Global doctor shortages continue to place enormous pressure on health systems and restrict patient access to essential care. The World Health Organization reports a global average of about 17.2 doctors per 10,000 people. Many countries fall far below this benchmark. The following seven nations record the lowest physician densities worldwide, followed by comparisons with India and the United States.
Ranked below are the Top 10 Countries With the lowest doctor-to-population ratios:
South Sudan has the lowest confirmed physician density reported by WHO. Decades of conflict, destroyed health infrastructure, and reliance on humanitarian medical teams contribute to this severe shortage. Medical schools and specialist training programs are limited, restricting the pipeline of new physicians.
Niger’s health system faces chronic underinvestment, very low training output, and extreme rural-urban inequity. A large rural population and high disease burden further strain the few available physicians. Retaining trained personnel remains a major challenge because of limited facilities and resources.
Although WHO reporting varies slightly depending on dataset type (generalist doctors vs total doctors), all WHO sources place Papua New Guinea among the lowest globally. Rugged terrain, isolated populations, and limited postgraduate training hinder physician deployment.
WHO lists the indicator but does not openly publish the numeric value for the latest year. WPR, which compiles WHO and ministry data, reports approximately 0.54. Malawi depends heavily on clinical officers, with few specialist doctors and an overwhelming patient load.
Burundi’s medical workforce is constrained by economic instability, physician migration, and limited specialist training. Most rural regions lack permanent doctors.
Somalia experiences ongoing conflict, internal displacement, and health system fragmentation. These conditions prevent stable physician retention and limit access to care outside major cities.
Despite having some training institutions, Chad struggles with geographic barriers, low health spending, and uneven distribution of physicians across its vast territory.
Togo shows slightly higher numbers than the very lowest countries but still falls well below the global average. Low wages and the concentration of doctors in Lomé limit availability in rural areas.
Ethiopia has expanded medical training in recent years but remains far below global benchmarks. Rapid population growth and migration of newly trained physicians create persistent shortages.
Although higher than the lowest tier, Guinea remains far under the WHO global average. Training capacity, economic constraints, and uneven distribution of doctors contribute to ongoing gaps in care.
Compared with the most severely affected countries, India and the United States appear far stronger in physician availability, yet both still face access challenges.
India reports a doctor to population ratio of approximately 1:834. This ratio includes registered allopathic doctors assuming 80 percent availability along with AYUSH practitioners. While the national figure appears above the recommended WHO standard, the distribution of doctors remains uneven. Rural districts and remote states face significant shortages and high patient loads, which limit timely access to healthcare.
The United States has around 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people, equal to about 26 doctors per 10,000. Although far higher than the global average, the United States also experiences shortages in rural areas and specialist gaps in fields such as primary care, mental health and geriatrics. Demand often exceeds availability even with a comparatively strong physician base.
The WHO estimates that a minimum workforce density of about 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people (i.e., about 25 per 10,000) is required to deliver primary care services. Many of the countries listed fall far short of this threshold. The consequences include:
Delayed diagnosis and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases
Elevated maternal, neonatal and child mortality
Overburdened healthcare workers, burnout and further attrition
Weak capacity to respond to health emergencies, pandemics or routine public-health needs
The ten countries listed above sit at the lowest end of global physician density, with fewer than 1 doctor per 10,000 people in most cases. By contrast, while India and the United States appear strong in raw numbers, both still face challenges in distribution and speciality coverage. The doctor shortage is global, but its impact is most acute in the poorest, most remote and most disadvantaged countries. Strengthening medical training capacity, creating incentives for rural and remote deployment, improving retention and expanding infrastructure are not optional—they are essential.
References:
World Health Organization. “Density of physicians (per 10 000 population) [Indicator 217795A].” WHO Data, April 30 2025. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/CCCEBB2/217795A.
World Bank. “Physicians (per 1,000 people) – Metadata Glossary Series SH.MED.PHYS.ZS.” DataBank Glossary. Accessed November 25 2025. https://databank.worldbank.org/metadataglossary/health-nutrition-and-population-statistics/series/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS.
World Bank. “Physicians (per 1,000 people) [Indicator SH.MED.PHYS.ZS].” World Development Indicators. Accessed November 25 2025. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS.
World Health Organization. “Medical doctors (per 10 000 population) – Indicator details.” Global Health Observatory, WHO. Accessed November 25 2025. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/medical-doctors-%28per-10-000-population%29.
“Mapped: The Highest and Lowest Doctor Density Around the World.” Visual Capitalist. Accessed November 25 2025. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-highest-and-lowest-doctor-density-world/.
Agbetiloye, Adekunle. “Top 10 African Countries with the Fewest Doctors per 10,000 Population.” Business Insider Africa, November 25 2024. https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/top-10-african-countries-with-the-fewest-doctors-per-10000-population/4zd8tj4.
Statista. “The Countries With the Highest Density of Doctors (per 1,000 Inhabitants).” Chart, April 3, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/chart/21168/doctors-per-1000-inhabitants-in-selected-countries/#:~:text=As%20healthcare%20workers%20are%20being,doctors%20per%201%2C000%20people%2C%20respectively.
Press Information Bureau, Government of India. “As per Information Provided by National Medical Commission and Search-cum-Selection Committee in Respect of Recruitment of Allied and Healthcare Professionals in the Country.” Press Release, November 2 2022. Accessed November 21 2025. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1845081#:~:text=As%20per%20information%20provided%20by%20National%20Medical,Allied%20and%20Healthcare%20Professionals%20in%20the%20country.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)