Medical doctors in Australia
Australia: Medical doctors was 111,836 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
111,836
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
26th
of 187 countries
All-time high
111,836
in 2023
All-time low
16,525
in 1971
Years of data
53
1971–2023
Medical doctors in Australia, 1971–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2023, medical doctors in Australia stood at 111,836. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 43.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors in Australia peaked at 111,836 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 16,525, in 1971.
That places Australia 26th out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Medical doctors in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 16,525 | — |
| 1972 | 18,369 | +11.2% |
| 1973 | 18,225 | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 19,460 | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 20,524 | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 23,034 | +12.2% |
| 1977 | 23,406 | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 26,591 | +13.6% |
| 1979 | 25,812 | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 27,160 | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 27,710 | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 28,821 | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 29,956 | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 28,524 | -4.8% |
| 1985 | 30,168 | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 32,137 | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 33,494 | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 34,763 | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 35,951 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 36,991 | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 40,348 | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 41,461 | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 42,300 | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 43,404 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 44,583 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 43,756 | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 44,194 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 44,684 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 45,999 | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 47,372 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 49,392 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 49,895 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 51,819 | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 53,966 | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 56,084 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 58,167 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 62,652 | +7.7% |
| 2008 | 64,117 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 67,613 | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 74,061 | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 74,100 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 75,257 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 77,974 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 80,968 | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 83,490 | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 86,550 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 90,417 | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 93,604 | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 97,039 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 100,260 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 103,196 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 107,057 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 111,836 | +4.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 111,836 is above the median for high income countries, which is 20,208, 5.5× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Australia's 111,836 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,202, 34.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21,327 | 16,525 | 26,591 | 9 |
| 1980s | 30,868 | 27,160 | 35,951 | 10 |
| 1990s | 42,772 | 36,991 | 45,999 | 10 |
| 2000s | 56,108 | 47,372 | 67,613 | 10 |
| 2010s | 83,346 | 74,061 | 97,039 | 10 |
| 2020s | 105,587 | 100,260 | 111,836 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 23 Bangladesh 123,853 compare
- 24 Canada 113,435 compare
- 25 Saudi Arabia 113,300 compare
- 27 Vietnam 109,535 compare
- 28 Philippines 100,608 compare
- 29 Nigeria 96,321 compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is medical doctors in Australia?
- Medical doctors in Australia was 111,836 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest medical doctors recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 111,836 in 2023.
- What is the lowest medical doctors recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,525 in 1971.
- How does Australia rank for medical doctors?
- Australia ranks 26th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is medical doctors rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Medical doctors (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).