As a U.S. resident, the latest physician workforce statistics reveal justhow easy (or difficult) it is to get the care you need.
Here, we’ll dive into the latest data to discuss how many doctors are currently practicing, where they’re located, and which specialties are most widely available.
At REVA, we provide life-saving domestic air ambulance flights to help you reach the right doctor and the right hospital, no matter where they may be.
Call us anytime, day or night to arrange your air ambulance. We’re here whenever you need us.
How many licensed physicians are there in the U.S.?
There are 1,082,187 licensed physicians in the United States.
How many active physicians are practicing in the U.S. today?
In 2024, there were 1,032,365 active physicians practicing in the United States.
How many osteopathic doctors are there in the U.S.?
There are 167,216 osteopathic doctors (DOs) in the United States.
What percentage of U.S. physicians are osteopathic doctors?
Osteopathic doctors make up approximately 11% of all physicians in the United States.
What percentage of physicians work in family medicine?
Approximately 36.5% of physicians in the United States work in family medicine, making it one of the largest primary care specialties.
Which states have the highest physician density?
In 2024, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia had the highest physician density in the United States, with the most active and direct patient care physicians per population.
Which states have the lowest physician density?
In 2024, Mississippi and the Northern Mariana Islands had the lowest physician density in the United States, with the fewest direct patient care physicians relative to their populations.
How many general surgeons are practicing in the U.S.?
As of 2024, there were 26,837 general surgeons practicing in the United States.
How many neurosurgeons are there in the U.S.?
As of 2024, there were 6,391 neurosurgeons in the United States.
How many orthopedic surgeons are practicing in the U.S.?
As of 2024, there were 19,419 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the United States, specializing in the treatment of bones, joints, and musculoskeletal conditions.
How many plastic surgeons are there in the U.S.?
As of 2024, there were 7,719 plastic surgeons practicing in the United States.
How many cardiologists are practicing in the U.S.?
As of 2024, there were 34,430 cardiologists practicing in the United States.
What percentage of physicians are surgeons?
As of 2023, 175,421 physicians were practicing surgeons in the United States.
Which surgical specialties have the most physicians?
As of 2023, general surgery and orthopedic surgery had the largest numbers of physicians among surgical specialties, with 34,245 general surgeons and 27,653 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the United States.
How many surgeons are practicing in rural areas?
As of 2019, there were 2,202 surgeons practicing in rural areas, representing about 12.8% of all surgeons in the United States.
How many surgeons are practicing in urban areas?
As of 2019, there were 2,202 surgeons practicing in rural areas, representing about 12.8% of all surgeons in the United States.
Which states have the most surgeons per 100,000 population?
As of 2024, the following states had the most surgeons per 100,000 people:
- District of Columbia: 12
- Wyoming: 11
- Maine, West Virginia, and New Hampshire: 10 each
Which states have the fewest surgeons per 100,000 population?
As of 2024, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa had the fewest surgeons per 100,000 people (0), followed by Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Nevada, each with about 5 surgeons per 100,000 population.
How many hospital-based physicians are there in the U.S.?
About 46.7% of physicians in the U.S. are hospital-based, which comes to roughly 482,000 doctors as of 2024.
How many physicians work in private practice?
42.2% of physicians (435,658) worked in private practices as of 2024.
How many new physicians enter U.S. residency training each year?
In 2025, approximately 52,000 new applicants applied to residency training programs in the U.S.
How many physicians retire each year in the U.S.?
While exact retirement figures vary, federal projections estimate about 16,700 physicians leave the workforce each year (including retirements and other exits), along with around 900 surgeons annually.
Reach The Right Doctor with REVA’s Air Ambulance Teams
When the right doctor is hours or even states away, REVA bridges the gap. With attentive, ICU-level care in the air, we safely transfer your loved one to the most reputable hospitals across the U.S. and overseas.
Get in touch with us anytime to arrange an air ambulance. We’re here to help you breathe easier.
Sources
Federation of State Medical Boards. “FSMB Physician Census Identifies 1,082,187 Licensed Physicians in U.S.” August 15, 2025.
AAMC. “U.S. Physician Workforce Data Dashboard.”
American Osteopathic Association. “2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report.”
HRSA Health Workforce. “State of the Primary Care Workforce, 2025.” December 2025.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Physicians and Surgeons.”