Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Australia
Australia: Physicians (per 1,000 people) was 4.09 per 1,000 people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Physicians in Australia, 1961–2022
Source: Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2022, physicians in Australia stood at 4.09 per 1,000 people. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, physicians in Australia peaked at 4.09 per 1,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.1 per 1,000 people, in 1961.
Australia ranks 29th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Australia, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.1 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1966 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1971 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.5 per 1,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1981 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1984 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.9 per 1,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 2 per 1,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 2.16 per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 2.33 per 1,000 people | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 2.36 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 2.39 per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 2.42 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 2.46 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 2.39 per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 2.39 per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 2.39 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2.43 per 1,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 2.48 per 1,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 2.55 per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 2.55 per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 2.62 per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 2.69 per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 2.76 per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 2.83 per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 2.99 per 1,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 3 per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 3.1 per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 3.35 per 1,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 3.3 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 3.29 per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.36 per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 3.43 per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 3.49 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 3.56 per 1,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.66 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.73 per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 3.81 per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 3.9 per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 3.98 per 1,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 4.09 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 4.09 per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.59 per 1,000 people, 1.1× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Australia's 4.09 per 1,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.06 per 1,000 people, 3.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +25.0% | 1.2 per 1,000 people | 1.5 per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.15 per 1,000 people | 1.1 per 1,000 people | 1.2 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.35 per 1,000 people | 1.2 per 1,000 people | 1.5 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.97 per 1,000 people | 1.8 per 1,000 people | 2.1 per 1,000 people | 7 |
| 1990s | 2.37 per 1,000 people | 2.16 per 1,000 people | 2.46 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.76 per 1,000 people | 2.48 per 1,000 people | 3.1 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5 per 1,000 people | 3.29 per 1,000 people | 3.81 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.99 per 1,000 people | 3.9 per 1,000 people | 4.09 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 215 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is physicians in Australia?
- Physicians in Australia was 4.09 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest physicians recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.09 per 1,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest physicians recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1 per 1,000 people in 1961.
- How does Australia rank for physicians?
- Australia ranks 29th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is physicians rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Physicians (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners.