Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians in Ireland

Ireland: Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians was 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
20th
of 44 countries
All-time high
4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants
in 2025
All-time low
2.67 Per 1 000 inhabitants
in 2011
Years of data
15
2011–2025

Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians in Ireland, 2011–2025

012342011201820252011: 2.7 Per 1 000 inhabitants2012: 2.7 Per 1 000 inhabitants2013: 2.7 Per 1 000 inhabitants2014: 3 Per 1 000 inhabitants2015: 3.1 Per 1 000 inhabitants2016: 3.2 Per 1 000 inhabitants2017: 3.3 Per 1 000 inhabitants2018: 3.3 Per 1 000 inhabitants2019: 3.3 Per 1 000 inhabitants2020: 3.4 Per 1 000 inhabitants2021: 4 Per 1 000 inhabitants2022: 3.3 Per 1 000 inhabitants2023: 3.8 Per 1 000 inhabitants2024: 3.9 Per 1 000 inhabitants2025: 4.1 Per 1 000 inhabitants

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Per 1 000 inhabitants.

Analysis

In 2025, ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians in Ireland stood at 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians in Ireland peaked at 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.67 Per 1 000 inhabitants, in 2011.

That places Ireland 20th out of 44 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians in Ireland, 2011 to 2025.
Year Per 1 000 inhabitants Change
2011 2.67 Per 1 000 inhabitants —
2012 2.71 Per 1 000 inhabitants +1.5%
2013 2.68 Per 1 000 inhabitants -1.1%
2014 3.02 Per 1 000 inhabitants +12.7%
2015 3.14 Per 1 000 inhabitants +4.0%
2016 3.21 Per 1 000 inhabitants +2.2%
2017 3.26 Per 1 000 inhabitants +1.6%
2018 3.29 Per 1 000 inhabitants +0.9%
2019 3.31 Per 1 000 inhabitants +0.6%
2020 3.44 Per 1 000 inhabitants +3.9%
2021 4 Per 1 000 inhabitants +16.3%
2022 3.33 Per 1 000 inhabitants -16.8%
2023 3.82 Per 1 000 inhabitants +14.7%
2024 3.92 Per 1 000 inhabitants +2.6%
2025 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants +4.3%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.36 Per 1 000 inhabitants, 94% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.98 Per 1 000 inhabitants, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 3.03 Per 1 000 inhabitants 2.67 Per 1 000 inhabitants 3.31 Per 1 000 inhabitants 9
2020s 3.77 Per 1 000 inhabitants 3.33 Per 1 000 inhabitants 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 17 Australia 4.49 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  2. 18 Cyprus 4.2 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  3. 19 Croatia 4.1 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  4. 21 Malta 3.98 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  5. 22 Netherlands 3.91 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare
  6. 23 Iceland 3.89 Per 1 000 inhabitants compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians in Ireland?
Ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians in Ireland was 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 4.09 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2025.
What is the lowest ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 2.67 Per 1 000 inhabitants in 2011.
How does Ireland rank for ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians?
Ireland ranks 20th out of 44 countries with data for 2025.
Is ageing healthcare workforce - regions — active physicians rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 03 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/ageing-healthcare-workforce-regions-active-physicians/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Ageing healthcare workforce - Regions — Active physicians
Unit
Per 1 000 inhabitants
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
48 places, 1,174 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed

This dataset presents indicators on physicians ageing across large regions (TL2), and small regions (TL3) where available. Data definition and source Doctors (physicians) are usually generalists who assume responsibility for the provision of continuing care to individuals and families, or specialists such as paediatricians, obstetricians/gynaecologists, psychiatrists, medical specialists and surgical specialists. Age groups cover total, 55–64, and 65 years and over. Data is collected from Eurostat (reg_hlth) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.