WHO reported that the global density of doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, and pharmacists rose 52% over two decades, from 44.8 per 10,000 people in 2006 to 67.9 in 2025. The total health and care workforce now exceeds 70 million. Despite that growth, workforce distribution and retirement patterns remain uneven, with about one in four doctors approaching retirement age. The first report in WHO’s annual National Health Workforce Accounts series analyzes official country data to identify shortages, mobility, and preparedness challenges.
Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/18-09-2026-one-in-four-doctors-nearing-retirement-age-as-who-warns-of-global-health-workforce-gap