Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — NATO

Physicians, total in NATO in 2023 — 2,434,133 people. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 283.2%.

2023 2.43M people −26.99% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 3.33M people2022
Period minimum 635,268 people1980

Trend over time

1980–2023 · people

Physicians, total — NATO, 1980–202301M2M3M4M19801985199019952000200520102015202020231980: 635,268 people1982: 742,447 people1983: 773,837 people1984: 820,401 people1985: 1,366,316 people1986: 928,605 people1987: 964,047 people1988: 971,243 people1989: 1,007,048 people1990: 1,149,974 people1991: 1,484,880 people1992: 1,469,586 people1993: 2,047,514 people1994: 2,088,166 people1995: 2,018,042 people1996: 1,995,221 people1997: 2,042,280 people1998: 2,103,581 people1999: 2,113,386 people2000: 2,142,156 people2001: 2,192,202 people2002: 2,228,496 people2003: 2,278,066 people2004: 2,323,252 people2005: 2,354,854 people2006: 2,396,925 people2007: 2,430,248 people2008: 2,464,169 people2009: 2,503,091 people2010: 2,536,661 people2011: 2,572,719 people2012: 2,612,315 people2013: 2,664,996 people2014: 2,659,601 people2015: 2,685,953 people2016: 2,733,113 people2017: 2,771,262 people2018: 2,933,887 people2019: 3,048,188 people2020: 3,131,897 people2021: 3,255,500 people2022: 3,333,927 people2023: 2,434,133 people
Change over the period: +1.8M (+283.17%) Average annual rate: 3.17 %
Physicians, total — NATO, by year NATO All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 2.43M −899,794 −26.99%
2022 3.33M +78,427 +2.41%
2021 3.26M +123,603 +3.95%
2020 3.13M +83,709 +2.75%
2019 3.05M +114,301 +3.9%
2018 2.93M +162,625 +5.87%
2017 2.77M +38,149 +1.4%
2016 2.73M +47,160 +1.76%
2015 2.69M +26,352 +0.99%
2014 2.66M −5,395 −0.2%
2013 2.66M +52,681 +2.02%
2012 2.61M +39,596 +1.54%
2011 2.57M +36,058 +1.42%
2010 2.54M +33,570 +1.34%
2009 2.5M +38,922 +1.58%
2008 2.46M +33,921 +1.4%
2007 2.43M +33,323 +1.39%
2006 2.4M +42,071 +1.79%
2005 2.35M +31,602 +1.36%
2004 2.32M +45,186 +1.98%
2003 2.28M +49,570 +2.22%
2002 2.23M +36,294 +1.66%
2001 2.19M +50,046 +2.34%
2000 2.14M +28,770 +1.36%
1999 2.11M +9,805 +0.47%
1998 2.1M +61,301 +3%
1997 2.04M +47,059 +2.36%
1996 2M −22,821 −1.13%
1995 2.02M −70,124 −3.36%
1994 2.09M +40,652 +1.99%
1993 2.05M +577,928 +39.33%
1992 1.47M −15,294 −1.03%
1991 1.48M +334,906 +29.12%
1990 1.15M +142,926 +14.19%
1989 1.01M +35,805 +3.69%
1988 971,243 +7,196 +0.75%
1987 964,047 +35,442 +3.82%
1986 928,605 −437,711 −32.04%
1985 1.37M +545,915 +66.54%
1984 820,401 +46,564 +6.02%
1983 773,837 +31,390 +4.23%
1982 742,447
1980 635,268

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.