Ecuador Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Ecuador's physicians was 2.31 in 2020, ranked 66th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2020.
Overview
Ecuador's physicians stood at 2.31 in 2020, a decline of +0.01 from 2019. Ecuador ranked 66th globally.
Ecuador’s density of physicians rose from a modest 0.40 per 1,000 people in 1960 to 2.31 in 2020, placing it 66th globally and aligning it with peers such as Uzbekistan (2.31) and Kuwait (2.27). The upward trajectory accelerated after the 1965 trough of 0.34, reaching an all‑time peak of 2.34 in 2018 before a slight dip to the 2020 level. Over the 36‑year coverage period, the country added roughly 2.0 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants, mirroring the rapid expansion observed in China, which recorded 2.38 per 1,000 in the same year. The sustained increase reflects expanded medical education, public‑sector hiring, and health‑system reforms, yet the marginal decline from the 2018 peak suggests constraints such as budgetary pressures or workforce retention challenges. Continued investment in training programmes and incentives for rural practice will be crucial to maintain the positive trend and avoid a reversal of progress.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.31 | −0.01 | #66 |
| 2019 | 2.32 | −0.02 | #65 |
| 2018 | 2.34 | +0.12 | #64 |
| 2017 | 2.23 | +0.17 | #65 |
| 2016 | 2.06 | +0.25 | #67 |
| 2015 | 1.81 | +0.12 | #70 |
| 2014 | 1.68 | +0.04 | #79 |
| 2013 | 1.65 | +0.08 | #74 |
| 2012 | 1.56 | +0.18 | #74 |
| 2011 | 1.38 | +0.10 | #78 |
| 2010 | 1.28 | +0.07 | #80 |
| 2009 | 1.22 | +0.12 | #75 |
| 2008 | 1.10 | +0.12 | #78 |
| 2007 | 0.98 | +0.08 | #81 |
| 2006 | 0.90 | −0.01 | #78 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ecuador matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ecuador's physicians was 2.31 in 2020. Ranked 66th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from the previous year.
Ecuador's physicians peaked at 2.34 in 2018.
The lowest physicians in Ecuador was 0.34 in 1965.
Ecuador ranks 66th globally in physicians as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The physicians of Ecuador in 2020 was 2.31. This ranks 66th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ecuador_physicians,
title = {Ecuador Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ecuador/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}