Medical doctors in South Africa
South Africa: Medical doctors was 49,051 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
49,051
Change on year
down 4.9%
World rank
43rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
51,579
in 2023
All-time low
34,324
in 2007
Years of data
19
2004–2024
Medical doctors in South Africa, 2004–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for medical doctors in South Africa is 49,051, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and up 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors in South Africa peaked at 51,579 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34,324, in 2007.
South Africa ranks 43rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Medical doctors in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 34,829 | — |
| 2007 | 34,324 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 34,687 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 35,707 | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 36,912 | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 37,583 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 38,444 | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 39,847 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 41,132 | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 43,277 | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 43,141 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 44,653 | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 43,503 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 46,393 | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 43,901 | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 48,021 | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 49,533 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 51,579 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 49,051 | -4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34,887 | 34,324 | 35,707 | 4 |
| 2010s | 41,488 | 36,912 | 46,393 | 10 |
| 2020s | 48,417 | 43,901 | 51,579 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,152 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is medical doctors in South Africa?
- Medical doctors in South Africa was 49,051 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest medical doctors recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51,579 in 2023.
- What is the lowest medical doctors recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,324 in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for medical doctors?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is medical doctors rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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 — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).