Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Portugal
Portugal: Physicians (per 1,000 people) was 5.85 per 1,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
5.85 per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
5th
of 194 countries
All-time high
5.85 per 1,000 people
in 2022
All-time low
0.8 per 1,000 people
in 1960
Years of data
53
1960–2022
Physicians in Portugal, 1960–2022
Source: Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2022, physicians in Portugal stood at 5.85 per 1,000 people. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 38.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, physicians in Portugal peaked at 5.85 per 1,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.8 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
That places Portugal 5th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.8 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1961 | 0.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1963 | 0.8 per 1,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1964 | 0.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1 per 1,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1969 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1970 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 1 per 1,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1972 | 1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.1 per 1,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1974 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.3 per 1,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1977 | 1.5 per 1,000 people | +15.4% |
| 1978 | 1.7 per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1979 | 1.9 per 1,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1990 | 2.81 per 1,000 people | +47.6% |
| 1991 | 2.84 per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 2.86 per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 2.88 per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 2.9 per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 2.93 per 1,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 3.01 per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 3.05 per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 3.11 per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 3.13 per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 3.21 per 1,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 3.26 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 3.29 per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 3.34 per 1,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 3.42 per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 3.5 per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 3.57 per 1,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 3.66 per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 3.75 per 1,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 3.86 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 3.98 per 1,000 people | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 4.12 per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 4.24 per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 4.4 per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 4.56 per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 4.75 per 1,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 4.93 per 1,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 5.1 per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 5.28 per 1,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 5.42 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 5.58 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 5.71 per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 5.85 per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 5.85 per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.59 per 1,000 people, 1.6× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 5.85 per 1,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.73 per 1,000 people, 1.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +47.6% | 1.9 per 1,000 people | 2.81 per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.87 per 1,000 people | 0.8 per 1,000 people | 1 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.28 per 1,000 people | 0.9 per 1,000 people | 1.9 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.95 per 1,000 people | 2.81 per 1,000 people | 3.13 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.49 per 1,000 people | 3.21 per 1,000 people | 3.86 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.68 per 1,000 people | 3.98 per 1,000 people | 5.42 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.71 per 1,000 people | 5.58 per 1,000 people | 5.85 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More health data for Portugal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1616 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 38 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.39 % 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 0.0199 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.15 % 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 0.021 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is physicians in Portugal?
- Physicians in Portugal was 5.85 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest physicians recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 5.85 per 1,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest physicians recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Portugal rank for physicians?
- Portugal ranks 5th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is physicians rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners.