Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Southern Africa

Physicians, total in Southern Africa in 2024 — 52,253 people. Since 2003, the indicator has risen by 6,642.3%.

2024 52,253 people −5.19% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 55,114 people2023
Period minimum 775 people2003

Trend over time

2003–2024 · people

Physicians, total — Southern Africa, 2003–2024020,00040,00060,000200320062009201220152018202120242003: 775 people2004: 36,313 people2007: 35,807 people2009: 36,573 people2010: 37,869 people2011: 38,511 people2016: 44,078 people2017: 46,282 people2018: 45,704 people2020: 46,126 people2021: 50,216 people2022: 53,343 people2023: 55,114 people2024: 52,253 people
Change over the period: +51,478 (+6,642.32%) Average annual rate: 22.2 %
Physicians, total — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 52,253 −2,861 −5.19%
2023 55,114 +1,771 +3.32%
2022 53,343 +3,127 +6.23%
2021 50,216 +4,090 +8.87%
2020 46,126
2018 45,704 −578 −1.25%
2017 46,282 +2,204 +5%
2016 44,078
2011 38,511 +642 +1.7%
2010 37,869 +1,296 +3.54%
2009 36,573
2007 35,807
2004 36,313 +35,538 +4,585.55%
2003 775

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.