Metric · Workforce
Dentists (total): market comparison
Dentists registered or licensed to practise (headcount); definition per record notes
Dental Market Radar Editorial Team · Updated · Data as of
Across 12 of 12 markets with a value, the highest lead value for dentists (total) is Japan at 103,652 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 103,652 registered 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 (total) comparison, https://dentalmarketradar.com/metrics/dentists-total/
Permanent URL: https://dentalmarketradar.com/metrics/dentists-total/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Definition
Dentists registered or licensed to practise (headcount); definition per record notes Unit: persons. Category: Workforce.
Chart
Comparison table
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.
Other bases and variants
Current records for the same metric that are not the lead value above: other bases, variants and secondary measures (for money, PPP values appear here).
| Market | Value | Basis | As of | Comparability | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | 17,318 persons | registered | Comparability B | WHO NHWA re-publication of country-reported data. Series break: 2023 = 14,255 then 2024 = 17,318 (+21%), which suggests the 2024 submission switched from practising (annual practising certificate) holders to the full… |
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 practising in clinics plus hospitals (institution-based practising headcount)
- Japan: Dentists with an address in Japan who filed the biennial notification under Dentists Act Art. 6(3)
- South Korea: OECD "licensed to practise" (LP): all dentists holding a licence to practise, whether or not currently active; compiled by OECD from national (MOHW) data.
- Singapore: Dentists registered with the Singapore Dental Council (full, conditional and temporary registration), specialists + general dental practitioners
- Malaysia: Number of dental practitioners on the Division I Dental Register (Dental Act 2018 [Act 804])
- Thailand: Cumulative dental practitioner licences ever issued by the Dental Council (ผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพทันตกรรม), incl. deceased/emigrated/inactive
- Vietnam: Total number of dentists in the country as reported by the Vietnam Odonto-Stomatology Association (VOSA) national liaison officer to FDI; method not stated
- Australia: Practitioners registered in the Dentist division (alone or with another division), headcount at 30 June
- New Zealand: Practitioners registered in the dentistry profession (general dental practice and/or a specialist scope); counted once per profession
- Saudi Arabia: Dentists in all health sectors. 2024: from Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) records; 2017-2023: MOH-collected sector returns
- United Arab Emirates: WHO NHWA 'Dentists' headcount as reported by the UAE; federal plus emirate regulators presumably (not stated)
- Qatar: Dentists working in government and private sectors (medical staff counts)
What does Dentists (total) measure?
Dentists registered or licensed to practise (headcount); definition per record notes Unit: persons.
Which market has the highest dentists (total)?
Japan had 103,652 registered 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.
How many markets have data for dentists (total)?
12 of 12 markets have a sourced value for dentists (total).