Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — European Union

Physicians, total in the European Union in 2023 — 1,935,912 people. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 258.5%.

2023 1.94M people −0.27% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 1.94M people2022
Period minimum 418,455 people1981

Trend over time

1980–2023 · people

Physicians, total — European Union, 1980–20230500,0001M1.5M2M19801985199019952000200520102015202020231980: 539,987 people1981: 418,455 people1982: 651,202 people1983: 678,116 people1984: 722,560 people1985: 735,894 people1986: 822,624 people1987: 850,882 people1988: 864,631 people1989: 891,432 people1990: 1,027,664 people1991: 1,347,714 people1992: 1,330,482 people1993: 1,353,108 people1994: 1,375,863 people1995: 1,280,933 people1996: 1,237,646 people1997: 1,258,485 people1998: 1,313,109 people1999: 1,315,531 people2000: 1,308,390 people2001: 1,330,356 people2002: 1,356,638 people2003: 1,382,413 people2004: 1,409,004 people2005: 1,420,786 people2006: 1,447,260 people2007: 1,465,841 people2008: 1,484,387 people2009: 1,499,678 people2010: 1,524,989 people2011: 1,539,632 people2012: 1,555,966 people2013: 1,578,232 people2014: 1,556,385 people2015: 1,570,011 people2016: 1,599,591 people2017: 1,620,284 people2018: 1,723,035 people2019: 1,763,246 people2020: 1,822,764 people2021: 1,924,506 people2022: 1,941,234 people2023: 1,935,912 people
Change over the period: +1.4M (+258.51%) Average annual rate: 3.01 %
Physicians, total — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 1.94M −5,322 −0.27%
2022 1.94M +16,728 +0.87%
2021 1.92M +101,742 +5.58%
2020 1.82M +59,518 +3.38%
2019 1.76M +40,211 +2.33%
2018 1.72M +102,751 +6.34%
2017 1.62M +20,693 +1.29%
2016 1.6M +29,580 +1.88%
2015 1.57M +13,626 +0.88%
2014 1.56M −21,847 −1.38%
2013 1.58M +22,266 +1.43%
2012 1.56M +16,334 +1.06%
2011 1.54M +14,643 +0.96%
2010 1.52M +25,311 +1.69%
2009 1.5M +15,291 +1.03%
2008 1.48M +18,546 +1.27%
2007 1.47M +18,581 +1.28%
2006 1.45M +26,474 +1.86%
2005 1.42M +11,782 +0.84%
2004 1.41M +26,591 +1.92%
2003 1.38M +25,775 +1.9%
2002 1.36M +26,282 +1.98%
2001 1.33M +21,966 +1.68%
2000 1.31M −7,141 −0.54%
1999 1.32M +2,422 +0.18%
1998 1.31M +54,624 +4.34%
1997 1.26M +20,839 +1.68%
1996 1.24M −43,287 −3.38%
1995 1.28M −94,930 −6.9%
1994 1.38M +22,755 +1.68%
1993 1.35M +22,626 +1.7%
1992 1.33M −17,232 −1.28%
1991 1.35M +320,050 +31.14%
1990 1.03M +136,232 +15.28%
1989 891,432 +26,801 +3.1%
1988 864,631 +13,749 +1.62%
1987 850,882 +28,258 +3.44%
1986 822,624 +86,730 +11.79%
1985 735,894 +13,334 +1.85%
1984 722,560 +44,444 +6.55%
1983 678,116 +26,914 +4.13%
1982 651,202 +232,747 +55.62%
1981 418,455 −121,532 −22.51%
1980 539,987

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.