Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — Western Europe

Physicians, total in Western Europe in 2023 — 855,227 people. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 1,377.4%.

2023 855,227 people +1.99% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 855,227 people2023
Period minimum 57,887 people1971

Trend over time

1971–2023 · people

Physicians, total — Western Europe, 1971–20230250,000500,000750,0001M19711977198319891995200120072013201920231971: 57,887 people1972: 61,328 people1973: 63,929 people1974: 66,533 people1975: 69,933 people1976: 72,486 people1977: 75,529 people1978: 79,293 people1979: 82,387 people1980: 85,604 people1981: 89,152 people1982: 91,799 people1983: 96,726 people1984: 98,212 people1985: 101,622 people1986: 104,148 people1987: 107,458 people1988: 111,364 people1989: 110,468 people1990: 289,818 people1991: 517,709 people1992: 491,912 people1993: 504,965 people1994: 516,676 people1995: 526,379 people1996: 534,519 people1997: 539,866 people1998: 586,202 people1999: 579,813 people2000: 589,962 people2001: 600,406 people2002: 608,789 people2003: 616,586 people2004: 623,204 people2005: 629,356 people2006: 637,151 people2007: 642,538 people2008: 650,564 people2009: 657,277 people2010: 668,251 people2011: 667,283 people2012: 679,711 people2013: 693,893 people2014: 707,364 people2015: 718,464 people2016: 729,965 people2017: 741,481 people2018: 788,297 people2019: 764,031 people2020: 813,941 people2021: 827,118 people2022: 838,510 people2023: 855,227 people
Change over the period: +797,340 (+1,377.41%) Average annual rate: 5.32 %
Physicians, total — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 855,227 +16,717 +1.99%
2022 838,510 +11,392 +1.38%
2021 827,118 +13,177 +1.62%
2020 813,941 +49,910 +6.53%
2019 764,031 −24,266 −3.08%
2018 788,297 +46,816 +6.31%
2017 741,481 +11,516 +1.58%
2016 729,965 +11,501 +1.6%
2015 718,464 +11,100 +1.57%
2014 707,364 +13,471 +1.94%
2013 693,893 +14,182 +2.09%
2012 679,711 +12,428 +1.86%
2011 667,283 −968 −0.14%
2010 668,251 +10,974 +1.67%
2009 657,277 +6,713 +1.03%
2008 650,564 +8,026 +1.25%
2007 642,538 +5,387 +0.85%
2006 637,151 +7,795 +1.24%
2005 629,356 +6,152 +0.99%
2004 623,204 +6,618 +1.07%
2003 616,586 +7,797 +1.28%
2002 608,789 +8,383 +1.4%
2001 600,406 +10,444 +1.77%
2000 589,962 +10,149 +1.75%
1999 579,813 −6,389 −1.09%
1998 586,202 +46,336 +8.58%
1997 539,866 +5,347 +1%
1996 534,519 +8,140 +1.55%
1995 526,379 +9,703 +1.88%
1994 516,676 +11,711 +2.32%
1993 504,965 +13,053 +2.65%
1992 491,912 −25,797 −4.98%
1991 517,709 +227,891 +78.63%
1990 289,818 +179,350 +162.35%
1989 110,468 −896 −0.8%
1988 111,364 +3,906 +3.63%
1987 107,458 +3,310 +3.18%
1986 104,148 +2,526 +2.49%
1985 101,622 +3,410 +3.47%
1984 98,212 +1,486 +1.54%
1983 96,726 +4,927 +5.37%
1982 91,799 +2,647 +2.97%
1981 89,152 +3,548 +4.14%
1980 85,604 +3,217 +3.9%
1979 82,387 +3,094 +3.9%
1978 79,293 +3,764 +4.98%
1977 75,529 +3,043 +4.2%
1976 72,486 +2,553 +3.65%
1975 69,933 +3,400 +5.11%
1974 66,533 +2,604 +4.07%
1973 63,929 +2,601 +4.24%
1972 61,328 +3,441 +5.94%
1971 57,887

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.