Costa Rica Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Costa Rica's physicians was 3.00 in 2025, ranked 56th globally. This represents a 11.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's physicians stood at 3.00 in 2025, a rise of +0.32 from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.00 by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 56th globally.
Costa Rica’s physician density has risen from 0.39 per 1,000 people in 1960 to 3.00 per 1,000 in 2025, marking a steady expansion over 34 years and positioning the country at rank 56 globally. The all‑time peak of 3.00 physicians per 1,000, recorded in 2025, reflects a more than seven‑fold increase since the trough of 0.39 in 1960, underscoring significant investment in medical education and health infrastructure. This level is comparable to peer nations such as Canada (3.06) and North Macedonia (2.93), suggesting Costa Rica has approached the physician density of high‑income economies while still lagging behind the Caribbean outlier Barbados (3.07). The upward trajectory aligns with broader regional efforts to improve universal health coverage, yet maintaining growth will depend on sustaining funding for training programs and addressing potential brain‑drain. Continued policy focus on expanding domestic medical schools and incentivising rural practice could further elevate the physician workforce in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 3.00 | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.00 | +0.32 | #56 |
| 2022 | 2.69 | +0.12 | #58 |
| 2021 | 2.56 | +0.07 | #60 |
| 2020 | 2.49 | +0.12 | #61 |
| 2019 | 2.38 | +0.12 | #62 |
| 2018 | 2.25 | +0.15 | #67 |
| 2017 | 2.10 | +0.15 | #71 |
| 2016 | 1.96 | +0.15 | #70 |
| 2015 | 1.81 | −0.85 | #69 |
| 2014 | 2.66 | +0.10 | #51 |
| 2013 | 2.56 | +0.09 | #49 |
| 2012 | 2.47 | +0.09 | #51 |
| 2011 | 2.38 | +0.07 | #51 |
| 2010 | 2.32 | +0.09 | #50 |
| 2009 | 2.23 | +0.06 | #48 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's physicians was 3.00 in 2025. Ranked 56th globally. This represents a 11.8% increase from the previous year.
Costa Rica's physicians peaked at 3.00 in 2025.
The lowest physicians in Costa Rica was 0.39 in 1960.
Costa Rica ranks 56th globally in physicians as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's physicians is projected to reach 3.00 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The physicians of Costa Rica in 2025 was 3.00. This ranks 56th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_physicians,
title = {Costa Rica Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}