Number of Physicians in Canada by Province: Latest Stats & Trends 2025

Explore the current number of physicians in Canada by province, their distribution, and future trends. Understand how these stats impact healthcare access and policy across the country in 2025.

Introduction

Canada’s healthcare system is renowned for its universal access, but one crucial factor determining healthcare quality and availability is the distribution of physicians across the country. Understanding the number of physicians in Canada by province offers valuable insights into regional healthcare accessibility, workforce planning, and policy development.

As the demand for healthcare services evolves, especially with aging populations and rural healthcare challenges, having accurate, up-to-date data on physician distribution is essential for stakeholders including policymakers, medical professionals, and patients alike.

This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of physician numbers in Canada, highlighting provincial disparities, urban-rural distribution, demographic trends, and the implications for healthcare delivery nationwide.

National Overview: Physicians Across Canada

As of the latest data, Canada has approximately 90,000 licensed physicians, including family doctors and specialists, serving a population of about 39 million. The physician-to-population ratio is a key metric that reflects healthcare accessibility. Nationally, Canada has around 2.4 physicians per 1,000 residents, which places it among the higher ranks globally but with significant provincial variation.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) regularly updates detailed reports on the physician workforce, which serve as a valuable resource for this analysis.

Over the past decade, the total number of physicians has steadily increased, driven by growing medical school enrollments and immigration of internationally trained physicians. However, distribution remains uneven, with some provinces experiencing shortages, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Provincial Breakdown: Physician Numbers by Province

Physician density varies significantly across Canada’s ten provinces, influenced by factors such as population size, urbanization, and provincial healthcare funding.

The above estimates are compiled from provincial medical associations and the Canadian Medical Association’s data. Provinces like Manitoba and Prince Edward Island have relatively higher physician-to-population ratios, partly due to smaller populations and focused recruitment efforts.

In contrast, provinces with large urban centers like Ontario and Quebec, despite high absolute numbers, have moderate ratios due to larger populations.

Urban vs. Rural Distribution of Physicians in Canada

One of the critical challenges in Canadian healthcare is the uneven distribution of physicians between urban and rural areas. While urban centers tend to have a higher concentration of healthcare professionals, rural and remote regions often face shortages that impact healthcare access and outcomes.

Physician Distribution by Location

According to data from the Canadian Medical Association, approximately 85% of physicians practice in urban areas, serving roughly 75% of the population. Conversely, rural areas, which cover vast geographic regions and house around 25% of Canadians, are served by only about 15% of physicians.

This disparity leads to challenges such as longer wait times, limited access to specialists, and difficulties in emergency care for rural populations. Provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan have implemented targeted programs to attract physicians to rural communities, but shortages persist.

Challenges in Rural Healthcare

• Recruitment and Retention: Rural practice often involves professional isolation, fewer resources, and heavier workloads.
• Infrastructure: Limited hospital facilities and diagnostic equipment in rural settings.
• Population Health Needs: Higher rates of chronic diseases requiring ongoing management.

Efforts such as telemedicine and incentive programs are helping bridge these gaps, but data on physician distribution by province consistently highlight the rural shortfall.

Demographic Insights: Age, Gender, and Specialization

Understanding the demographics of physicians in Canada by province helps anticipate workforce changes and plan accordingly.

Age Distribution

Canada’s physician workforce is aging, with a significant percentage nearing retirement age. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information:

Provinces such as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have a larger proportion of physicians aged 55 and over, indicating potential upcoming shortages.

Gender Distribution

The gender composition of Canadian physicians has shifted over the past decades:

Younger cohorts show increasing female representation, especially in urban areas and among family physicians.

Specialization Trends

Physicians are broadly categorized into family physicians and specialists:

Specialists tend to cluster in urban centers and academic hospitals, while family physicians are more evenly distributed but also face rural shortages.

Provincial medical colleges regularly publish detailed statistics on physician demographics, highlighting the ongoing need to balance training, recruitment, and retention efforts across specialties.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in Canada

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) play a vital role in supplementing Canada’s physician workforce, especially in provinces and regions facing physician shortages. IMGs are physicians who received their medical degrees outside Canada or the United States and have undergone certification processes to practice within Canada.

Contribution of IMGs by Province

The proportion of IMGs varies significantly across provinces, reflecting different provincial policies and recruitment strategies.

Provinces like Manitoba and Saskatchewan have higher IMG representation due to active recruitment programs aimed at alleviating rural physician shortages. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) provides guidelines on the accreditation and integration of IMGs.

Certification and Integration Process

IMGs must pass the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) or its replacement exams and complete residency training recognized by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (CPSC), which regulates physician licensing.

This process ensures that all practicing physicians meet Canadian standards, maintaining the quality of healthcare while addressing workforce gaps.

Healthcare Policy Implications

The distribution of physicians by province impacts healthcare accessibility, quality, and equity across Canada. Policymakers utilize physician distribution data to design initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery.

Provincial Strategies

Several provinces have implemented targeted policies to address physician shortages and distribution imbalances:

• Incentive Programs: Financial incentives, loan forgiveness, and relocation assistance for physicians willing to practice in underserved or rural areas.
• Training Expansion: Increasing medical school and residency spots with a focus on family medicine and rural medicine.
• Telemedicine Adoption: Leveraging technology to provide specialist consultations in remote areas.

For example, Alberta’s Health Services runs programs to encourage physicians to serve rural populations, addressing disparities in healthcare access.

Impact on Healthcare Outcomes

Studies show that provinces with higher physician-to-population ratios generally report better health outcomes, including lower mortality rates and shorter wait times. However, distribution alone is insufficient; factors like healthcare infrastructure and interprofessional collaboration also influence outcomes.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) publishes annual reports highlighting the interplay between physician supply and healthcare quality, guiding policy decisions.

Trends and Future Outlook for Physicians in Canada by Province

The landscape of Canada’s physician workforce is continually evolving, influenced by demographic shifts, policy changes, and emerging healthcare needs. Understanding these trends is essential for anticipating future challenges and opportunities.

Projected Physician Growth by Province (2025–2035)

Based on current training capacity, immigration, and retirement trends, projections estimate physician growth across provinces as follows:

These projections are supported by data from the Canadian Medical Association and emphasize the ongoing role of targeted recruitment and retention strategies.

Emerging Trends Affecting Physician Distribution

• Telehealth Expansion: Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services are increasingly bridging geographic gaps, especially in provinces with vast rural areas like Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: Greater emphasis on team-based care models helps optimize physician workload and improve patient outcomes.
• Changing Physician Preferences: Younger physicians often prioritize work-life balance and urban amenities, challenging rural recruitment.

Addressing Physician Burnout

Burnout remains a pressing concern affecting physician retention. Provinces are adopting wellness programs and workload management strategies to support physicians and sustain workforce levels.

Case Study: Physician Distribution in Ontario

Ontario, as Canada’s most populous province, offers a detailed view of physician distribution challenges and solutions.

Despite a large overall number of physicians, Northern Ontario struggles with physician shortages due to geographic isolation and lower urbanization, leading to disparities in healthcare access.

To address this, Ontario has developed programs like the Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative, which offers financial incentives and support to encourage physicians to practice in underserved areas.

Conclusion

The number of physicians in Canada by province remains a critical indicator of healthcare accessibility and quality across the country. While Canada maintains a relatively high physician-to-population ratio nationally, significant provincial disparities and urban-rural imbalances persist. Addressing these challenges requires ongoing collaboration between policymakers, medical institutions, and communities.

Provincial initiatives, such as targeted recruitment of International Medical Graduates and incentives for rural practice, are vital to ensuring equitable healthcare access. Furthermore, emerging trends like telemedicine and interprofessional care models offer promising solutions to redistribute healthcare services more effectively.

For Canadians and healthcare stakeholders, staying informed about physician distribution data helps advocate for resources and policies that improve health outcomes nationwide.

Key Takeaways

• Canada has approximately 90,000 licensed physicians, with an average of 2.4 physicians per 1,000 population, but this varies by province.
• Urban areas house about 85% of physicians, while rural regions remain underserved.
• Provinces like Manitoba and Prince Edward Island show higher physician-to-population ratios, whereas Northern and rural areas face shortages.
• International Medical Graduates comprise a significant portion of the workforce in provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
• Policy measures including financial incentives, expanded training, and telemedicine are crucial to addressing physician distribution challenges.
• Physician workforce trends suggest moderate growth nationally, with varying rates across provinces influenced by local factors.

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