Number of pharmacists — all countries

Number of pharmacists — NATO

Number of pharmacists in NATO in 2023 — 883,803 people. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 803.6%.

2023 883,803 people +0.09% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 883,803 people2023
Period minimum 97,806 people1980

Trend over time

1980–2023 · people

Number of pharmacists — NATO, 1980–20230250,000500,000750,0001M19801985199019952000200520102015202020231980: 97,806 people1985: 126,046 people1986: 231,070 people1987: 237,032 people1988: 243,505 people1989: 248,429 people1990: 252,110 people1991: 293,259 people1992: 291,736 people1993: 295,964 people1994: 304,087 people1995: 311,026 people1996: 298,339 people1997: 306,914 people1998: 308,408 people1999: 547,358 people2000: 543,810 people2001: 562,960 people2002: 603,045 people2003: 606,072 people2004: 612,129 people2005: 623,468 people2006: 639,674 people2007: 673,622 people2008: 700,354 people2009: 705,175 people2010: 710,441 people2011: 720,409 people2012: 738,714 people2013: 769,611 people2014: 781,889 people2015: 791,181 people2016: 809,028 people2017: 815,245 people2018: 830,658 people2019: 840,574 people2020: 851,048 people2021: 857,828 people2022: 882,981 people2023: 883,803 people
Change over the period: +785,997 (+803.63%) Average annual rate: 5.25 %
Number of pharmacists — NATO, by year NATO All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 883,803 +822 +0.09%
2022 882,981 +25,153 +2.93%
2021 857,828 +6,780 +0.8%
2020 851,048 +10,474 +1.25%
2019 840,574 +9,916 +1.19%
2018 830,658 +15,413 +1.89%
2017 815,245 +6,217 +0.77%
2016 809,028 +17,847 +2.26%
2015 791,181 +9,292 +1.19%
2014 781,889 +12,278 +1.6%
2013 769,611 +30,897 +4.18%
2012 738,714 +18,305 +2.54%
2011 720,409 +9,968 +1.4%
2010 710,441 +5,266 +0.75%
2009 705,175 +4,821 +0.69%
2008 700,354 +26,732 +3.97%
2007 673,622 +33,948 +5.31%
2006 639,674 +16,206 +2.6%
2005 623,468 +11,339 +1.85%
2004 612,129 +6,057 +1%
2003 606,072 +3,027 +0.5%
2002 603,045 +40,085 +7.12%
2001 562,960 +19,150 +3.52%
2000 543,810 −3,548 −0.65%
1999 547,358 +238,950 +77.48%
1998 308,408 +1,494 +0.49%
1997 306,914 +8,575 +2.87%
1996 298,339 −12,687 −4.08%
1995 311,026 +6,939 +2.28%
1994 304,087 +8,123 +2.74%
1993 295,964 +4,228 +1.45%
1992 291,736 −1,523 −0.52%
1991 293,259 +41,149 +16.32%
1990 252,110 +3,681 +1.48%
1989 248,429 +4,924 +2.02%
1988 243,505 +6,473 +2.73%
1987 237,032 +5,962 +2.58%
1986 231,070 +105,024 +83.32%
1985 126,046
1980 97,806

About the indicator

The number of pharmaceutical personnel, from WHO. The indicator matters for assessing the availability of medicines: in systems with a weak primary level the pharmacy often turns out to be the first and only point of contact a person has with medicine, and provision of pharmacists determines how safe that contact is.

Important: In different countries the category takes in both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, so comparison of absolute numbers between countries is approximate.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.