Nicaragua Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Nicaragua's physicians was 0.68 in 2018, ranked 107th globally. This represents a 31.8% decrease from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2018.
Overview
Nicaragua's physicians stood at 0.68 in 2018, a decline of +0.32 from 2017. Nicaragua ranked 107th globally.
Nicaragua’s physician density rose from an all‑time trough of 0.34 physicians per 1,000 people in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 1.00 in 2017, reflecting a gradual expansion of the health workforce over nearly six decades. By 2018 the density had slipped slightly to 0.68 physicians per 1,000, placing the country at rank 107 globally and aligning it closely with peers such as the Philippines (0.69) and Iraq (0.68). The modest decline after the 2017 peak suggests that recent gains have stalled, possibly due to limited fiscal space for health spending, migration of trained doctors, or constrained medical education capacity. While the long‑term trajectory remains upward compared with the 1960 baseline, sustaining higher physician levels will likely require targeted policies to retain health professionals, expand training slots, and improve working conditions, which could prevent a reversal of the post‑peak decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.68 | −0.32 | #107 |
| 2017 | 1.00 | +0.04 | #94 |
| 2016 | 0.97 | +0.02 | #87 |
| 2015 | 0.94 | +0.04 | #81 |
| 2014 | 0.91 | −0.00 | #90 |
| 2013 | 0.91 | +0.04 | #81 |
| 2012 | 0.87 | +0.05 | #85 |
| 2011 | 0.83 | +0.09 | #83 |
| 2010 | 0.74 | +0.03 | #88 |
| 2009 | 0.71 | +0.05 | #88 |
| 2008 | 0.66 | +0.12 | #90 |
| 2007 | 0.54 | +0.03 | #89 |
| 2006 | 0.50 | −0.01 | #85 |
| 2005 | 0.51 | +0.12 | #84 |
| 2003 | 0.39 | −0.46 | #83 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nicaragua 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
Nicaragua's physicians was 0.68 in 2018. Ranked 107th globally. This represents a 31.8% decrease from the previous year.
Nicaragua's physicians peaked at 1.00 in 2017.
The lowest physicians in Nicaragua was 0.34 in 1960.
Nicaragua ranks 107th globally in physicians as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The physicians of Nicaragua in 2018 was 0.68. This ranks 107th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nicaragua_physicians,
title = {Nicaragua Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nicaragua/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}