Metric · Workforce
Dentists (practising): market comparison
Dentists reported as practising / on the resident register (narrower than registered)
Dental Market Radar Editorial Team · Updated · Data as of
Across 10 of 12 markets with a value, the highest lead value for dentists (practising) is Japan at 100,266 persons and the lowest is Qatar at 2,320 persons. Bases differ by market, so read the comparability rating beside each value.
Key points
- Japan had 100,266 employed dentists in 2024, according to MHLW Survey of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists 2024. It is the highest lead value among the markets.
- Qatar had 2,320 employed dentists in 2025, according to NPC Chapter VI Health Services Statistics 2025. It is the lowest lead value among the markets.
Cite this
Dental Market Radar (dentalmarketradar.com), Dentists (practising) comparison, https://dentalmarketradar.com/metrics/dentists-practising/
Permanent URL: https://dentalmarketradar.com/metrics/dentists-practising/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Definition
Dentists reported as practising / on the resident register (narrower than registered) Unit: persons. Category: Workforce.
Chart
Comparison table
| Market | Lead value | Basis | As of | Comparability | Calculation | Source | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 100,266 persons | employed (at medical facilities (hospital or clinic)) | Comparability B | Survey of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists 2024 (Overview) | Value | ||
| Saudi Arabia | 33,751 persons | employed (all sectors) | Comparability B | Statistical Yearbook 2024 (bilingual Arabic/English, Excel workbook) | Value | ||
| South Korea | 28,836 persons | practising | Comparability A | OECD Health Statistics: Healthcare human resources (SDMX API, dataflow DSD_HEALTH_EMP_REAC@DF_REAC) | Value | ||
| Australia | 17,831 persons | practising | Comparability A | OECD Health Statistics: Healthcare human resources (SDMX API, dataflow DSD_HEALTH_EMP_REAC@DF_REAC) | Value | ||
| Taiwan | 16,968 persons | practising | Comparability A | MOHW public-service statistics table 1.7: practising medical personnel in institutions and per 10,000 population, by county/city, end of ROC 114 (2025) | Value | ||
| Malaysia | 14,720 persons | practising | Comparability A | Statistics from Malaysian Dental Council - 2024 (10-page MDC statistics sheet, edition dated July 2025), listed under the MDC website menu Statistic > Statistic MDC | Value | ||
| Thailand | 8,059 persons | employed (public-sector heavy (most private-clinic dentists not counted)) | Comparability C | Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2025 (e-book) | Value | ||
| Singapore | 2,814 persons | practising | Comparability A | Singapore Dental Council Annual Report 2025 | Value | ||
| New Zealand | 2,705 persons | practising | Comparability B | Derived. Derived: 3,381 x 80% = 2,704.8 -> 2,705. The percentage is rounded, so the true value lies roughly between 2,688 and 2,722. APCs-by-scope total (2,939) double-counts dentists holding several scopes and is not used. The NZ Dental… | Dental Council Annual Report 2024/25 (register and APC data at 31 March 2025) | Value | |
| Qatar | 2,320 persons | employed (government + private) | Comparability A | Chapter VI Health Services Statistics 2025 (Arabic/English) | Value | ||
| Vietnam | Source blocked why No reliable figure found. Checked: FDI NLO 2022/2024 (total only), NSO Vietnam press releases, peer-reviewed workforce paper (HCMC only: 2,219 BSRHM in 2023), WHO GHO HWF_0011 (no VNM data). Why:… | other | Comparability not rated | NLO Reports 2024 compilation (General Assembly binder) | Not available | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Not published why No reliable figure found. The UAE licenses dentists through three regulators (MOHAP for the northern emirates, DHA in Dubai, DoH in Abu Dhabi) and no national active count was fetchable. Lead: MOHAP… | other | Comparability C | WHO Global Health Observatory API: NHWA dentists (HWF_0011) and dental expenditure, United Arab Emirates | Not available |
The headline record leads where one is designated; its basis (for example practising or licensed) and comparability rating are shown next to every value. Per-capita values use the denominator named in the calculation (World Bank total population, same year). Money is shown in US$ at the market exchange rate with local currency beside it.
Markets with no figure
These markets have no published or reliable figure for dentists (practising). We state why and do not estimate.
- Vietnam: Source blocked (blocked_source), a source exists but could not be read. See the data record.
- United Arab Emirates: Not published (not_published), the authorities do not publish it. See the data record.
Comparability notes
A: same definition as the metric. B: close to the metric definition; the difference is noted. C: different basis; use with caution when comparing.
- Taiwan: Dentists (牙醫師) registered as practising in a medical institution (機構執業醫事人員), end of ROC year 114
- Japan: Dentists whose primary place of work is a medical facility (hospital, clinic)
- South Korea: OECD "practising" (P): dentists providing care directly to patients; compiled by OECD from national (MOHW) data.
- Singapore: Registered dentists holding a valid practising certificate at 31 Dec 2025
- Malaysia: Division I dental surgeons issued with an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) in 2024; public 8,472 + private 6,248
- Thailand: Dentists working in health facilities reported to MOPH Office of the Permanent Secretary health-resources survey (government 7,315; state enterprise 6; municipality 253; independent agency 68; private sector 417)
- Australia: Practising dentists (OECD measure P); OBS_STATUS E (estimated)
- New Zealand: Registered dentists and dental specialists holding an annual practising certificate (APC)
- Saudi Arabia: Dentists working in health facilities (all sectors); SCFHS-sourced from 2024
- United Arab Emirates: Practising/active dentists (not available)
- Qatar: Dentists working in government and private sectors
What does Dentists (practising) measure?
Dentists reported as practising / on the resident register (narrower than registered) Unit: persons.
Which market has the highest dentists (practising)?
Japan had 100,266 employed dentists in 2024, according to MHLW Survey of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists 2024. It is the highest lead value; other markets use different bases, so compare with care.
Which markets have no figure for dentists (practising)?
No figure is available for Vietnam (a source exists but could not be read); United Arab Emirates (the authorities do not publish it). We do not estimate missing figures.
How many markets have data for dentists (practising)?
10 of 12 markets have a sourced value for dentists (practising).