The report, “A Census of Actively Licensed Physicians in the United States, 2012,” shows the total population of licensed physicians in 2012 was 878,194, a net increase of 28,209 physicians, or 3 percent, from 2010.
While there are more physicians now than in 2010, those physicians are aging. The population of actively licensed physicians grew faster in the older age groups than in the younger, according to the report.
The following is a breakdown of the percent of physicians in each age group, comparing 2010 and 2012 census data provided by the report.
Under 40 years old
2010: 23.3 percent
2012: 22.2 percent
40-49 years old
2010: 24.9 percent
2012: 24.6 percent
50-59 years old
2010: 24.8 percent
2012: 24.5 percent
60+ years old
2010: 24.4 percent
2012: 26.3 percent
Age unknown
2010: 2.6 percent
2012: 2.4 percent
More Articles on Physician Issues:
14 Recent Hospital-Physician Transactions
Aggregate, Assimilate and Integrate — Successfully Building an Employed Physician Group
Med School Enrollment Projected to Increase 30% by 2017
