Health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa

South Africa: Health worker density, by type of occupation was 1.07 per 10,000 people in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
1.07 per 10,000 people
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
124th
of 183 countries
All-time high
1.14 per 10,000 people
in 2004
All-time low
1 per 10,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
16
2004–2024

Health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa, 2004–2024

00.250.50.7511.22004201420242004: 1.1 per 10,000 people2010: 1 per 10,000 people2011: 1 per 10,000 people2012: 1 per 10,000 people2013: 1.1 per 10,000 people2014: 1.1 per 10,000 people2015: 1.1 per 10,000 people2016: 1.1 per 10,000 people2017: 1.1 per 10,000 people2018: 1.1 per 10,000 people2019: 1.1 per 10,000 people2020: 1 per 10,000 people2021: 1.1 per 10,000 people2022: 1.1 per 10,000 people2023: 1.1 per 10,000 people2024: 1.1 per 10,000 people

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 10,000 people.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 1.07 per 10,000 people for health worker density, by type of occupation in 2024.

The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa peaked at 1.14 per 10,000 people in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1 per 10,000 people, in 2020.

That places South Africa 124th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Health worker density, by type of occupation (per 10,000 population) in South Africa, 2004 to 2024.
Year per 10,000 people Change
2004 1.14 per 10,000 people
2010 1.01 per 10,000 people -11.4%
2011 1.02 per 10,000 people +1.0%
2012 1.03 per 10,000 people +1.0%
2013 1.06 per 10,000 people +2.9%
2014 1.05 per 10,000 people -0.9%
2015 1.06 per 10,000 people +1.0%
2016 1.08 per 10,000 people +1.9%
2017 1.1 per 10,000 people +1.9%
2018 1.1 per 10,000 people +0.0%
2019 1.07 per 10,000 people -2.7%
2020 1 per 10,000 people -6.5%
2021 1.07 per 10,000 people +7.0%
2022 1.06 per 10,000 people -0.9%
2023 1.06 per 10,000 people +0.0%
2024 1.07 per 10,000 people +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.14 per 10,000 people 1.14 per 10,000 people 1.14 per 10,000 people 1
2010s 1.06 per 10,000 people 1.01 per 10,000 people 1.1 per 10,000 people 10
2020s 1.05 per 10,000 people 1 per 10,000 people 1.07 per 10,000 people 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 122 Namibia 1.14 per 10,000 people compare
  2. 123 Thailand 1.13 per 10,000 people compare
  3. 125 Maldives 1.02 per 10,000 people compare
  4. 126 Bhutan 0.97 per 10,000 people compare
  5. 126 Jamaica 0.97 per 10,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 184 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa?
Health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa was 1.07 per 10,000 people in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest health worker density, by type of occupation recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.14 per 10,000 people in 2004.
What is the lowest health worker density, by type of occupation recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1 per 10,000 people in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for health worker density, by type of occupation?
South Africa ranks 124th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
Is health worker density, by type of occupation rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Health worker density, by type of occupation (per 10,000 population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Health worker density, by type of occupation in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/health-worker-density-by-type-of-occupation-per-10-000-population/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Health worker density, by type of occupation (per 10,000 population)
Unit
per 10,000 people
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
184 places, 2,865 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed