Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Belgium

Physicians, total in Belgium in 2023 — 39,723 people. Ranked 40 in the world out of 117. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 166.8%.

2023 39,723 people +4.21% vs 2022
World rank 40of 117
Period maximum 39,723 people2023
Period minimum 14,887 people1971

Trend over time

1971–2023 · people

Physicians, total — Belgium, 1971–202310,00020,00030,00040,00019711977198319891995200120072013201920231971: 14,887 people1972: 15,888 people1973: 16,478 people1974: 17,272 people1975: 18,506 people1976: 18,761 people1977: 19,706 people1978: 21,142 people1979: 22,037 people1980: 22,759 people1981: 23,932 people1982: 24,831 people1983: 27,726 people1984: 27,096 people1985: 27,989 people1986: 28,826 people1987: 29,821 people1988: 30,687 people1989: 32,134 people1990: 32,547 people1991: 33,271 people1992: 34,069 people1993: 34,736 people1994: 35,486 people1995: 35,917 people1996: 36,644 people1997: 37,451 people1998: 38,109 people1999: 28,642 people2000: 28,999 people2001: 29,303 people2002: 29,537 people2003: 29,646 people2004: 29,891 people2005: 30,081 people2006: 30,440 people2007: 30,868 people2008: 31,281 people2009: 31,578 people2010: 31,815 people2011: 32,182 people2012: 32,583 people2013: 32,999 people2014: 33,353 people2015: 34,020 people2016: 34,834 people2017: 35,069 people2018: 35,762 people2019: 36,343 people2020: 37,089 people2021: 37,630 people2022: 38,119 people2023: 39,723 people
Change over the period: +24,836 (+166.83%) Average annual rate: 1.91 %

Comparison, 2023

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

Belgium 39,723 people
Europe & Central Asia computed 2.88M people
Western Europe computed 855,227 people
Physicians, total — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 39,723 +1,604 +4.21%
2022 38,119 +489 +1.3%
2021 37,630 +541 +1.46%
2020 37,089 +746 +2.05%
2019 36,343 +581 +1.62%
2018 35,762 +693 +1.98%
2017 35,069 +235 +0.67%
2016 34,834 +814 +2.39%
2015 34,020 +667 +2%
2014 33,353 +354 +1.07%
2013 32,999 +416 +1.28%
2012 32,583 +401 +1.25%
2011 32,182 +367 +1.15%
2010 31,815 +237 +0.75%
2009 31,578 +297 +0.95%
2008 31,281 +413 +1.34%
2007 30,868 +428 +1.41%
2006 30,440 +359 +1.19%
2005 30,081 +190 +0.64%
2004 29,891 +245 +0.83%
2003 29,646 +109 +0.37%
2002 29,537 +234 +0.8%
2001 29,303 +304 +1.05%
2000 28,999 +357 +1.25%
1999 28,642 −9,467 −24.84%
1998 38,109 +658 +1.76%
1997 37,451 +807 +2.2%
1996 36,644 +727 +2.02%
1995 35,917 +431 +1.21%
1994 35,486 +750 +2.16%
1993 34,736 +667 +1.96%
1992 34,069 +798 +2.4%
1991 33,271 +724 +2.22%
1990 32,547 +413 +1.29%
1989 32,134 +1,447 +4.72%
1988 30,687 +866 +2.9%
1987 29,821 +995 +3.45%
1986 28,826 +837 +2.99%
1985 27,989 +893 +3.3%
1984 27,096 −630 −2.27%
1983 27,726 +2,895 +11.66%
1982 24,831 +899 +3.76%
1981 23,932 +1,173 +5.15%
1980 22,759 +722 +3.28%
1979 22,037 +895 +4.23%
1978 21,142 +1,436 +7.29%
1977 19,706 +945 +5.04%
1976 18,761 +255 +1.38%
1975 18,506 +1,234 +7.14%
1974 17,272 +794 +4.82%
1973 16,478 +590 +3.71%
1972 15,888 +1,001 +6.72%
1971 14,887

Western Europe, 2023

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

About the indicator

The number of practicing physicians, from the WHO Global Health Observatory. The World Bank republishes only the density — physicians per thousand people — so the absolute number is available directly from WHO alone. Physicians of all specialties are counted, general practitioners and specialists included.

Important: The definition of a practicing physician differs across national registers: some countries include those working in administration and research. Physicians per thousand people is a separate indicator and suits comparison between countries better.

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