Physician Census
How is the U.S. physician workforce changing? FSMB's biennial Census of Actively Licensed Physicians answers that question with the nation's most comprehensive compilation of physician license and demographic data. Published in the Journal of Medical Regulation, the Census tracks where physicians are licensed, how they're trained, and how the workforce is shifting, giving policymakers, researchers, and healthcare organizations the data they need to plan.
Key Findings from the 2024 Census
The most recent Census shows a physician workforce that is larger, older, and more diverse than a decade ago. The infographics below offer a deeper look at what's driving these shifts, from licensure growth to changing demographics across the physician workforce.
1,082,187
Licensed physicians in the U.S. and District of Columbia, a 27% increase since 2010
146,000
New licenses issued in 2024 alone, a record high and a 13% jump over 2022
51.8 years
Average age of a licensed physician, with nearly one-third aged 60 or older
39%
Licensed physicians who are women, up from 30% in 2010
2X
Growth in osteopathic physicians (DOs) over the past decade, outpacing MD growth
Explore Licensure and Discipline Data
Beyond individual workforce trends, our data reveals how the medical regulatory system itself functions, from how physicians are licensed to how state medical boards govern and discipline them. Dig deeper into these topics below.
Physician Licensure
Statistics on licensed physicians in the U.S. and District of Columbia, including location of licenses, educational characteristics, and demographics.
Physician Discipline
The most recent statistics on physicians disciplined by state medical boards across the United States.
State Medical Board Structure and Operations
Board composition, governance, and funding details for state medical boards, based on data submitted directly by FSMB member boards.