per 10,000 · WHO
Physicians density
Number of medical doctors (generalist + specialist) per 10,000 population.
Methodology & source
How this is measured.
Definition
Number of medical doctors (generalist + specialist) per 10,000 population.
Calculation
WHO National Health Workforce Accounts, country-reported and harmonised.
Primary source
Caveats
Definitions of "medical doctor" can vary. Reporting frequency is irregular.
Cross the bridge
Behind the numbers, the country.
Numbers tell you the trajectory. Tourism shows you the people, the parks, the streets — the lives the data is measuring.
Keep going
Other indicators in this topic.
Continent average
3.62
per 10,000
Change since 2000
↑ 47%
Improving
Continental view
Africa, color-coded.
Hover or tap any country to see its rate.
Time series
How it's changed.
Continent average vs. Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa. Values in per 10,000.
Continent average
Nigeria
Kenya
South Africa
Biggest improvers
Largest gains since 2000
Tanzania↑ 661%
2002: 0.23 per 10,0002024: 1.75 per 10,000
Ethiopia↑ 500%
2003: 0.26 per 10,0002024: 1.56 per 10,000
Mali↑ 476%
2004: 0.55 per 10,0002024: 3.17 per 10,000
Benin↑ 463%
2004: 0.38 per 10,0002024: 2.14 per 10,000
Stalled or worse
Smallest gains, or moved the wrong way
Open the data
Every country, latest available value.
Sorted highest to lowest — higher is better. Click any country to open its dataset detail page.
Showing 20 of 47.
2004: 1.88 per 10,0002024: 0.88 per 10,000
Republic of the Congo↓ 32%
1998: 7.30 per 10,0002024: 4.98 per 10,000
Madagascar↓ 21%
2002: 1.30 per 10,0002024: 1.03 per 10,000
Equatorial Guinea↓ 10%
2004: 1.70 per 10,0002022: 1.53 per 10,000
Bulk download
Every country, every year — Physicians density.
All 585 data points for this indicator across all 54 African countries (1990–2024). Free for any non-commercial use; please cite WHO.