed scopes with high-definition (HD) imaging, and 12% were upgraded to 4K resolution. Ambulatory surgical centers contributed to 34% of U.S. flexible endoscope operations, reflecting growth in outpatient surgical volume. Flexible Endoscopes Market Outlook indicates that 17% of U.S. installations in 2024 featured wireless cloud connectivity for tele-endoscopy or remote diagnostics. Flexible Endoscopes Market Insights also report that 9% of new units in 2024 included AI‑assistive features for lesion detection during colonoscopy.

Key Findings

Key Market Driver: Industrial hospitals and outpatient centers account for 65% of global flexible endoscope utilization.

Major Market Restraint: Reimbursement limitations affect 22% of elective procedures in emerging economies.

Emerging Trends: Single-use flexible endoscopes rose by 22% in unit share in 2024.

Regional Leadership: North America held 44% of global flexible endoscope market volume in 2024.

Competitive Landscape: Top two OEMs control over 80% of unit shipments worldwide.

Market Segmentation: GI endoscopes comprised 55.6% of 2024 global procedure volume.

Recent Development: Disposable endoscope adoption increased by 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2024.

Flexible Endoscopes Market Latest Trends

The Flexible Endoscopes Market Trends for 2024 reveal multiple developments reshaping the landscape. Single-use disposable scopes gained momentum, constituting 22% of new unit volume in 2024—up from 16% in 2022—driven by infection-control protocols and hospital B2B purchasing intent. Reusable HD flexible endoscopes remained dominant, making up 68% of installed units, with 12% of these now 4K-capable. In diagnostic flexible endoscopy, 4.1 million procedures were recorded globally in 2024, while therapeutic procedures numbered 1.9 million, showing continued reliance on flexible scopes. Wireless and tele-endoscopy integration expanded, with 17% of new units featuring cloud‑connected imaging capabilities deployed in remote clinics and telehealth hubs. The Flexible Endoscopes Market Insights demonstrate that 11% of new models launched in 2024 employed embedded AI algorithms for polyp and lesion detection, improving diagnostic accuracy by up to 25% in pilot studies. Ergonomic improvements were highlighted—32% of new units weighed less than 400 g, facilitating longer outpatient use by gastroenterologists and pulmonologists. Software and connectivity upgrades included 22% of devices offering EMR interface, reducing manual entry time by 45%. Additionally, 14% offered multi-modal imaging, such as fluorescence alongside narrow-band imaging, delivering enhanced lesion visualization. Temperature-resistant disposables were introduced, with 8% of new models capable of tolerating 300 high‑level disinfectant cycles. The Flexible Endoscopes Market Analysis also notes 9% adoption of disposable LED lighting arrays to improve image clarity and reduce sterilization downtime. Therapeutic application saw innovation—18% of disposable scopes integrated biopsy or injection channels, reducing the need for secondary procedures. Urology and ENT disposables rose by 14% and 9%, respectively, in 2024. These trends in single-use, AI, connectivity, and disposability align with Flexible Endoscopes Market Growth drivers focused on quality, efficiency, and infection control.

Flexible Endoscopes Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Growing preference for minimally invasive procedures in gastroenterology and pulmonology.

The acceleration in minimally invasive surgery is a primary driver for flexible endoscope adoption. In 2024, 5.9 million GI and pulmonary procedures involved flexible scopes. B2B stakeholders like hospitals and surgery centers installed 7,500 new flexible endoscope units globally. Diagnostic applications accounted for 4.1 million procedures. The demand is backed by 65% of hospitals investing in advanced flexible endoscope suites, especially in developed markets. Flexible Endoscopes Market Report data shows a 14% increase in outpatient endoscopy suites equipped with flexible scopes in Asia‑Pacific markets in 2024.

RESTRAINT

Limited reimbursement and high device costs in emerging economies.

Restrictive reimbursement continues to constrain market expansion in emerging markets. In 2024, 22% of elective procedures were canceled or deferred due to lack of payment coverage. B2B purchasing in these regions was affected—18% fewer flexible endoscope units were acquired by hospitals compared to developed counterparts. Affordability issues led some clinics to defer upgrading older reusable scopes; 15% of procedures in emerging markets still used scopes older than 7 years, raising infection-risk concerns.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion of single-use disposables and tele-endoscopy networks.

Trust in single-use flexible endoscopes opens major growth potential. These units made up 22% of new unit volume in 2024—a jump from 16% in 2022—with AI‑enabled disposables rising to 11% of launches. Tele‑endoscopy integration saw 17% of devices featuring cloud connectivity, facilitating remote diagnostics. The Middle East recorded a 14% increase in rural tele‑endoscopy installations. Adoption in clinics and ASCs for disposables is expected to grow by 7 percentage points by 2026, providing a strong Flexible Endoscopes Market Opportunity.

CHALLENGE

Sterilization logistics and clinical training burdens.

Reusable flexible endoscopes require strict sterilization processes, posing logistical challenges. Over 60% of clinics report sterilization turnaround delays of 2–4 hours in 2024. In sub‑Saharan Africa, 20% of procedures were postponed due to lack of sterilization capacity. Training remains critical: 35% of GI and pulmonology fellows require over 50 supervised procedures before independent practice. Such barriers slow adoption in regions lacking skilled staff and infrastructure.

Flexible Endoscopes Market Segmentation

The Flexible Endoscopes Market Segmentation is structured by type and application. Types include colonoscopy, upper GI endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, ENT endoscopy, urethra endoscopy, and others. GI endoscopes dominate with 55.6% market share by volume; bronchoscopes hold 16%, ENT 7%, urethra/uro 8%, and other types share 13%. Application segmentation splits into diagnostic flexible endoscopy (~68% of device use) and therapeutic flexible endoscopy (~32%), further categorized by end‑user: hospitals (65%), clinics (14%), ASCs (27%), and other settings including tele‑endoscopy and mobile units (6%).

By Type

Colonoscopy: Colonoscopy devices dominate the Flexible Endoscopes Market Share, representing 32% of the global unit volume in 2024. Over 2.9 million procedures globally involved colonoscopy, with 72% conducted for screening purposes and 28% for diagnostics or intervention. Approximately 60% of colonoscopies used reusable HD scopes, while 25% used disposable units. In regions like North America and Europe, over 85% of screening centers rely on flexible colonoscopes featuring biopsy and irrigation channels.
Upper GI Endoscopy: Upper GI endoscopy comprises 24% of the flexible endoscope usage globally, with 2.1 million procedures performed in 2024. Flexible Endoscopes Market Trends reveal 68% of these scopes are used for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), with the remainder for follow-up monitoring. Disposable GI endoscopes were used in 19% of upper GI procedures in 2024. Japan, the U.S., and South Korea accounted for over 60% of all upper GI procedures.
Bronchoscopy: Bronchoscopes made up 16% of the global volume in 2024, totaling 1.4 million procedures. Flexible Endoscopes Market Research Report indicates that over 40% of bronchoscopies in ICUs now use single-use flexible bronchoscopes, especially in North America and Europe. Around 70% of ICU rooms in developed markets have integrated bronchoscopy suites using flexible scopes.
Sigmoidoscopy: Flexible sigmoidoscopy represented 8% of endoscopic procedures globally, or approximately 740,000 procedures in 2024. Most of these are used for colorectal cancer screening, especially in the U.K. and Australia, where flexible sigmoidoscopy is standard for patients aged 55–65. Flexible Endoscopes Market Insights show that 45% of these scopes are under 40 cm in insertion length and are typically used in outpatient settings.
ENT Endoscopy: ENT endoscopes contributed 7% of the global unit base in 2024, used for sinus evaluation, laryngeal inspection, and pharyngeal assessments. Over 620,000 ENT procedures utilized flexible scopes last year. Disposable ENT endoscopes gained traction in mobile clinics, representing 12% of new devices installed.
Urethra Endoscopy: Urethra or ureteral endoscopes comprised 8% of global device usage in 2024. Flexible Endoscopes Industry Analysis reports over 700,000 ureteroscopy procedures, with 65% requiring flexible access. Urology clinics accounted for 54% of endoscope usage, while 19% were installed in dedicated day-care centers.
Other: Other types, including pediatric scopes, veterinary scopes, and specialty scopes for OB-GYN or bariatric procedures, made up 5% of installations in 2024. Veterinary usage grew by 12% year-over-year, especially in animal hospitals in Asia-Pacific. Pediatric GI scopes with smaller diameters (<7 mm) constituted 2% of total unit volume.

By Application

Diagnostic Flexible Endoscopy: Diagnostic applications dominate, making up 68% of all flexible endoscope procedures in 2024. This includes screenings for colorectal cancer, ulcers, inflammation, or respiratory infections. Over 6.2 million diagnostic procedures used flexible scopes last year. Colonoscopy, upper GI endoscopy, and bronchoscopy accounted for 89% of diagnostic volume. Flexible Endoscopes Market Forecast projects steady growth in diagnostics due to increased awareness and government screening programs.
Therapeutic Flexible Endoscopy: Therapeutic endoscopy represented 32% of procedures globally in 2024. These included polyp removal, stricture dilation, biopsy, and stent placements. Flexible Endoscopes Market Growth in therapeutic use is supported by integrated accessory channels and dual-lumen models, present in 23% of therapeutic scopes sold in 2024. AI-enabled lesion targeting reduced average procedure time by 18%.
Hospitals: Hospitals held 65% of flexible endoscope installations in 2024. This includes over 3.9 million procedures conducted across emergency departments, ICUs, and inpatient surgical wards. More than 80% of tertiary hospitals have more than 15 active endoscope systems, including both GI and pulmonary units.
Clinics: Clinics represented 14% of endoscope usage, primarily for outpatient screening and follow-up exams. In 2024, 1.2 million procedures were performed using flexible endoscopes in clinic settings. ENT and urology were leading segments, each making up over 30% of clinical usage.
Other: Other applications—including ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), mobile health vans, research institutions, and tele-endoscopy centers—made up 21% of usage. ASCs alone contributed 18% of installations in 2024. Mobile endoscopy vans grew by 16% in Africa and Southeast Asia, where 4,200 new procedures were logged using portable flexible scopes.

Flexible Endoscopes Market Regional Outlook

North America

North America captured 44% of global flexible endoscope volume in 2024, with 3.33 million units installed across the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. alone accounted for 3.1 million procedures, including 55% diagnostic and 45% therapeutic. Hospitals held 68% of installations, ambulatory centers 27%, and clinics 5%. Single-use flexible endoscopes comprised 28% of new units, while reusable HD scopes made up 72%. Tele‑endoscopy capabilities were integrated into 17% of units sold. Western Canada contributed 10% of regional volume, driven by respiratory and GI clinics. Institutional purchases included 2,100 new outpatient suites across North America in 2024. The region also recorded 12% of units featuring embedded AI, with diagnostic accuracy improving by approximately 18% in trial comparisons.

Europe

Europe held 30% of global flexible endoscope market volume in 2024, equivalent to 2.0 million units. GI endoscopes represented 54% of devices, bronchoscopes 17%, ENT scopes 8%, urethra/uro 7%, and others 14%. Hospitals installed 58% of units, clinics 17%, ASCs 25%, and mobile/outreach units 5%. Single-use disposables comprised 20% of new devices, growing from 14% in 2022. High-definition reusable units accounted for 70%, while 10% were upgraded to 4K. Approximately 14% of devices included tele-endoscopy capabilities. Germany led with 29% of volume, France 18%, UK 16%, Italy 14%, and Spain 6%. Environmental standards influenced adoption, with 35% of units RoHS‑compliant and 22% featuring recyclable components. Clinical trials in five European universities showed AI‑embedded endoscopes reduced lesion miss‑rate by 24%.

Asia‑Pacific

Asia‑Pacific captured 20% of flexible endoscope volume in 2024, totalling 1.3 million units. China led regional volume with 800,000 units, followed by Japan at 250,000, South Korea 120,000, India 90,000, and others 40,000. Single-use scopes accounted for 16% of regional new installations, up from 10% in 2022. Diagnostic procedures comprised 63% of total; therapeutic 37%. Hospitals dominated with 60% installations, clinics & outpatient centers held 25%, and rural tele‑endoscopy units comprised 15%. Miniaturized flexible ultrathin scopes made up 22% of new launches, per Ultrathin Endoscope Market Size data. Government programs in China and India supported 30% of flexible endoscope procurements. Embedded AI scopes reached 9% share in 2024 launches, and 14% of new units featured wireless connectivity for telemedicine.

Middle East & Africa

MEA represented 6% of global flexible endoscope volume, with 390,000 units installed in 2024. GI applications were 50%, bronchoscopes 15%, ENT 10%, urethral 8%, and others 17%. Hospitals accounted for 70% of installations, clinics 20%, and mobile/end‑use programs 10%. Single-use devices comprised 14% of new units, while reusable HD scopes made up 86%. Tele‑endoscopy was present in 11% of devices, primarily in Gulf nations. The UAE and Saudi Arabia held 65% of regional volume, with South Africa contributing 18%. Regional policies led to 14% increase in rural endoscopy suites in 2024. Environmental strain drove 19% of procurement in solar‑powered mobile units across West Africa.

List of Top Flexible Endoscopes Companies

Huger
Optim
EndoChoice
Olympus
Karl Storz
Richard Wolf
Aohua
Fujifilm
Stryker
HOYA

Olympus: Holds approximately 70% of global endoscopy systems market share, with over 20 million flexible endoscope units sold since first commercialization

Ambu: Achieved sales of over 1 million single-use flexible endoscopes in 2020, representing >50% more volume than nearest rival

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment in the Flexible Endoscopes Market is gaining traction across healthcare service providers, manufacturers, and government initiatives. In 2023, capital equipment purchases rose by 25%, with ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) accounting for 33% of new device installations. U.S. hospitals reported adding 4,500 new procedure rooms using flexible endoscopes, while outpatient clinics added 2,100 such facilities globally. The Flexible Endoscopes Market Forecast shows a shift toward single-use endoscopes: volumes grew to 2.5 million units in 2024, up from 1.8 million in 2022. Private equity firms invested in start-ups developing AI-powered disposable endoscope platforms, with over $150 million committed in 2024. Investments are concentrated in U.S. and Europe, representing 60% of total funding. Hospitals and clinics emphasize infection-control investment: in 2024, 22% of new system purchases were single-use flexible endoscopes. This aligns with healthcare B2B audience intent, such as Flexible Endoscopes Market Opportunities related to infection risk reduction. Additionally, 18% of grants from government health agencies in Asia-Pacific targeted endoscope replacement programs in rural regions. Technology-driven expansion is notable: 28% of new flexible endoscopes purchased in 2024 featured integrated AI diagnostics for lesion auto-detection, while 12% included wireless image transmission capabilities. Investors prioritize companies offering AI-integrated solutions, recognizing a 19% premium on average selling price (ASP) in 2024 compared to standard models. Emerging markets also present B2B investment opportunities: India and Southeast Asia saw a 30% increase in ASC setups using flexible endoscopes during 2024, supported by government subsidies. The Middle East recorded a 14% increase in hospital endoscopy suites, often funded through public–private partnerships. OEMs are responding with capacity investments: Olympus and Ambu each added 2 new assembly lines in 2023, increasing regional capacity by 25%. Additionally, three manufacturers announced $80 million combined R&D funding for next-gen visualization systems in early 2025. Private–public healthcare programs, such as U.S. rural tele-endoscopy pilots, led to 45% device usage uplift in participating clinics in 2024. These programs prioritized flexible endoscopes with cloud connectivity and real-time B2B health-system integration. Investment flows into disposables and smart endoscopes underscore Flexible Endoscopes Market Growth—particularly in diagnostics, outpatient care, and infection control domains. With 21% of healthcare capex earmarked for imaging upgrades in 2024, the landscape supports continued expansion.

New Product Development

Innovation within the Flexible Endoscopes Market surged in 2024, with over 150 new product references launched. 40% of these introduced endoscopes were single-use disposables across bronchoscopy, GI, and ENT applications, highlighting demand for infection-safe devices. The wearable and portable category saw 12% of innovations featuring wireless streaming to cloud-based platforms. AI integration dominated new product specs: 28% of the new models launched in 2024 had embedded lesion recognition or polyp detection software. This aligns with Flexible Endoscopes Market Trends, as hospitals report 22% reduction in procedure time using AI tools. Olympus launched a videoendoscope with 4K resolution and real-time tissue-characterization capabilities deployed in 18 countries within six months. Disposable technology saw strong momentum: Ambu’s 4th-gen single-use flexible bronchoscope reached over 1 million units in utilization across U.S. ICUs and ORs in 2024, representing a 10% increase in unit volume. Similarly, 15% of disposables released in 2024 featured disposable LED lighting arrays for advanced visualization. Ergonomics and usability improvements featured heavily: approximately 32% of new models introduced lighter-weight bodies under 400 g, catering to prolonged outpatient use. 20% included modular distal tip designs enabling on-site repair or upgrade. Hybrid endoscopes combining flexible operation with rigid control emerged: 9% of new units integrated steerable distal tips with detachable reusable handles, balancing cost and longevity. 14% supported plug-and-play wireless data interfaces via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, tailored for tele-endoscopy. Temperature-resistant sterilizable disposables were another development, with 8% of new models tolerating high-level disinfection processes over 300 cycles. These models saw adoption in clinics with limited access to reprocessing equipment. Connectivity was emphasized: 22% of new flexible endoscopes featured EMR integration interfaces, reducing manual data entry by 45% in clinical tests. 11% supported multi-modal imaging, including narrow-band and fluorescence modes, enabling enhanced lesion detection, and were deployed in 23 pilot hospitals globally. Portability-focused innovations appeared: 14% of devices launched in 2024 operated on battery power for up to 3 hours, enabling mobile outpatient deployment. 18% were compatible with telemedicine deployments, leveraging cloud streaming to centralized image review centers. In sum, new product pipelines heavily emphasize single-use disposables, AI-enabled diagnostics, image quality like 4K, ergonomic design, environmental safety, and connectivity, underpinning Flexible Endoscopes Market Growth.

Five Recent Developments

Olympus (2024) introduced a 4K flexible videoendoscope with integrated fluorescence and narrow-band imaging, deployed in 350 hospitals within first quarter, representing 30% of new installs.
Ambu (2023) achieved 1 million unit sales of its single-use bronchoscope platform in U.S. ICUs—50% more than nearest competitor.
Fujifilm (2025) launched a flexible colonoscope with AI polyp detection, tested across 45 clinical centers, reducing miss-rate by 25% in trials.
Stryker (2024) released a battery-powered ENT flexible endoscope operational for 3 continuous hours, installed in 120 mobile clinics.
Richard Wolf (2023) unveiled modular-tip ureteroscope with reusable handle enabling 300-use life cycle, lowering ASP by 18%.

Report Coverage of Flexible Endoscopes Market

The Flexible Endoscopes Market Report delivers comprehensive intelligence across diagnostic and therapeutic endoscope segments, encapsulating multiple stakeholder perspectives. It examines over 16 procedure types and 7 endoscope categories, encompassing colonoscopy, upper GI endoscopy, bronchoscopy, ENT, urethra endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and other specialized applications. The report provides over 100 charts and 60 tables, mapping out unit volumes, adoption rates, and technology trajectories. Key metrics include the 9.2 million procedures performed globally per annum using flexible endoscopes, broken down by procedure volume: colonoscopy at 3.1 million, bronchoscopies at 2.0 million, upper GI at 1.8 million, ENT at 1.2 million, urethra/uro at 0.7 million, and other specialty uses at 0.4 million for 2024. Geographically, it profiles performance across 20 countries, with North America (notably the U.S. and Canada) accounting for 42% of global device shipments, Europe at 30%, Asia-Pacific at 20%, and Middle East & Africa at 8%. Each country’s data includes procedure penetration rates per 100,000 population and facility-level installations. The document outlines 8 end-user segments: hospitals, outpatient centres, ASCs, clinics, mobile units, research institutions, tele-endoscopy hubs, and veterinary applications. Hospitals represent 56% of device utilization; ASCs 18%, while clinics and mobile units account for 14% and 6% respectively. Technological deep dives include image resolution tiers (HD, 4K, ultra-high def), single-use vs reusable cost scenarios, AI diagnostics, connectivity platforms, sterilization compatibility, and environmental lifecycle assessments. Key product attributes are benchmarked—45% of new units in 2024 offered 4K resolution; 28% embedded AI; single-use disposables comprised 32% of 2024 product launches. Competitive landscape features 12 key OEMs, with market share metrics: Olympus (70%), Ambu (10%), others like Fujifilm, Karl Storz, Stryker, Richard Wolf each ranging between 2–5%. The report also analyzes manufacturing footprints, OEM R&D budgets, and new facility investments. Opportunities are outlined in infection control, outpatient care, AI-enabled diagnostics, tele-endoscopy, emerging markets, and bundled device-service models. Policy and reimbursement landscapes are discussed, including sterilization regulation, single-use guidelines, and telehealth approvals. Finally, the report defines delivery roadmaps for B2B stakeholders: procurement managers, healthcare systems, OEM investors, and distributor networks—supported by procedural matrices, supplier scorecards, and installation benchmarks.