Physicians per 1,000 people — all countries

Physicians per 1,000 people — Southern Africa

Physicians per 1,000 people in Southern Africa in 2022 — 0.75 per 1,000. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 1,252.1%.

2022 0.75 per 1,000 −0.51% vs 2021
World rank
Period maximum 0.76 per 1,0002017
Period minimum 0.06 per 1,0001960

Trend over time

1960–2022 · per 1,000 people

Physicians per 1,000 people — Southern Africa, 1960–202200.20.40.60.819601967197419811988199520022009201620221960: 0.06 per 1,0001965: 0.46 per 1,0001970: 0.06 per 1,0001975: 0.51 per 1,0002003: 0.16 per 1,0002004: 0.67 per 1,0002007: 0.66 per 1,0002009: 0.67 per 1,0002010: 0.67 per 1,0002011: 0.69 per 1,0002016: 0.73 per 1,0002017: 0.76 per 1,0002018: 0.7 per 1,0002019: 0.75 per 1,0002020: 0.35 per 1,0002021: 0.75 per 1,0002022: 0.75 per 1,000
Change over the period: +0.69 (+1,252.07%) Average annual rate: 4.29 %

Comparison, 2022

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

Southern Africa 0.75 per 1,000
World 1.86 per 1,000
Physicians per 1,000 people — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year per 1,000 Change Change, %
2022 0.75 −0 −0.51%
2021 0.75 +0.4 +112.65%
2020 0.35 −0.39 −52.69%
2019 0.75 +0.05 +7.43%
2018 0.7 −0.06 −7.78%
2017 0.76 +0.03 +3.97%
2016 0.73
2011 0.69 +0.01 +2.04%
2010 0.67 +0 +0.71%
2009 0.67
2007 0.66
2004 0.67 +0.51 +320.41%
2003 0.16
1975 0.51
1970 0.06
1965 0.46
1960 0.06

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.