Workforce
Health sector staffing, ratios, and Saudization progress
Total Physicians
3.41 per 1,000 · target 3.0
As of 2023
Total Nurses
6.56 per 1,000 · OECD ≈ 8
As of 2023
Saudization Rate
Target: 40% by 2030 (Vision metric: 35%)
As of 2023
Dentists
0.96 per 1,000 · target 0.5 (benchmark)
Saudization Trend
Health sector nationalization rate (MOH all-roles basis)
Saudi vs Total Staff
Thousands of professionals
Reaching 2030 ratio targets needs ~73k more practitioners
Headcount required to hit each profession's target ratio against a projected 38.6M population in 2030
| Profession | Current / 1k | Target / 1k | Need by 2030 | Deficit | Add / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhysiciansVision 2030 official KPI (3.0 / 1,000) | 3.41 | 3 | 115,800 | 0 | +0 |
| Nurses & midwivesBenchmark target — OECD median ≈ 8 / 1,000 (modelled) | 6.56 | 8 | 308,800 | −73,339 | +12,223 |
| Dentists (all sectors)WHO adequacy ≈ 0.5 / 1,000 · count: GASTAT HEWS 2024 (all-sector licensed) | 0.96 | 0.5 | 19,300 | 0 | +0 |
| Pharmacists (all sectors)GCC peer median ≈ 0.9 / 1,000 · count: GASTAT HEWS 2024 (all-sector licensed) | 1.33 | 0.9 | 34,740 | 0 | +0 |
Population projected to 2030 on a conservative medium-variant assumption (~1.4%/yr from 2024), not a linear extrapolation of the 2022–24 migration surge. The physician target is the official Vision 2030 KPI (3.0/1,000); nurse, dentist, and pharmacist targets are benchmark-aligned policy ratios (modelled). Dentist and pharmacist counts use the all-sector licensed totals from GASTAT’s Healthcare Establishments & Workforce Statistics 2024 — on that basis both already exceed their benchmark ratios, and the remaining national deficit is concentrated in nursing. A modelled gap, not an official manpower plan.
Disclaimer
This platform is an independent, non-commercial data visualization project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), or any other government body or institution.
All data presented is sourced exclusively from publicly available official publications, including MOH Statistical Yearbooks, GASTAT health statistics reports, World Bank Open Data, and WHO Global Health Observatory. Statistical figures are reproduced as-is for informational and educational purposes. No personal, patient, or individually identifiable data is collected, stored, or displayed.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the data may not reflect the most recent figures. Users should refer to the original source publications for authoritative and up-to-date statistics. This platform does not constitute medical, financial, or policy advice.
Data sources: MOH · GASTAT · World Bank · WHO · Last aggregated: May 2026