Pharmacists in South Africa

South Africa: Pharmacists was 18,313 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
18,313
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
32nd
of 164 countries
All-time high
18,313
in 2024
All-time low
11,097
in 2004
Years of data
9
2004–2024

Pharmacists in South Africa, 2004–2024

05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k2004201420242004: 11.1k2011: 12.8k2012: 13.6k2014: 15.0k2015: 15.8k2016: 15.3k2022: 16.8k2023: 17.9k2024: 18.3k

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for pharmacists in South Africa is 18,313, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 22.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pharmacists in South Africa peaked at 18,313 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11,097, in 2004.

South Africa ranks 32nd of 164 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Pharmacists in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Pharmacists (number) in South Africa, 2004 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2004 11,097
2011 12,813 +15.5%
2012 13,642 +6.5%
2014 14,994 +9.9%
2015 15,784 +5.3%
2016 15,267 -3.3%
2022 16,829 +10.2%
2023 17,892 +6.3%
2024 18,313 +2.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11,097 11,097 11,097 1
2010s 14,500 12,813 15,784 5
2020s 17,678 16,829 18,313 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 29 Romania 21,664 compare
  2. 30 Ethiopia 21,395 compare
  3. 31 Bangladesh 18,921 compare
  4. 33 Thailand 16,474 compare
  5. 34 United Arab Emirates 16,263 compare
  6. 35 Belgium 15,040 compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is pharmacists in South Africa?
Pharmacists in South Africa was 18,313 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest pharmacists recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 18,313 in 2024.
What is the lowest pharmacists recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11,097 in 2004.
How does South Africa rank for pharmacists?
South Africa ranks 32nd out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
Is pharmacists rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. 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 Pharmacists (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Pharmacists in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/pharmacists-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Pharmacists (number)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
166 places, 3,388 data points, 1971–2024
Last refreshed