Infographics14 May 2026 - 15:08

Density of health professionals globally and by WHO region

WHO said all remaining passengers and crew on the cruise ship have disembarked

by Rosa Mumanyi

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World Health Statistics 2026 data released by the WHO reveals a stark disparity in the density of health professionals across different regions of the globe.

European Region currently leads the world in nursing and midwifery personnel, reaching a density of approximately 80 per 10,000 population.

This figure sits significantly higher than the global average, which hovers at just over 40.

The region of the Americas also shows robust numbers, particularly in nursing and midwifery with over 70 professionals per 10,000 people, alongside a medical doctor density of roughly 25.

In contrast, the African Region continues to face severe workforce shortages. Africa has the lowest density across all categories, with fewer than 5 medical doctors and roughly 15 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 citizens.

The gap extends to specialized services like dentistry and pharmacy. Globally, the density of dentists and pharmacists remains below 10 per 10,000 population.

While the European and American regions maintain the highest concentrations of these specialists, the African and South-East Asia regions record the lowest.

Specifically, the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific regions show a moderate density of medical doctors, ranging between 15 and 25.

These figures underscore a continuing imbalance in global healthcare resource distribution, with the European and American regions maintaining a workforce several times larger than that of the African and South-East Asian regions.