Iran, Islamic Republic of Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Iran, Islamic Republic of's physicians was 1.87 in 2025, ranked 74th globally. This represents a 3.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's physicians stood at 1.87 in 2025, a rise of +0.05 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.87 by 2025. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 74th globally.
Iran’s density of physicians has risen from a trough of 0.24 in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 1.87 in 2025, placing the country 74th globally and just below Oman’s 1.88 and above Tajikistan’s 1.86. The 19‑year coverage window captures a sustained expansion of medical personnel, reflecting substantial public‑health investment and the growth of medical education infrastructure over six decades. Compared with regional peers, Iran’s physician density remains modest; Turkmenistan exceeds it at 1.90 while Panama lags at 1.71, highlighting divergent health‑system capacities within similar income brackets. The upward trajectory suggests that continued funding for training programs and retention incentives could further close the gap with higher‑ranking neighbours, whereas stagnation in resources or brain‑drain could flatten or reverse the progress.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.93 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.87 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.87 | +0.05 | #74 |
| 2023 | 1.81 | +0.31 | #28 |
| 2018 | 1.51 | +0.43 | #86 |
| 2017 | 1.07 | −0.02 | #92 |
| 2015 | 1.10 | −0.34 | #79 |
| 2014 | 1.43 | +0.92 | #84 |
| 2006 | 0.52 | −0.35 | #83 |
| 2005 | 0.86 | −0.00 | #78 |
| 2004 | 0.87 | −0.18 | #83 |
| 1998 | 1.05 | +0.20 | #62 |
| 1996 | 0.85 | +0.53 | #64 |
| 1993 | 0.32 | +0.00 | #83 |
| 1988 | 0.32 | −0.06 | #42 |
| 1987 | 0.38 | +0.03 | #41 |
| 1986 | 0.35 | +0.01 | #50 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's physicians was 1.87 in 2025. Ranked 74th globally. This represents a 3.0% increase from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's physicians peaked at 1.87 in 2025.
The lowest physicians in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 0.24 in 1960.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 74th globally in physicians as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's physicians is projected to reach 1.87 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The physicians of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was 1.87. This ranks 74th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_physicians,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}