In 2022, the European Union (EU) was home to over 1.4 million healthcare professionals, including dentists, physiotherapists, and pharmacists. These professionals play a crucial role in ensuring public health across the continent.
Among the 26 EU countries reporting data, the number of practicing dentists stood at 363,162. Cyprus had the highest dentist-to-population ratio, with 119.4 dentists for every 100,000 people. Greece and Portugal followed closely, with 133.2 and 120.6 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. On the other hand, Ireland reported the lowest ratio, with just 45.1 dentists per 100,000 people, followed by Malta at 50.8 and Slovakia at 54.7.
In the field of physiotherapy, which is essential for patients recovering from injuries or managing chronic conditions, the EU had an estimated 626,027 physiotherapists in 2022. Germany boasted the highest concentration of physiotherapists, with 235.1 per 100,000 people, followed by Belgium (220.5) and the Netherlands (198.1). Romania had the fewest physiotherapists per capita, with just 14.2, closely followed by Bulgaria at 26.8 and Slovakia at 41.0.
For pharmacists, there were 418,456 employed across the EU in 2022. Malta led with the highest density of pharmacists, with 151.6 per 100,000 residents. Italy came second with 135.6, and Belgium ranked third with 132.5. Conversely, the Netherlands had the lowest ratio, with only 21.9 pharmacists per 100,000 people, trailed by Denmark at 58.1 (from 2021 data) and Germany at 67.3.
This data highlights significant disparities in the availability of healthcare professionals across the EU, reflecting variations in healthcare access, policies, and workforce distribution.
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