Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — North Korea

Physicians, total in North Korea in 2024 — 82,121 people. Ranked 8 in the world out of 72. Since 2003, the indicator has risen by 10.1%.

2024 82,121 people −13.2% vs 2019
World rank 8of 72
Period maximum 94,604 people2019
Period minimum 74,597 people2003

Trend over time

2003–2024 · people

Physicians, total — North Korea, 2003–202470,00080,00090,000100,000200320062009201220152018202120242003: 74,597 people2008: 79,931 people2012: 85,470 people2014: 87,839 people2016: 93,667 people2017: 93,667 people2019: 94,604 people2024: 82,121 people
Change over the period: +7,524 (+10.09%) Average annual rate: 0.46 %
Physicians, total — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 82,121
2019 94,604
2017 93,667 +0 +0%
2016 93,667
2014 87,839
2012 85,470
2008 79,931
2003 74,597

Eastern Asia, 2024

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

KP North Korea 82,121 MN Mongolia 15,973

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.