Medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea
North Korea: Medical doctors per 1,000 people was 3.63 per 1,000 people in 2017. ▲ Rising
Latest (2017)
3.63 per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
40th
of 194 countries
All-time high
3.65 per 1,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
2.51 per 1,000 people
in 1983
Years of data
9
1982–2017
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea, 1982–2017
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
In 2017, medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea stood at 3.63 per 1,000 people.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea peaked at 3.65 per 1,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 2.51 per 1,000 people, in 1983.
North Korea ranks 40th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 2.55 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1983 | 2.51 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 2.97 per 1,000 people | +18.3% |
| 2003 | 3.1 per 1,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 3.23 per 1,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 3.39 per 1,000 people | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 3.45 per 1,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 3.65 per 1,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 3.63 per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3.63 per 1,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.1455 per 1,000 people, 24.9× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3.63 per 1,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.06 per 1,000 people, 3.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.53 per 1,000 people | 2.51 per 1,000 people | 2.55 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.97 per 1,000 people | 2.97 per 1,000 people | 2.97 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.16 per 1,000 people | 3.1 per 1,000 people | 3.23 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.53 per 1,000 people | 3.39 per 1,000 people | 3.65 per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 37 Kazakhstan 3.75 per 1,000 people compare
- 38 Slovakia 3.7 per 1,000 people compare
- 39 United States 3.68 per 1,000 people compare
- 41 Romania 3.62 per 1,000 people compare
- 42 New Zealand 3.61 per 1,000 people compare
- 43 Finland 3.61 per 1,000 people compare
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.031 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6303 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6995 % change on previous year (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea?
- Medical doctors per 1,000 people in North Korea was 3.63 per 1,000 people in 2017, 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.65 per 1,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.51 per 1,000 people in 1983.
- How does North Korea rank for medical doctors per 1,000 people?
- North Korea ranks 40th out of 194 countries with data for 2017.
- Is medical doctors per 1,000 people rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea 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.
Download this data
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