Medical doctors in South Korea
South Korea: Medical doctors was 137,805 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
137,805
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
19th
of 187 countries
All-time high
137,805
in 2023
All-time low
19,275
in 1981
Years of data
43
1981–2023
Medical doctors in South Korea, 1981–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 137,805 for medical doctors in 2023. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors in South Korea peaked at 137,805 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 19,275, in 1981.
South Korea ranks 19th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Medical doctors in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 19,275 | — |
| 1982 | 21,551 | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 21,749 | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 23,043 | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 24,830 | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 26,587 | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 28,204 | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 31,197 | +10.6% |
| 1989 | 33,791 | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 35,781 | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 38,907 | +8.7% |
| 1992 | 42,394 | +9.0% |
| 1993 | 45,477 | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 47,740 | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 50,635 | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 53,372 | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 56,662 | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 58,684 | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 61,182 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 60,895 | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 65,715 | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 70,923 | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 75,045 | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 75,236 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 78,342 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 81,666 | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 84,464 | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 90,532 | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 94,672 | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 98,293 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 101,370 | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 104,114 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 108,909 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 111,694 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 114,322 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 117,450 | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 120,630 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 123,230 | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 127,258 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 130,014 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 130,479 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 135,128 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 137,805 | +2.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 137,805 is above the median for high income countries, which is 20,208, 6.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 137,805 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,202, 43.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25,581 | 19,275 | 33,791 | 9 |
| 1990s | 49,083 | 35,781 | 61,182 | 10 |
| 2000s | 77,749 | 60,895 | 94,672 | 10 |
| 2010s | 112,727 | 98,293 | 127,258 | 10 |
| 2020s | 133,356 | 130,014 | 137,805 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 South Korea?
- Medical doctors in South Korea was 137,805 in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest medical doctors recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 137,805 in 2023.
- What is the lowest medical doctors recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,275 in 1981.
- How does South Korea rank for medical doctors?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is medical doctors rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).