Medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador
El Salvador: Medical doctors per 1,000 people was 1.62 per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.62 per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
98th
of 194 countries
All-time high
2.96 per 1,000 people
in 2018
All-time low
0.187 per 1,000 people
in 1960
Years of data
20
1960–2023
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador, 1960–2023
Source: World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador is 1.62 per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador peaked at 2.96 per 1,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.187 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
That places El Salvador 98th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.187 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 0.243 per 1,000 people | +29.9% |
| 1975 | 0.242 per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 0.326 per 1,000 people | +34.7% |
| 1981 | 0.387 per 1,000 people | +18.7% |
| 1984 | 0.352 per 1,000 people | -9.0% |
| 1988 | 0.647 per 1,000 people | +83.8% |
| 1990 | 0.84 per 1,000 people | +29.8% |
| 1993 | 0.66 per 1,000 people | -21.4% |
| 1995 | 0.91 per 1,000 people | +37.9% |
| 1997 | 1.07 per 1,000 people | +17.7% |
| 1999 | 1.23 per 1,000 people | +14.8% |
| 2002 | 1.33 per 1,000 people | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 1.72 per 1,000 people | +30.0% |
| 2008 | 1.91 per 1,000 people | +11.0% |
| 2016 | 1.57 per 1,000 people | -18.2% |
| 2018 | 2.96 per 1,000 people | +89.2% |
| 2021 | 2.94 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.57 per 1,000 people | -46.7% |
| 2023 | 1.62 per 1,000 people | +3.2% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 1.62 per 1,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.84 per 1,000 people, 88% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 1.62 per 1,000 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.9 per 1,000 people, 85% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.187 per 1,000 people | 0.187 per 1,000 people | 0.187 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 0.2425 per 1,000 people | 0.242 per 1,000 people | 0.243 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.428 per 1,000 people | 0.326 per 1,000 people | 0.647 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 1990s | 0.942 per 1,000 people | 0.66 per 1,000 people | 1.23 per 1,000 people | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.65 per 1,000 people | 1.33 per 1,000 people | 1.91 per 1,000 people | 3 |
| 2010s | 2.26 per 1,000 people | 1.57 per 1,000 people | 2.96 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.04 per 1,000 people | 1.57 per 1,000 people | 2.94 per 1,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More health data for El Salvador
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4574 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,537 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 104 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.9135 % 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 0.0374 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.8849 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador?
- Medical doctors per 1,000 people in El Salvador was 1.62 per 1,000 people in 2023, according to World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 2.96 per 1,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.187 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does El Salvador rank for medical doctors per 1,000 people?
- El Salvador ranks 98th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is medical doctors per 1,000 people rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Medical doctors per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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