Physicians in South Africa

South Africa had 0.79 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022. The value for 2022 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1965.

Physicians per 1,000 people (WHO) Physicians per 1,000 people Data: 1965 to 2022 Source: World Bank

South Africa, 2022 0.79 Physicians per 1,000 people

Change from 2021 +0.01per 1,000 people 2021: 0.78 per 1,000 people

World, 2022 1.86 per 1,000 people Official aggregate

Median of G20 countries, 2022 3.14 per 1,000 people Middle value of 17 countries

Physicians in South Africa over time

From

South Africa World ×

The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.

Physicians per 1,000 people. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.

Physicians per 1,000 people (WHO) (physicians per 1,000 people), 2000 to 2022
Period	South Africa	World
2022	0.79 per 1,000 people	1.86 per 1,000 people
2021	0.78 per 1,000 people	–
2019	0.78 per 1,000 people	–
2018	0.74 per 1,000 people	–
2017	0.78 per 1,000 people	–
2016	0.75 per 1,000 people	–
2015	0.76 per 1,000 people	–
2014	0.74 per 1,000 people	–
2013	0.73 per 1,000 people	–
2012	0.72 per 1,000 people	–
2011	0.71 per 1,000 people	–
2010	0.71 per 1,000 people	1.49 per 1,000 people
2009	0.69 per 1,000 people	–
2008	0.68 per 1,000 people	–
2007	0.68 per 1,000 people	–
2004	0.71 per 1,000 people	–
2000	–	1.52 per 1,000 people

A dash means no value was published for that period.

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In short

That is a change of +0.01 from 0.78 per 1,000 people in 2021.
Since 2011, when it was 0.71 per 1,000 people, the figure has changed by +0.09.
The figure for the world in 2022 was 1.86 per 1,000 people.

More for South Africa

All statistics for South Africa

Hospital beds 2.3 per 1,000 people 2010 · World Bank Life expectancy estimates and projections 66.1 years 2023 · UN Population Division Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections 15.0 years 2023 · UN Population Division Healthy life expectancy 56.2 years 2023 · WHO UHC service coverage 74 2023 · WHO Alcohol consumption 7.40 litres 2024 · WHO

Source and dates

Original producer: World Health Organization, Global Health Workforce Statistics; OECD
Distributed by: World Bank, World Development Indicators
Dataset or series code: SH.MED.PHYS.ZS · dataset details · view at source
Observation period: 1965 to 2022 for South Africa
Provider update: 8 October 2026
Retrieved: 9 November 2026
Published here: 9 November 2026
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (per series metadata)
Attribution: Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, original data: World Health Organization, Global Health Workforce Statistics; OECD