Physicians per 1,000 People
Number of medical doctors per 1,000 population, measuring healthcare workforce density.
Quick Reference
Unit
per 1,000 people
Category
Health
Metric Code
physicians_per_1000
How It's Calculated
Total number of physicians (medical doctors with medical degree, generalists and specialists) divided by population, multiplied by 1,000. Includes doctors working in clinical settings, administration, research, and public health. Based on national health workforce registries or labor force surveys.
Why It Matters
Physician density is a critical determinant of healthcare access and quality. WHO threshold of ~2.3 skilled health workers per 1,000 (doctors, nurses, midwives) represents minimum for basic coverage of essential health services. Severe shortages lead to long wait times, limited specialist access, and reliance on less-trained practitioners.
Understanding the Values
Very Low: < 0.5 per 1,000 (severe shortage - most sub-Saharan Africa) Low: 0.5-1.0 (insufficient - rural areas underserved) Moderate: 1.0-2.3 (approaching WHO threshold) Good: 2.3-4.0 (adequate coverage - most high-income countries) High: > 4.0 (strong capacity - Cuba ~8.4, Austria ~5.2) WHO threshold: ~2.3 health workers per 1,000 for SDG coverage Global average: ~1.6 per 1,000 (2023)
Related Metrics
Hospital Beds per 1,000 People
Number of hospital beds available per 1,000 population, indicating healthcare infrastructure capacity.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Average number of years a newborn is expected to live under current mortality patterns.
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index
Composite index measuring coverage of essential health services, ranging from 0 to 100.
Data Quality & Coverage
Coverage: ~180 countries Update frequency: Annual to every 3 years Source: World Bank / WHO Global Health Workforce statistics Limitations: Does not account for geographic distribution (urban vs rural concentration), age profile (retiring workforce), or emigration (brain drain). Includes non-practicing doctors (administrators, researchers). Quality of training and specialization mix not captured.