Suriname Physicians
Physicians per 1,000 people SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
Suriname's physicians was 1.52 in 2025, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 12.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Suriname's physicians stood at 1.52 in 2025, a rise of +0.17 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.52 by 2025. Suriname ranked 79th globally.
Suriname recorded 1.52 physicians per 1,000 people in 2025, ranking 79th globally, a significant improvement from its all-time low of 0.25 in 1996 and the 1960 level of 0.51. This 2025 figure marks the highest point in the country’s recorded history for physician density, reflecting gradual but sustained investments in medical education and health workforce planning. Despite this progress, Suriname's physician density remains below that of peer countries such as Algeria, which reported 1.64 physicians per 1,000 people, and slightly above the Kyrgyz Republic’s 1.46. The sharp decline to the 1996 trough may reflect broader socioeconomic instability during that period, possibly influencing health professional migration or training capacity. Over the 17 years of available data, the upward trend suggests strengthening health system infrastructure. Sustained growth in physician density will likely depend on continued domestic training capacity expansion, retention incentives, and potential regional cooperation to address workforce gaps. Without targeted policies, however, progress may plateau amid persistent challenges in rural access and public health funding.
Data & projection
| Year | Physicians | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.58 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.52 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.52 | +0.17 | #79 |
| 2023 | 1.36 | −0.11 | #33 |
| 2021 | 1.47 | +0.68 | #78 |
| 2018 | 0.79 | −0.35 | #98 |
| 2017 | 1.14 | +0.05 | #90 |
| 2016 | 1.09 | +0.08 | #86 |
| 2015 | 1.01 | +0.33 | #80 |
| 2009 | 0.68 | −0.10 | #91 |
| 2004 | 0.78 | +0.38 | #84 |
| 2000 | 0.40 | +0.15 | #91 |
| 1996 | 0.25 | −0.50 | #78 |
| 1995 | 0.75 | −0.01 | #81 |
| 1993 | 0.76 | +0.01 | #70 |
| 1990 | 0.75 | −0.04 | #81 |
| 1984 | 0.79 | +0.33 | #39 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Suriname matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2023. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw physicians improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Suriname's physicians was 1.52 in 2025. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 12.5% increase from the previous year.
Suriname's physicians peaked at 1.52 in 2025.
The lowest physicians in Suriname was 0.25 in 1996.
Suriname ranks 79th globally in physicians as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Suriname's physicians is projected to reach 1.52 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The physicians of Suriname in 2025 was 1.52. This ranks 79th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_suriname_physicians,
title = {Suriname Physicians},
url = {https://historysaid.com/suriname/physicians/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}