Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — South Korea

Physicians, total in South Korea in 2023 — 137,805 people. Ranked 16 in the world out of 117. Since 1981, the indicator has risen by 614.9%.

2023 137,805 people +1.98% vs 2022
World rank 16of 117
Period maximum 137,805 people2023
Period minimum 19,275 people1981

Trend over time

1981–2023 · people

Physicians, total — South Korea, 1981–2023050,000100,000150,0001981198619911996200120062011201620211981: 19,275 people1982: 21,551 people1983: 21,749 people1984: 23,043 people1985: 24,830 people1986: 26,587 people1987: 28,204 people1988: 31,197 people1989: 33,791 people1990: 35,781 people1991: 38,907 people1992: 42,394 people1993: 45,477 people1994: 47,740 people1995: 50,635 people1996: 53,372 people1997: 56,662 people1998: 58,684 people1999: 61,182 people2000: 60,895 people2001: 65,715 people2002: 70,923 people2003: 75,045 people2004: 75,236 people2005: 78,342 people2006: 81,666 people2007: 84,464 people2008: 90,532 people2009: 94,672 people2010: 98,293 people2011: 101,370 people2012: 104,114 people2013: 108,909 people2014: 111,694 people2015: 114,322 people2016: 117,450 people2017: 120,630 people2018: 123,230 people2019: 127,258 people2020: 130,014 people2021: 130,479 people2022: 135,128 people2023: 137,805 people
Change over the period: +118,530 (+614.94%) Average annual rate: 4.79 %
Physicians, total — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 137,805 +2,677 +1.98%
2022 135,128 +4,649 +3.56%
2021 130,479 +465 +0.36%
2020 130,014 +2,756 +2.17%
2019 127,258 +4,028 +3.27%
2018 123,230 +2,600 +2.16%
2017 120,630 +3,180 +2.71%
2016 117,450 +3,128 +2.74%
2015 114,322 +2,628 +2.35%
2014 111,694 +2,785 +2.56%
2013 108,909 +4,795 +4.61%
2012 104,114 +2,744 +2.71%
2011 101,370 +3,077 +3.13%
2010 98,293 +3,621 +3.82%
2009 94,672 +4,140 +4.57%
2008 90,532 +6,068 +7.18%
2007 84,464 +2,798 +3.43%
2006 81,666 +3,324 +4.24%
2005 78,342 +3,106 +4.13%
2004 75,236 +191 +0.25%
2003 75,045 +4,122 +5.81%
2002 70,923 +5,208 +7.93%
2001 65,715 +4,820 +7.92%
2000 60,895 −287 −0.47%
1999 61,182 +2,498 +4.26%
1998 58,684 +2,022 +3.57%
1997 56,662 +3,290 +6.16%
1996 53,372 +2,737 +5.41%
1995 50,635 +2,895 +6.06%
1994 47,740 +2,263 +4.98%
1993 45,477 +3,083 +7.27%
1992 42,394 +3,487 +8.96%
1991 38,907 +3,126 +8.74%
1990 35,781 +1,990 +5.89%
1989 33,791 +2,594 +8.31%
1988 31,197 +2,993 +10.61%
1987 28,204 +1,617 +6.08%
1986 26,587 +1,757 +7.08%
1985 24,830 +1,787 +7.76%
1984 23,043 +1,294 +5.95%
1983 21,749 +198 +0.92%
1982 21,551 +2,276 +11.81%
1981 19,275

Eastern Asia, 2023

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

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.