The Global Health Observatory

Explore a world of health data

Table
Indicator name:
Health workers density (per 10 000 population), by occupation
Data type:
Rate
Indicator Id:
5066
Topic:
Health Workforce
Global Health Workforce statistics database
Rationale:
The SDG agenda gives recognition to UHC as key to achieving all other health targets. SDG 3c sets a target to "substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States." WHO and its partners developed the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 (GSHRH) to accelerate progress towards UHC and the SDGs by ensuring equitable access to health workers within strengthened health systems. Resolution (WHA69.19) urges Member States to consolidate a core set of HRH data with annual reporting to the Global Health Observatory, as well as progressive implementation of National Health Workforce Accounts to support national policy and planning and the GSHRH's monitoring and accountability framework.
Definition:
SDG Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States

Medical doctors
include generalists , specialist medical practitioners and medical doctors not further defined, in the given national and/or subnational area. Depending on the nature of the original data source may include practising (active) physicians only or all registered physicians. The ISCO -08 codes included here are 221,2211,2212 The WHO framework for classifying health workers draws on the latest revisions of international classifications , including the International Standard Classification of Occupations ( revision 2008), the International Standard Classification of Education (revision 2011) and the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (revision 4).

Nursing and midwifery personnel include nursing personnel and midwifery personnel in the given national and/or subnational area. Depending on the nature of the original data source may include practising (active) nursing and midwifery personnel only or all registered nursing and midwifery personnel The ISCO -08 codes included here are 2221,2222,3221,3222.

Dentists, dental assistants and therapists, dental prosthetic technicians include dentists in the given national and/or subnational area. Depending on the nature of the original data source may include practising (active) only or all registered in the health occupation. The ISCO -08 codes included here are 2261.

Pharmacists, pharmaceutical technicians and assistants includes pharmacists in the given national and/or subnational area. Depending on the nature of the original data source may include practising (active) only or all registered in the health occupation. The ISCO -08 codes that relate to this occupation is 2262.

Associated terms:
The WHO framework for classifying health workers draws on the latest revisions of international classifications , including the International Standard Classification of Occupations ( revision 2008), the International Standard Classification of Education (revision 2011) and the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (revision 4).
Disaggregation:
by occupation
Method of measurement
Countries are encouraged to adopt a progressive NHWA implementation approach building on multistakeholder engagement at national and sub-national levels. National focal points share the data with WHO through the online NHWA data platform. The platform hosted in WHO, is built to facilitate data reporting on the indicators listed in the NHWA Handbook and data sharing across all the 3 levels of WHO.
Method of estimation:
In response to WHA69.19, an online NHWA data platform was developed to facilitate the reporting . In addition to the reporting the platform also serves as an analytical tool at the national/regional and global levels. Complementing the national reporting through the NHWA data platform, additional sources such as the National Census, Labour Force Surveys and key administrative national and regional sources are also employed. In general, the denominator data for workforce density (i.e. national population estimates) are obtained from the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects database. In cases where the official health workforce report provide density indicators instead of counts, estimates of the stock were then calculated using the population estimated from the United Nations Population Division's World population prospects database.
Expected frequency of data dissemination:
Annual
Expected frequency of data collection:
Ongoing process
Contact person email:
kunjument@who.int
Name:
Teena Kunjumen
Data Type Representation:
Rate
IMRID:
5066
Limitations:
Data on health workers tend to be more complete for the public health sector and may underestimate the active workforce in the private, military, nongovernmental organization and faith-based health sectors. In many cases, information maintained at the national regulatory bodies and professional councils is not updated.

As data is not always published annually for each country, the latest available data has been used. Due to the differences in data sources, considerable variability remains across countries in the coverage, periodicity, quality and completeness of the original data. Densities are calculated using the latest national population estimates from the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects database and may vary from densities produced by the country.

Links:
WHO National Health Workforce Accounts Data Portal
Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030
Indicator Metadata Registry List
Available statistics show that over 40% of WHO Member States report to have less than 10 medical doctors per 10 000 population. (over 26% report to have less than 3). Health workers are distributed unevenly across the globe. Countries with the lowest relative need have the highest numbers of health workers, while those with the greatest burden of disease must make do with a much smaller health workforce. The African Region suffers more than 22% of the global burden of disease but has access to only 3% of health workers and less than 1% of the world’s financial resources.
If you have any feedback, you are welcome to write it here.
If you need to access the old Global Health Observatory data, you can do it here. But before you leave, please provide us your feedback about our new data portal.