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Health Worker Density Calculator

Work out health worker density instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Health Worker Density Calculator

Combines doctors, nurses and midwives into a density per 10,000 population and compares it with the WHO SDG workforce threshold of 44.5.

Formula

Workforce density

Density = (doctors + nurses and midwives) / population x 10,000; the WHO SDG index threshold is 44.5 per 10,000

Worked example

With the default values below, Health Worker Density Calculator returns Health worker density of 18.000. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Doctorsaccepts 0–1,000,000
150
Nurses and midwivesaccepts 0–1,000,000
300
Populationaccepts 1–2,000,000,000
250,000

Results

Health worker density
18.000 per 10,000 population
Threshold comparison
Below the WHO SDG index threshold of 44.5 per 10,000
Additional workers to reach the threshold
662.5
Health workers counted
450

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Workforce density
  3. 3Health worker density= 18.000 per 10,000 population
  4. 4Threshold comparison= Below the WHO SDG index threshold of 44.5 per 10,000
  5. 5Additional workers to reach the threshold= 662.5
  6. 6Health workers counted= 450

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does 44.5 come from?

The WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health identified it as the density associated with achieving the SDG health targets.

Does density capture distribution?

No. National density hides severe urban-rural maldistribution, which is often the binding constraint on access.

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