Palau Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Palau's physicians was 2.18 in 2025, ranked 69th globally. This represents a 20.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1998–2025.
Overview
Palau's physicians stood at 2.18 in 2025, a rise of +0.37 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.18 by 2025. Palau ranked 69th globally.
Palau's physician-to-population ratio has shown a steady increase over the past two decades, with a notable surge in the early 2020s, reaching an all-time peak of 2.81 in 2021. This figure is significantly higher than the 1.33 physicians per 1,000 people recorded in 2006, marking a substantial improvement in the country's healthcare infrastructure. As of 2025, Palau boasts 2.18 physicians per 1,000 people, ranking 69th globally. This ratio is comparable to that of peer countries such as Qatar, which has a slightly higher ratio of 2.39 physicians per 1,000 people. While Palau's progress is encouraging, the country still lags behind other nations in the region, such as Brazil, which has a ratio of 2.46. To sustain this trend, Palau will need to continue investing in its healthcare system and address the ongoing challenges of physician shortages in rural areas, particularly in the Micronesian region.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 2.17 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.18 | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.18 | +0.37 | #69 |
| 2023 | 1.81 | −0.66 | #29 |
| 2022 | 2.47 | −0.34 | #62 |
| 2021 | 2.81 | +1.01 | #56 |
| 2020 | 1.80 | −0.39 | #76 |
| 2019 | 2.19 | +0.62 | #69 |
| 2018 | 1.57 | −0.34 | #85 |
| 2017 | 1.91 | +0.50 | #76 |
| 2014 | 1.41 | −0.16 | #85 |
| 2010 | 1.58 | +0.03 | #72 |
| 2009 | 1.55 | +0.22 | #67 |
| 2006 | 1.33 | −0.08 | #69 |
| 1998 | 1.41 | – | #52 |
Analysis
Palau's physicians was 2.18 in 2025, a rise of +0.37 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 2.18 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Palau's physicians was 2.18 in 2025. Ranked 69th globally. This represents a 20.5% increase from the previous year.
Palau's physicians peaked at 2.81 in 2021.
The lowest physicians in Palau was 1.33 in 2006.
Palau ranks 69th globally in physicians as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Palau's physicians is projected to reach 2.18 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The physicians of Palau in 2025 was 2.18. This ranks 69th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_palau_physicians,
title = {Palau Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/palau/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}