Wanderlust World Wanderlust World As of 2020, Ethiopia had approximately 0.282 physicians per 1,000 people—a figure far below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 1 per 1,000.
The ratio has worsened over the past decade. In 2010, it stood at 0.342 per 1,000. Contributing factors include rapid population growth, limited medical school capacity, and the emigration of trained doctors.
Even within sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia's doctor-to-population ratio ranks among the lowest, underscoring the urgent need for healthcare workforce investment and retention strategies.