The Number of Medical Doctors is Three Times Higher in High-Income Countries

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reports that high-income countries have approximately three times more medical doctors than low- and lower-middle-income countries. In 2019, the ratio of medical doctors was 26.3 per 10,000 people in high-income countries.

This ratio exceeds the global average of 17.5 medical doctors per 10,000 people. This average is the same as that of upper-middle-income countries, which have a ratio of 17.5 medical doctors per 10,000 people.

Low- and lower-middle-income countries have 9.1 medical doctors per 10,000 people. However, this ratio has increased from 5.8 doctors per 10,000 people in 2000.

Meanwhile, the Asia and Pacific region has a ratio of medical doctors below the global average. In 2019, the Asia and Pacific region had 13.6 medical doctors per 10,000 people, up from 8.9 medical doctors per 10,000 people in 2000.

The ADB also mentions a disparity in the ratio of nurses and midwives. High-income countries have 110.6 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people.

This ratio is significantly higher compared to upper-middle- and lower-middle-income countries. Upper-middle-income countries have a ratio of 29.4 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people. Low- and lower-middle-income countries have 22.3 per 10,000 people.