Physicians per 1,000 people — all countries

Physicians per 1,000 people — South Korea

Physicians per 1,000 people in South Korea in 2022 — 2.61 per 1,000. Ranked 59 in the world out of 125. Since 1981, the indicator has risen by 422%.

2022 2.61 per 1,000 +3.69% vs 2021
World rank 59of 125
Period maximum 2.61 per 1,0002022
Period minimum 0.5 per 1,0001981

Trend over time

1981–2022 · per 1,000 people

Physicians per 1,000 people — South Korea, 1981–202201231981198619911996200120062011201620211981: 0.5 per 1,0001982: 0.5 per 1,0001983: 0.5 per 1,0001984: 0.6 per 1,0001985: 0.6 per 1,0001986: 0.6 per 1,0001987: 0.7 per 1,0001988: 0.7 per 1,0001989: 0.8 per 1,0001990: 0.81 per 1,0001991: 0.88 per 1,0001992: 0.95 per 1,0001993: 1.01 per 1,0001994: 1.06 per 1,0001995: 1.12 per 1,0001996: 1.17 per 1,0001997: 1.23 per 1,0001998: 1.27 per 1,0001999: 1.32 per 1,0002000: 1.3 per 1,0002001: 1.4 per 1,0002002: 1.5 per 1,0002003: 1.58 per 1,0002004: 1.58 per 1,0002005: 1.64 per 1,0002006: 1.7 per 1,0002007: 1.75 per 1,0002008: 1.87 per 1,0002009: 1.95 per 1,0002010: 2.02 per 1,0002011: 2.06 per 1,0002012: 2.1 per 1,0002013: 2.18 per 1,0002014: 2.21 per 1,0002015: 2.24 per 1,0002016: 2.29 per 1,0002017: 2.34 per 1,0002018: 2.39 per 1,0002019: 2.46 per 1,0002020: 2.51 per 1,0002021: 2.52 per 1,0002022: 2.61 per 1,000
Change over the period: +2.11 (+422%) Average annual rate: 4.11 %

Comparison, 2022

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

South Korea 2.61 per 1,000
World 1.86 per 1,000
East Asia & Pacific 2.4 per 1,000
Physicians per 1,000 people — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year per 1,000 Change Change, %
2022 2.61 +0.09 +3.69%
2021 2.52 +0.01 +0.4%
2020 2.51 +0.05 +1.99%
2019 2.46 +0.07 +3.02%
2018 2.39 +0.04 +1.84%
2017 2.34 +0.05 +2.31%
2016 2.29 +0.05 +2.14%
2015 2.24 +0.03 +1.45%
2014 2.21 +0.04 +1.61%
2013 2.18 +0.08 +3.62%
2012 2.1 +0.04 +1.75%
2011 2.06 +0.05 +2.33%
2010 2.02 +0.07 +3.38%
2009 1.95 +0.08 +4.17%
2008 1.87 +0.12 +6.79%
2007 1.75 +0.05 +3.06%
2006 1.7 +0.06 +3.91%
2005 1.64 +0.06 +3.8%
2004 1.58 −0 −0.13%
2003 1.58 +0.08 +5.27%
2002 1.5 +0.1 +7.37%
2001 1.4 +0.1 +7.3%
2000 1.3 −0.01 −1.06%
1999 1.32 +0.05 +3.7%
1998 1.27 +0.04 +2.92%
1997 1.23 +0.06 +5.47%
1996 1.17 +0.05 +4.75%
1995 1.12 +0.06 +5.48%
1994 1.06 +0.05 +4.44%
1993 1.01 +0.06 +6.74%
1992 0.95 +0.07 +8.33%
1991 0.88 +0.06 +7.88%
1990 0.81 +0.01 +1.5%
1989 0.8 +0.1 +14.29%
1988 0.7 +0 +0%
1987 0.7 +0.1 +16.67%
1986 0.6 +0 +0%
1985 0.6 +0 +0%
1984 0.6 +0.1 +20%
1983 0.5 +0 +0%
1982 0.5 +0 +0%
1981 0.5

Eastern Asia, 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.