Belize Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Belize's physicians was 1.09 in 2018, ranked 93rd globally. This represents a 4.0% decrease from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2018.
Overview
Belize's physicians stood at 1.09 in 2018, a decline of +0.04 from 2017. Belize ranked 93rd globally.
Belize’s physician density rose from a low of 0.24 physicians per 1,000 people in 1960, the all‑time trough, to 1.09 in 2018, placing the nation 93rd globally. The upward trajectory peaked in 2012 at 1.16, matching the level recorded for Dominica, a peer with a comparable rank. This gradual increase reflects sustained investments in medical education and modest expansion of the public health workforce, yet the figure remains below the regional benchmark set by Peru’s 1.37 physicians per 1,000. The 14‑year coverage window shows a steady, though not accelerated, improvement, suggesting that while Belize has narrowed the gap with higher‑ranking peers such as Sri Lanka (0.96) and Pakistan (0.92), further gains will likely depend on scaling training capacity and retaining qualified doctors. Continued policy focus on health‑sector financing and incentives for rural practice could shift the current modest rise into a more pronounced upward trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.09 | −0.04 | #93 |
| 2017 | 1.13 | −0.03 | #91 |
| 2012 | 1.16 | +0.39 | #80 |
| 2009 | 0.77 | −0.27 | #86 |
| 2000 | 1.04 | +0.49 | #73 |
| 1996 | 0.55 | −0.05 | #70 |
| 1995 | 0.60 | +0.11 | #86 |
| 1993 | 0.49 | −0.15 | #78 |
| 1990 | 0.64 | +0.17 | #87 |
| 1988 | 0.47 | +0.02 | #36 |
| 1986 | 0.45 | +0.18 | #48 |
| 1984 | 0.27 | −0.07 | #57 |
| 1970 | 0.34 | +0.10 | #64 |
| 1960 | 0.24 | – | #62 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Belize matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1990. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Belize's physicians was 1.09 in 2018. Ranked 93rd globally. This represents a 4.0% decrease from the previous year.
Belize's physicians peaked at 1.16 in 2012.
The lowest physicians in Belize was 0.24 in 1960.
Belize ranks 93rd globally in physicians as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The physicians of Belize in 2018 was 1.09. This ranks 93rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_belize_physicians,
title = {Belize Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/belize/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}