Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Southern Europe

Physicians, total in Southern Europe in 2023 — 709,015 people. Since 1989, the indicator has risen by 33.1%.

2023 709,015 people +0.32% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 709,015 people2023
Period minimum 434,806 people2000

Trend over time

1989–2023 · people

Physicians, total — Southern Europe, 1989–2023400,000500,000600,000700,000800,00019891993199720012005200920132017202120231989: 532,743 people2000: 434,806 people2001: 441,020 people2002: 449,136 people2003: 483,451 people2004: 504,234 people2005: 512,449 people2006: 529,320 people2007: 539,248 people2008: 541,456 people2009: 553,068 people2010: 565,803 people2011: 577,776 people2012: 577,988 people2013: 583,122 people2014: 581,968 people2015: 582,689 people2016: 595,757 people2017: 598,621 people2018: 608,947 people2019: 617,028 people2020: 635,399 people2022: 706,742 people2023: 709,015 people
Change over the period: +176,272 (+33.09%) Average annual rate: 0.84 %
Physicians, total — Southern Europe, by year Southern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 709,015 +2,273 +0.32%
2022 706,742
2020 635,399 +18,371 +2.98%
2019 617,028 +8,081 +1.33%
2018 608,947 +10,326 +1.72%
2017 598,621 +2,864 +0.48%
2016 595,757 +13,068 +2.24%
2015 582,689 +721 +0.12%
2014 581,968 −1,154 −0.2%
2013 583,122 +5,134 +0.89%
2012 577,988 +212 +0.04%
2011 577,776 +11,973 +2.12%
2010 565,803 +12,735 +2.3%
2009 553,068 +11,612 +2.14%
2008 541,456 +2,208 +0.41%
2007 539,248 +9,928 +1.88%
2006 529,320 +16,871 +3.29%
2005 512,449 +8,215 +1.63%
2004 504,234 +20,783 +4.3%
2003 483,451 +34,315 +7.64%
2002 449,136 +8,116 +1.84%
2001 441,020 +6,214 +1.43%
2000 434,806
1989 532,743

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.