Medical doctors in Malaysia
Malaysia: Medical doctors was 80,768 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Medical doctors in Malaysia, 1983–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for medical doctors in Malaysia is 80,768, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 77.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors in Malaysia peaked at 82,227 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4,474, in 1983.
Malaysia ranks 33rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Medical doctors in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 4,474 | — |
| 1984 | 4,505 | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 4,939 | +9.6% |
| 1986 | 5,394 | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 5,794 | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 6,274 | +8.3% |
| 1989 | 6,577 | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 7,012 | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 7,198 | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 7,719 | +7.2% |
| 1993 | 8,279 | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 8,831 | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 9,608 | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 10,196 | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 14,248 | +39.7% |
| 1998 | 15,016 | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 15,503 | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 15,619 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 16,146 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 17,442 | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 18,191 | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 18,246 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 20,105 | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 21,937 | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 23,738 | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 25,102 | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 30,536 | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 32,979 | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 36,607 | +11.0% |
| 2012 | 38,718 | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 46,916 | +21.2% |
| 2014 | 45,565 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 46,491 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 50,087 | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 57,831 | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 61,158 | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 67,586 | +10.5% |
| 2020 | 73,996 | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 77,755 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 79,443 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 82,227 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 80,768 | -1.8% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 80,768 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,776, 3.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 80,768 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,202, 25.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Medical doctors in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +39.7% | 10,196 | 14,248 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,422 | 4,474 | 6,577 | 7 |
| 1990s | 10,361 | 7,012 | 15,503 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,706 | 15,619 | 30,536 | 10 |
| 2010s | 48,394 | 32,979 | 67,586 | 10 |
| 2020s | 78,838 | 73,996 | 82,227 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 30 Cuba 94,066 compare
- 31 Uzbekistan 82,823 compare
- 32 North Korea 82,121 compare
- 34 Algeria 75,512 compare
- 35 Romania 70,965 compare
- 36 Netherlands 69,985 compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 Malaysia?
- Medical doctors in Malaysia was 80,768 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest medical doctors recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 82,227 in 2023.
- What is the lowest medical doctors recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,474 in 1983.
- How does Malaysia rank for medical doctors?
- Malaysia ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is medical doctors rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).