By 2024, the country's average population is projected to reach 1,200 individuals.
In the year 2024, Germany had a total of approximately 1,264 general practitioners (GPs), marking a 3.4% increase over the past decade, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
The distribution of GPs across different age groups was not uniform. The lowest proportion of GPs aged 60 and over was observed in Thuringia (31.5%), Saxony-Anhalt (33.1%), and Saxony (33.2%). Conversely, the proportion of GPs aged 60 and over was particularly high in Rhineland-Palatinate (48.0%), Saarland (46.2%), and Bremen (45.4%). Around 41% of all GPs in Germany were 60 years or older, with approximately 18.5% being over 65 years old.
Despite the increase in the number of GPs, the average number of people each GP cares for has remained largely the same. On average, a GP in Germany cared for 1,266 people in 2024, a figure nearly identical to that in 2014. Interestingly, GPs in Bavaria cared for an average of 1,114 people, the lowest number nationwide. On the other hand, GPs in Brandenburg, Bremen, and Lower Saxony cared for more than 1,356 people on average, which was above the national average.
The share of GPs among all practicing doctors in Germany was 15.1%. However, only around 7.7% of all GPs in Germany were under 40 years old in 2024. This suggests a potential challenge in maintaining a youthful and dynamic workforce in the future.
The supply ratio of GPs was calculated using the existing GPs and the local population in 2024. The density of GPs has remained relatively stable in Germany over the past ten years, with regions like Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania having an average of 1,118 and 1,149 people per GP, respectively, in 2024.
It is worth noting that there is no publicly available data from the 2024 year explicitly indicating which German federal states (Bundesländer) have the highest number of general practitioners over 60 years old. This information might be useful in understanding the distribution of experienced GPs across the country.
In conclusion, while the number of GPs in Germany has increased, the average number of people each GP cares for has remained constant. The age distribution of GPs is skewed towards the older age groups, with a relatively low proportion of young GPs. The stability in GP density across regions indicates a consistent level of healthcare accessibility, although more detailed data would be beneficial for a comprehensive analysis.
