Physicians (per 1,000 people) in United States
United States: Physicians (per 1,000 people) was 3.68 per 1,000 people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Physicians in United States, 1960–2022
Source: Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
United States recorded 3.68 per 1,000 people for physicians in 2022. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 44.5% over five years.
Over the whole period, physicians in United States peaked at 3.68 per 1,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.1 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
That places United States 39th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Physicians (per 1,000 people) in United States, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.1 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1970 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.3 per 1,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1976 | 1.3 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1.3 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1.4 per 1,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1979 | 1.4 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.5 per 1,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 1.5 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.6 per 1,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 1.6 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.7 per 1,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.9 per 1,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 1.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2.41 per 1,000 people | +26.9% |
| 2000 | 2.6 per 1,000 people | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 2.71 per 1,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 2.55 per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 3.48 per 1,000 people | +36.7% |
| 2020 | 3.52 per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 3.58 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.68 per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.68 per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.59 per 1,000 people, 1.0× the median. (66 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Physicians (per 1,000 people) in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +36.7% | 2.55 per 1,000 people | 3.48 per 1,000 people |
| 1995 | +26.9% | 1.9 per 1,000 people | 2.41 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 | 1.32 per 1,000 people | 1.2 per 1,000 people | 1.4 per 1,000 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.66 per 1,000 people | 1.5 per 1,000 people | 1.8 per 1,000 people | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.98 per 1,000 people | 1.8 per 1,000 people | 2.41 per 1,000 people | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.65 per 1,000 people | 2.6 per 1,000 people | 2.71 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.02 per 1,000 people | 2.55 per 1,000 people | 3.48 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.59 per 1,000 people | 3.52 per 1,000 people | 3.68 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 36 Israel 3.8 per 1,000 people compare
- 37 Kazakhstan 3.75 per 1,000 people compare
- 38 Slovakia 3.7 per 1,000 people compare
- 40 North Korea 3.63 per 1,000 people compare
- 41 Romania 3.62 per 1,000 people compare
- 42 New Zealand 3.61 per 1,000 people compare
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 United States?
- Physicians in United States was 3.68 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to Global Health Workforce Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest physicians recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.68 per 1,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest physicians recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does United States rank for physicians?
- United States ranks 39th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Where does this United States 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.