Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Bulgaria

Physicians, total in Bulgaria in 2023 — 29,846 people. Ranked 47 in the world out of 117. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 84.4%.

2023 29,846 people +1.04% vs 2022
World rank 47of 117
Period maximum 29,846 people2023
Period minimum 16,183 people1971

Trend over time

1971–2023 · people

Physicians, total — Bulgaria, 1971–202315,00020,00025,00030,00019711977198319891995200120072013201920231971: 16,183 people1972: 17,023 people1973: 17,601 people1974: 18,238 people1975: 18,770 people1976: 19,312 people1977: 19,879 people1978: 20,454 people1979: 21,249 people1980: 21,796 people1981: 22,088 people1982: 23,081 people1983: 24,026 people1984: 24,718 people1985: 25,665 people1986: 26,451 people1987: 27,107 people1988: 27,750 people1989: 28,218 people1990: 28,497 people1991: 26,760 people1992: 27,039 people1993: 28,457 people1994: 28,094 people1995: 29,069 people1996: 29,592 people1997: 28,655 people1998: 28,476 people1999: 28,261 people2000: 27,526 people2001: 27,186 people2002: 27,688 people2003: 28,128 people2004: 27,406 people2005: 28,174 people2006: 28,086 people2007: 27,882 people2008: 27,454 people2009: 27,952 people2010: 27,869 people2011: 28,321 people2012: 28,305 people2013: 28,715 people2014: 28,733 people2015: 29,002 people2016: 29,271 people2017: 29,606 people2018: 29,625 people2019: 29,549 people2020: 29,656 people2021: 29,543 people2022: 29,538 people2023: 29,846 people
Change over the period: +13,663 (+84.43%) Average annual rate: 1.18 %

Comparison, 2023

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

Bulgaria 29,846 people
Europe & Central Asia computed 2.88M people
Eastern Europe computed 531,965 people
Physicians, total — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 29,846 +308 +1.04%
2022 29,538 −5 −0.02%
2021 29,543 −113 −0.38%
2020 29,656 +107 +0.36%
2019 29,549 −76 −0.26%
2018 29,625 +19 +0.06%
2017 29,606 +335 +1.14%
2016 29,271 +269 +0.93%
2015 29,002 +269 +0.94%
2014 28,733 +18 +0.06%
2013 28,715 +410 +1.45%
2012 28,305 −16 −0.06%
2011 28,321 +452 +1.62%
2010 27,869 −83 −0.3%
2009 27,952 +498 +1.81%
2008 27,454 −428 −1.54%
2007 27,882 −204 −0.73%
2006 28,086 −88 −0.31%
2005 28,174 +768 +2.8%
2004 27,406 −722 −2.57%
2003 28,128 +440 +1.59%
2002 27,688 +502 +1.85%
2001 27,186 −340 −1.24%
2000 27,526 −735 −2.6%
1999 28,261 −215 −0.76%
1998 28,476 −179 −0.62%
1997 28,655 −937 −3.17%
1996 29,592 +523 +1.8%
1995 29,069 +975 +3.47%
1994 28,094 −363 −1.28%
1993 28,457 +1,418 +5.24%
1992 27,039 +279 +1.04%
1991 26,760 −1,737 −6.1%
1990 28,497 +279 +0.99%
1989 28,218 +468 +1.69%
1988 27,750 +643 +2.37%
1987 27,107 +656 +2.48%
1986 26,451 +786 +3.06%
1985 25,665 +947 +3.83%
1984 24,718 +692 +2.88%
1983 24,026 +945 +4.09%
1982 23,081 +993 +4.5%
1981 22,088 +292 +1.34%
1980 21,796 +547 +2.57%
1979 21,249 +795 +3.89%
1978 20,454 +575 +2.89%
1977 19,879 +567 +2.94%
1976 19,312 +542 +2.89%
1975 18,770 +532 +2.92%
1974 18,238 +637 +3.62%
1973 17,601 +578 +3.4%
1972 17,023 +840 +5.19%
1971 16,183

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.