South Africa vs Sweden: Medical doctors

South Africa
49,051
in 2024
Sweden
46,918
in 2022
South Africa rank
43rd
Sweden rank
45th

Medical doctors over time

  • South Africa
  • Sweden
020.0k40.0k60.0k198420042024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 49,051 against 46,918 in Sweden, a difference of 2,133.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 17 shared years of data; in 2004 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 43rd and Sweden ranks 45th of 187 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sweden Difference Ahead
2000s 34,887 33,076 1,810 South Africa
2010s 41,488 40,278 1,211 South Africa
2020s 47,152 45,861 1,291 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher medical doctors, South Africa or Sweden?
South Africa, at 49,051 against 46,918 in Sweden as of 2024.
What is the difference in medical doctors between South Africa and Sweden?
2,133, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sweden?
17 years are reported by both, from 2004 to 2022.
How do South Africa and Sweden rank globally for medical doctors?
South Africa ranks 43rd and Sweden ranks 45th of 187 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as Medical doctors (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sweden: Medical doctors. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/medical-doctors-number/south-africa/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Medical doctors (number)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
189 places, 4,297 data points, 1971–2024
Last refreshed