As of November 2026, the World Bank’s WHO-sourced data put Cuba first at 9.54 physicians per 1,000 people (2021), ahead of Seychelles (6.60) and Greece (6.58). This ranks doctors per person, not spending (see the countries that spend the most on healthcare) or lifespans (see the countries with the highest life expectancy).
Illustration: the 20 countries with the most physicians per 1,000 people, led by Cuba at 9.54 (2021).
| Rank | Country | Physicians per 1,000 people | Data year | Region | Income group | Population, 2025 | Life expectancy, 2024 (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuba | 9.54 | 2021 | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper middle income | 10.9M | 78.3 |
| 2 | Seychelles | 6.60 | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa | High income | 0.1M | 76.3 |
| 3 | Greece | 6.58 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 10.4M | 81.8 |
| 4 | Portugal | 5.85 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 10.8M | 82.4 |
| 5 | Georgia | 5.64 | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia | Upper middle income | 3.9M | 74.7 |
| 6 | Austria | 5.51 | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 9.2M | 82.0 |
| 7 | Russia | 5.11 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 143.5M | 73.4 |
| 8 | Argentina | 5.11 | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean | Upper middle income | 45.9M | 77.5 |
| 9 | Norway | 4.97 | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 5.6M | 83.2 |
| 10 | Belarus | 4.72 | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia | Upper middle income | 9.1M | 74.4 |
| 11 | Uruguay | 4.67 | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean | High income | 3.4M | 78.3 |
| 12 | Germany | 4.53 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 83.5M | 80.8 |
| 13 | Malta | 4.51 | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | High income | 0.6M | 83.0 |
| 14 | Denmark | 4.50 | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 6.0M | 82.3 |
| 15 | Switzerland | 4.48 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 9.1M | 84.4 |
| 16 | Lithuania | 4.47 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 2.9M | 77.2 |
| 17 | Sweden | 4.41 | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 10.6M | 84.1 |
| 18 | Iceland | 4.37 | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 0.4M | 82.8 |
| 19 | Czechia | 4.35 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 10.9M | 80.0 |
| 20 | Bulgaria | 4.33 | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia | High income | 6.4M | 75.8 |
No matching rows.
Data years: 2021 to 2023, as of November 2026. Each country is ranked on its most recent value for physicians per 1,000 people within 2018–2025, so years differ by country and are shown in their own column. Countries and territories with fewer than 100,000 people (including Monaco, Andorra and San Marino) are left out, which is why they do not appear even where the World Bank has a figure. Definitions differ: countries count practising, licensed or professionally active doctors, and some include dentists or doctors working abroad or in administration, so small gaps between neighbours are not meaningful. Income group and region are the World Bank’s current classifications (Malta sits in its “Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan” region); population and life expectancy come from the same World Bank database. Only the top 20 of the 173 countries with a value in range are shown.[1][2][3][4]
Cuba reported 9.54 physicians per 1,000 people in 2021, about one doctor for every 105 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as upper middle income in Latin America & Caribbean, with a population of about 10.9 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 78.3 years in 2024.[2][3]
Seychelles reported 6.60 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, about one doctor for every 152 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as high income in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of about 0.1 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 76.3 years in 2024.[2][3]
Greece reported 6.58 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, about one doctor for every 152 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as high income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 10.4 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 81.8 years in 2024.[2][3]
Portugal reported 5.85 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, about one doctor for every 171 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as high income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 10.8 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 82.4 years in 2024.[2][3]
Georgia reported 5.64 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about one doctor for every 177 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as upper middle income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 3.9 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 74.7 years in 2024.[2][3]
Austria reported 5.51 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about one doctor for every 181 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as high income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 9.2 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 82.0 years in 2024.[2][3]
Russia reported 5.11 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, about one doctor for every 196 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as high income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 143.5 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 73.4 years in 2024.[2][3]
Argentina reported 5.11 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about one doctor for every 196 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as upper middle income in Latin America & Caribbean, with a population of about 45.9 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 77.5 years in 2024.[2][3]
Norway reported 4.97 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about one doctor for every 201 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as high income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 5.6 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 83.2 years in 2024.[2][3]
Belarus reported 4.72 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about one doctor for every 212 residents.[1] The World Bank classes it as upper middle income in Europe & Central Asia, with a population of about 9.1 million in 2025 and a life expectancy of 74.4 years in 2024.[2][3]