Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — South Asia

Physicians, total in South Asia in 2023 — 1,783,210 people. Since 2001, the indicator has risen by 144.8%.

2023 1.78M people +2.18% vs 2021
World rank
Period maximum 1.78M people2023
Period minimum 728,404 people2001

Trend over time

2001–2023 · people

Physicians, total — South Asia, 2001–2023500,0001M1.5M2M200120042007201020132016201920222001: 728,404 people2004: 815,030 people2007: 922,718 people2008: 962,254 people2009: 1,004,881 people2010: 1,047,644 people2011: 1,154,519 people2012: 1,142,442 people2013: 1,191,559 people2014: 1,217,954 people2015: 1,248,950 people2016: 1,309,236 people2017: 1,384,672 people2018: 1,511,128 people2019: 1,637,293 people2020: 1,439,544 people2021: 1,745,197 people2023: 1,783,210 people
Change over the period: +1.05M (+144.81%) Average annual rate: 4.15 %
Physicians, total — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 1.78M
2021 1.75M +305,653 +21.23%
2020 1.44M −197,749 −12.08%
2019 1.64M +126,165 +8.35%
2018 1.51M +126,456 +9.13%
2017 1.38M +75,436 +5.76%
2016 1.31M +60,286 +4.83%
2015 1.25M +30,996 +2.54%
2014 1.22M +26,395 +2.22%
2013 1.19M +49,117 +4.3%
2012 1.14M −12,077 −1.05%
2011 1.15M +106,875 +10.2%
2010 1.05M +42,763 +4.26%
2009 1M +42,627 +4.43%
2008 962,254 +39,536 +4.28%
2007 922,718
2004 815,030
2001 728,404

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.