Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Ireland
Ireland: Physicians (per 1,000 people) was 3.88 per 1,000 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Physicians in Ireland, 1990–2023
Source: Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2023, physicians in Ireland stood at 3.88 per 1,000 people.
The figure is up 15.3% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, physicians in Ireland peaked at 4.13 per 1,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.55 per 1,000 people, in 1990.
Ireland ranks 35th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.55 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1991 | 1.7 per 1,000 people | +9.3% |
| 1992 | 1.99 per 1,000 people | +17.6% |
| 1993 | 2.02 per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 1.99 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.12 per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 2.18 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 2.26 per 1,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 2.22 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 2.37 per 1,000 people | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 2.4 per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 2.57 per 1,000 people | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 2.74 per 1,000 people | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 3.53 per 1,000 people | +28.9% |
| 2006 | 3.63 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 3.84 per 1,000 people | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 3.95 per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 4 per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 4.13 per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 4.1 per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 3.95 per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 3.93 per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.01 per 1,000 people | -23.3% |
| 2015 | 3.12 per 1,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 3.19 per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 3.26 per 1,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 3.28 per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 3.32 per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 3.46 per 1,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 4.03 per 1,000 people | +16.5% |
| 2022 | 3.36 per 1,000 people | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 3.88 per 1,000 people | +15.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3.88 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)
- Ireland's 3.88 per 1,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.73 per 1,000 people, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +28.9% | 2.74 per 1,000 people | 3.53 per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2 per 1,000 people | 1.55 per 1,000 people | 2.26 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.13 per 1,000 people | 2.22 per 1,000 people | 4 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.53 per 1,000 people | 3.01 per 1,000 people | 4.13 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.68 per 1,000 people | 3.36 per 1,000 people | 4.03 per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 20 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % 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 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is physicians in Ireland?
- Physicians in Ireland was 3.88 per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest physicians recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.13 per 1,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest physicians recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.55 per 1,000 people in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for physicians?
- Ireland ranks 35th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is physicians rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.