Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Spain

Physicians, total in Spain in 2023 — 212,201 people. Ranked 11 in the world out of 117. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 289.1%.

2023 212,201 people +2.53% vs 2022
World rank 11of 117
Period maximum 216,268 people2020
Period minimum 49,256 people1972

Trend over time

1971–2023 · people

Physicians, total — Spain, 1971–20230100,000200,000300,00019711977198319891995200120072013201920231971: 54,533 people1972: 49,256 people1973: 64,597 people1974: 69,080 people1975: 75,081 people1976: 81,658 people1977: 86,253 people1978: 96,569 people1979: 104,759 people1980: 68,900 people1981: 121,362 people1982: 127,195 people1983: 131,080 people1984: 135,406 people1985: 78,700 people1986: 143,803 people1987: 148,717 people1988: 153,306 people1989: 156,100 people1990: 79,600 people1991: 162,089 people1992: 162,650 people1993: 165,560 people1994: 168,240 people1995: 171,494 people1996: 109,600 people1997: 114,867 people1998: 117,566 people1999: 123,200 people2000: 127,200 people2001: 128,100 people2002: 129,667 people2003: 136,000 people2004: 147,833 people2005: 154,767 people2006: 160,933 people2007: 161,033 people2008: 162,900 people2009: 166,800 people2010: 175,033 people2011: 179,267 people2012: 178,833 people2013: 177,665 people2014: 176,665 people2015: 178,600 people2016: 177,731 people2017: 180,633 people2018: 188,166 people2019: 207,565 people2020: 216,268 people2021: 212,865 people2022: 206,967 people2023: 212,201 people
Change over the period: +157,668 (+289.12%) Average annual rate: 2.65 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Spain

Spain 212,201 people
Europe & Central Asia computed 2.88M people
Southern Europe computed 709,015 people
Physicians, total — Spain, by year Spain All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 212,201 +5,234 +2.53%
2022 206,967 −5,898 −2.77%
2021 212,865 −3,403 −1.57%
2020 216,268 +8,703 +4.19%
2019 207,565 +19,399 +10.31%
2018 188,166 +7,533 +4.17%
2017 180,633 +2,902 +1.63%
2016 177,731 −869 −0.49%
2015 178,600 +1,935 +1.1%
2014 176,665 −1,000 −0.56%
2013 177,665 −1,168 −0.65%
2012 178,833 −434 −0.24%
2011 179,267 +4,234 +2.42%
2010 175,033 +8,233 +4.94%
2009 166,800 +3,900 +2.39%
2008 162,900 +1,867 +1.16%
2007 161,033 +100 +0.06%
2006 160,933 +6,166 +3.98%
2005 154,767 +6,934 +4.69%
2004 147,833 +11,833 +8.7%
2003 136,000 +6,333 +4.88%
2002 129,667 +1,567 +1.22%
2001 128,100 +900 +0.71%
2000 127,200 +4,000 +3.25%
1999 123,200 +5,634 +4.79%
1998 117,566 +2,699 +2.35%
1997 114,867 +5,267 +4.81%
1996 109,600 −61,894 −36.09%
1995 171,494 +3,254 +1.93%
1994 168,240 +2,680 +1.62%
1993 165,560 +2,910 +1.79%
1992 162,650 +561 +0.35%
1991 162,089 +82,489 +103.63%
1990 79,600 −76,500 −49.01%
1989 156,100 +2,794 +1.82%
1988 153,306 +4,589 +3.09%
1987 148,717 +4,914 +3.42%
1986 143,803 +65,103 +82.72%
1985 78,700 −56,706 −41.88%
1984 135,406 +4,326 +3.3%
1983 131,080 +3,885 +3.05%
1982 127,195 +5,833 +4.81%
1981 121,362 +52,462 +76.14%
1980 68,900 −35,859 −34.23%
1979 104,759 +8,190 +8.48%
1978 96,569 +10,316 +11.96%
1977 86,253 +4,595 +5.63%
1976 81,658 +6,577 +8.76%
1975 75,081 +6,001 +8.69%
1974 69,080 +4,483 +6.94%
1973 64,597 +15,341 +31.15%
1972 49,256 −5,277 −9.68%
1971 54,533

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.