Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Southern Asia

Physicians, total in Southern Asia in 2023 — 1,947,296 people. Since 2004, the indicator has risen by 122.3%.

2023 1.95M people +11.58% vs 2021
World rank
Period maximum 1.95M people2023
Period minimum 875,821 people2004

Trend over time

2004–2023 · people

Physicians, total — Southern Asia, 2004–2023500,0001M1.5M2M200420062008201020122014201620182020202220232004: 875,821 people2007: 922,718 people2008: 962,254 people2009: 1,004,881 people2010: 1,047,644 people2012: 1,142,442 people2013: 1,191,559 people2014: 1,334,490 people2015: 1,339,420 people2016: 1,309,236 people2017: 1,475,773 people2018: 1,640,732 people2019: 1,637,293 people2020: 1,439,544 people2021: 1,745,197 people2023: 1,947,296 people
Change over the period: +1.07M (+122.34%) Average annual rate: 4.3 %
Physicians, total — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 1.95M
2021 1.75M +305,653 +21.23%
2020 1.44M −197,749 −12.08%
2019 1.64M −3,439 −0.21%
2018 1.64M +164,959 +11.18%
2017 1.48M +166,537 +12.72%
2016 1.31M −30,184 −2.25%
2015 1.34M +4,930 +0.37%
2014 1.33M +142,931 +12%
2013 1.19M +49,117 +4.3%
2012 1.14M
2010 1.05M +42,763 +4.26%
2009 1M +42,627 +4.43%
2008 962,254 +39,536 +4.28%
2007 922,718
2004 875,821

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.