Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's physicians was 3.63 in 2017, ranked 25th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from 2016. Data from World Bank, covering 1982–2017.
Overview
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's physicians stood at 3.63 in 2017, a decline of +0.02 from 2016. Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranked 25th globally.
North Korea’s physician density rose steadily from 2.55 in the earliest recorded year of 1982 to a modest 3.63 in 2017, placing the country 25th globally. The all‑time peak of 3.65 physicians per 1,000 people occurred in 2016, while the trough of 2.51 was recorded in 1983, indicating a long‑term upward trajectory despite early lows. Over the nine‑year coverage span, the increase averages roughly 0.12 physicians per 1,000 annually, narrowing the gap with higher‑ranking peers such as Australia, which reported 3.66 physicians per 1,000 in the same period. Relative to Kazakhstan’s 3.60 and Spain’s 3.85, North Korea remains slightly behind the upper tier of the ranking but has closed much of the historical deficit. Continued investment in medical education and health infrastructure could sustain the incremental gains, potentially moving the nation closer to the physician densities of its more advanced counterparts.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3.63 | −0.02 | #25 |
| 2016 | 3.65 | +0.19 | #25 |
| 2014 | 3.45 | +0.06 | #24 |
| 2012 | 3.39 | +0.16 | #28 |
| 2008 | 3.23 | +0.13 | #31 |
| 2003 | 3.10 | +0.13 | #25 |
| 1995 | 2.97 | +0.46 | #28 |
| 1983 | 2.51 | −0.04 | #8 |
| 1982 | 2.55 | – | #7 |
Analysis
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's physicians was 3.63 in 2017, a decline of −0.02 from 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's physicians was 3.63 in 2017. Ranked 25th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's physicians peaked at 3.65 in 2016.
The lowest physicians in Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of was 2.51 in 1983.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranks 25th globally in physicians as of 2017.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The physicians of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of in 2017 was 3.63. This ranks 25th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of_physicians,
title = {Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}