Physicians, total — all countries

Physicians, total — United Kingdom

Physicians, total in the United Kingdom in 2023 — 230,393 people. Ranked 10 in the world out of 117. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 306.3%.

2023 230,393 people +4.59% vs 2022
World rank 10of 117
Period maximum 230,393 people2023
Period minimum 56,710 people1971

Trend over time

1971–2023 · people

Physicians, total — United Kingdom, 1971–20230100,000200,000300,00019711977198319891995200120072013201920231971: 56,710 people1972: 58,751 people1973: 60,575 people1974: 61,884 people1975: 64,107 people1976: 65,449 people1977: 66,846 people1978: 68,325 people1979: 72,293 people1980: 74,209 people1981: 76,042 people1982: 75,218 people1983: 78,737 people1984: 79,578 people1985: 80,763 people1986: 81,515 people1987: 85,284 people1988: 86,903 people1989: 88,607 people1990: 92,583 people1991: 93,663 people1992: 94,671 people1993: 97,055 people1994: 98,105 people1995: 101,803 people1996: 104,429 people1997: 108,030 people1998: 110,952 people1999: 112,183 people2000: 117,332 people2001: 120,709 people2002: 125,451 people2003: 131,272 people2004: 139,846 people2005: 145,413 people2006: 149,558 people2007: 152,679 people2008: 158,736 people2009: 165,109 people2010: 166,674 people2011: 170,317 people2012: 172,069 people2013: 173,985 people2014: 177,620 people2015: 180,888 people2016: 182,737 people2017: 185,921 people2018: 188,783 people2019: 196,784 people2020: 203,907 people2021: 213,839 people2022: 220,278 people2023: 230,393 people
Change over the period: +173,683 (+306.27%) Average annual rate: 2.73 %

Comparison, 2023

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

United Kingdom 230,393 people
Europe & Central Asia computed 2.88M people
Northern Europe computed 347,099 people
Physicians, total — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 230,393 +10,115 +4.59%
2022 220,278 +6,439 +3.01%
2021 213,839 +9,932 +4.87%
2020 203,907 +7,123 +3.62%
2019 196,784 +8,001 +4.24%
2018 188,783 +2,862 +1.54%
2017 185,921 +3,184 +1.74%
2016 182,737 +1,849 +1.02%
2015 180,888 +3,268 +1.84%
2014 177,620 +3,635 +2.09%
2013 173,985 +1,916 +1.11%
2012 172,069 +1,752 +1.03%
2011 170,317 +3,643 +2.19%
2010 166,674 +1,565 +0.95%
2009 165,109 +6,373 +4.01%
2008 158,736 +6,057 +3.97%
2007 152,679 +3,121 +2.09%
2006 149,558 +4,145 +2.85%
2005 145,413 +5,567 +3.98%
2004 139,846 +8,574 +6.53%
2003 131,272 +5,821 +4.64%
2002 125,451 +4,742 +3.93%
2001 120,709 +3,377 +2.88%
2000 117,332 +5,149 +4.59%
1999 112,183 +1,231 +1.11%
1998 110,952 +2,922 +2.7%
1997 108,030 +3,601 +3.45%
1996 104,429 +2,626 +2.58%
1995 101,803 +3,698 +3.77%
1994 98,105 +1,050 +1.08%
1993 97,055 +2,384 +2.52%
1992 94,671 +1,008 +1.08%
1991 93,663 +1,080 +1.17%
1990 92,583 +3,976 +4.49%
1989 88,607 +1,704 +1.96%
1988 86,903 +1,619 +1.9%
1987 85,284 +3,769 +4.62%
1986 81,515 +752 +0.93%
1985 80,763 +1,185 +1.49%
1984 79,578 +841 +1.07%
1983 78,737 +3,519 +4.68%
1982 75,218 −824 −1.08%
1981 76,042 +1,833 +2.47%
1980 74,209 +1,916 +2.65%
1979 72,293 +3,968 +5.81%
1978 68,325 +1,479 +2.21%
1977 66,846 +1,397 +2.13%
1976 65,449 +1,342 +2.09%
1975 64,107 +2,223 +3.59%
1974 61,884 +1,309 +2.16%
1973 60,575 +1,824 +3.1%
1972 58,751 +2,041 +3.6%
1971 56,710

Northern Europe, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.