Physicians per 1,000 people — all countries

Physicians per 1,000 people — South Africa

Physicians per 1,000 people in South Africa in 2022 — 0.79 per 1,000. Ranked 75 in the world out of 125. Since 1965, the indicator has risen by 62.7%.

2022 0.79 per 1,000 +1.66% vs 2021
World rank 75of 125
Period maximum 0.79 per 1,0002022
Period minimum 0.49 per 1,0001965

Trend over time

1965–2022 · per 1,000 people

Physicians per 1,000 people — South Africa, 1965–20220.40.50.60.70.8196519711977198319891995200120072013201920221965: 0.49 per 1,0001975: 0.54 per 1,0001978: 0.55 per 1,0001987: 0.61 per 1,0001992: 0.62 per 1,0001996: 0.59 per 1,0002004: 0.71 per 1,0002007: 0.68 per 1,0002008: 0.68 per 1,0002009: 0.69 per 1,0002010: 0.71 per 1,0002011: 0.71 per 1,0002012: 0.72 per 1,0002013: 0.73 per 1,0002014: 0.74 per 1,0002015: 0.76 per 1,0002016: 0.75 per 1,0002017: 0.78 per 1,0002018: 0.74 per 1,0002019: 0.78 per 1,0002021: 0.78 per 1,0002022: 0.79 per 1,000
Change over the period: +0.31 (+62.7%) Average annual rate: 0.86 %

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 0.79 per 1,000
World 1.86 per 1,000
Sub-Saharan Africa 0.25 per 1,000
Southern Africa computed 0.75 per 1,000
Physicians per 1,000 people — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year per 1,000 Change Change, %
2022 0.79 +0.01 +1.66%
2021 0.78
2019 0.78 +0.04 +4.99%
2018 0.74 −0.03 −4.26%
2017 0.78 +0.02 +2.92%
2016 0.75 −0.01 −1.31%
2015 0.76 +0.02 +3.11%
2014 0.74 +0.01 +1.51%
2013 0.73 +0.01 +1.96%
2012 0.72 +0.01 +0.85%
2011 0.71 +0 +0.57%
2010 0.71 +0.02 +2.17%
2009 0.69 +0.01 +1.62%
2008 0.68 +0 +0%
2007 0.68
2004 0.71
1996 0.59
1992 0.62
1987 0.61
1978 0.55
1975 0.54
1965 0.49

Southern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The number of practicing physicians (general practitioners and specialists alike) per 1,000 people. WHO treats a level below 2.3 health workers per 1,000 people as the critical threshold of health workforce provision — below it, basic coverage of health services cannot be secured.

Important: The data are not collected every year; countries differ in whether they count only practicing physicians or all licensed ones.

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