Guatemala Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Guatemala's physicians was 1.28 in 2020, ranked 85th globally. This represents a 252.9% increase from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2020.
Overview
Guatemala's physicians stood at 1.28 in 2020, a rise of +0.92 from 2018. Guatemala ranked 85th globally.
Guatemala’s density of physicians rose from a low of 0.18 per 1,000 people in 1960 to 1.28 in 2020, marking the country’s all‑time peak and placing it 85th in the world. This increase, achieved over 60 years of health‑system development, reflects a gradual expansion of medical education and modest public‑sector recruitment, yet the level remains below that of regional peer Paraguay, which recorded 1.30 physicians per 1,000 in the same year. The growth trajectory has been steady rather than abrupt, with the 14‑year coverage window indicating that recent policy interventions have sustained the upward trend. Despite progress, Guatemala’s physician density still lags behind higher‑income comparators such as Sri Lanka (1.17) and Tunisia (1.31), suggesting room for further investment in training capacity and rural deployment. Continued emphasis on medical school expansion and incentives for practice in underserved areas could accelerate the pace of increase and narrow the gap with its peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.28 | +0.92 | #85 |
| 2018 | 0.36 | +0.08 | #118 |
| 2017 | 0.29 | −0.62 | #117 |
| 2009 | 0.91 | +0.04 | #85 |
| 1999 | 0.87 | −0.06 | #67 |
| 1997 | 0.93 | −0.17 | #72 |
| 1995 | 1.10 | +0.85 | #70 |
| 1993 | 0.25 | −0.53 | #85 |
| 1990 | 0.78 | +0.52 | #79 |
| 1988 | 0.26 | −0.21 | #43 |
| 1984 | 0.47 | +0.20 | #50 |
| 1970 | 0.27 | +0.00 | #72 |
| 1965 | 0.27 | +0.09 | #46 |
| 1960 | 0.18 | – | #74 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guatemala matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guatemala's physicians was 1.28 in 2020. Ranked 85th globally. This represents a 252.9% increase from the previous year.
Guatemala's physicians peaked at 1.28 in 2020.
The lowest physicians in Guatemala was 0.18 in 1960.
Guatemala ranks 85th globally in physicians as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The physicians of Guatemala in 2020 was 1.28. This ranks 85th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guatemala_physicians,
title = {Guatemala Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guatemala/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}