Special Report
States With the Fewest (and Most) Doctors per Person
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The United State could be facing a severe shortage of doctors by the end of next decade – not enough people are becoming physicians. There could be a shortage of up to 120,000 medical professionals by 2030 nationwide, according to research by the Association of American Medical Colleges. This is an increase of about 14% compared to previous projections about the lack of doctors in the near future. In 2017, the AAMC estimated a shortage of up to 105,000 physicians in 2030.
Already there is a shortage in some areas in the United States, with rural areas disproportionately affected. There are just about 40 doctors per 100,000 people in rural areas, compared to 53 physicians per 100,000 in urban areas, according to the National Rural Health Association
24/7 Tempo reviewed data on primary care physicians from the 2019 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, to find the number of doctors per capita in every state. Most of the states with the lowest doctor-to-resident ratio are in the South, where half of the country’s total rural population lives. These states also tend to be poorer. In fact, many of them are among the poorest U.S. states.
The differences between states with the most and fewest doctors per capita is stark. It ranges from 113.2 patient care doctors for every 100,000 people in the state with the best ratio to half that concentration in the state with the fewest doctors per capita at 52.8 per 100,000 residents.
States with a lower doctor-to-resident ratio share some common attributes, including generally lower median household incomes and higher poverty rates than the comparable U.S. figures. Among the 20 states with the fewest practicing physicians per capita, 17 have a median income that is lower than the national average. Meanwhile, richer states tend to have significantly more doctors per capita.
Many of the states with the fewest doctors per capita also have a relatively high uninsured population. Fourteen of the 20 states with the lowest concentration of doctors have uninsured rates that are higher than the U.S. average of 8.7%, while 19 of the 20 states at the top have lower uninsured rates than the national rate. Doctors prefer to treat insured patients because they will certainly get paid. Some medical offices would not even schedule an appointment before making sure the patient has an acceptable insurance policy.
Some institutions have realized the imminent threat of a doctors shortage and tried to remedy the situation. The New York University School of Medicine, for example, decided to cover all tuition for current and future students. Other schools are expanding enrollment and redesigning their programs to let students finish in three rather than four years so they do not end up with a huge debt.
Click here to read about the states with the fewest (and most) doctors per person.
To identify the states with the most and fewest doctors per person, 24/7 Tempo analyzed data on primary care physicians per capita from the 2019 report by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The share of each state’s population without health insurance, premature mortality rate, as well as the number of adults reporting they are in fair or poor health also came from County Health Rankings. Poverty data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey (ACS).
50. Vermont
> Primary care doctors: 113.2 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 12.5 per 100,000 people (4th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 299.7 per 100,000 people (11th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 4.6% (5th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (19th lowest)
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49. Maine
> Primary care doctors: 112.3 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.4 per 100,000 people (23rd lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 337.4 per 100,000 people (25th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.1% (25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.1% (16th lowest)
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48. Massachusetts
> Primary care doctors: 103.9 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.8 per 100,000 people (8th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 282.1 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 2.8% (the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.5% (10th lowest)
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47. Rhode Island
> Primary care doctors: 96.5 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 14.8 per 100,000 people (17th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 305.6 per 100,000 people (12th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 4.6% (5th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.6% (20th lowest)
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46. Oregon
> Primary care doctors: 92.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.8 per 100,000 people (24th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 308.9 per 100,000 people (16th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 6.8% (20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (23rd highest)
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45. New Hampshire
> Primary care doctors: 90.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.6 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 306.4 per 100,000 people (13th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.8% (14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 7.7% (the lowest)
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44. Alaska
> Primary care doctors: 89.9 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.4 per 100,000 people (6th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 360.4 per 100,000 people (18th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 13.7% (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.1% (16th lowest)
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43. Minnesota
> Primary care doctors: 89.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 12.0 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 265.7 per 100,000 people (the lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 4.4% (3rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.5% (4th lowest)
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42. Hawaii
> Primary care doctors: 88.3 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 14.0 per 100,000 people (13th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 278.2 per 100,000 people (4th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 3.8% (2nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.5% (4th lowest)
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41. Maryland
> Primary care doctors: 87.7 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.9 per 100,000 people (11th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 333.9 per 100,000 people (23rd lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 6.1% (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (2nd lowest)
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40. Connecticut
> Primary care doctors: 84.7 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.8 per 100,000 people (9th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 273.8 per 100,000 people (3rd lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.5% (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.6% (5th lowest)
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39. New Jersey
> Primary care doctors: 83.9 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 16.5 per 100,000 people (23rd highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 286.9 per 100,000 people (8th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 7.7% (24th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.0% (7th lowest)
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38. New York
> Primary care doctors: 83.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 16.1 per 100,000 people (24th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 278.4 per 100,000 people (5th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.7% (13th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.1% (16th highest)
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37. Washington
> Primary care doctors: 82.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.9 per 100,000 people (10th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 287.9 per 100,000 people (9th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 6.1% (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.0% (14th lowest)
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36. Illinois
> Primary care doctors: 81.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.2 per 100,000 people (21st highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 326.8 per 100,000 people (21st lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 6.8% (20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (24th lowest)
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35. Colorado
> Primary care doctors: 81.0 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 14.3 per 100,000 people (16th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 281.9 per 100,000 people (6th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 7.5% (23rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.3% (9th lowest)
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34. Pennsylvania
> Primary care doctors: 81.0 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.1 per 100,000 people (19th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 357.4 per 100,000 people (19th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.5% (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (23rd lowest)
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33. Wisconsin
> Primary care doctors: 79.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.4 per 100,000 people (22nd lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 306.7 per 100,000 people (15th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.4% (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (19th lowest)
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32. Michigan
> Primary care doctors: 79.3 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.4 per 100,000 people (20th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 366.1 per 100,000 people (16th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.2% (7th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.2% (15th highest)
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31. West Virginia
> Primary care doctors: 78.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 24.1 per 100,000 people (2nd highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 493.0 per 100,000 people (2nd highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 6.1% (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 19.1% (4th highest)
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30. California
> Primary care doctors: 78.5 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.5 per 100,000 people (19th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 270.2 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 7.2% (21st lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.3% (22nd highest)
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29. Ohio
> Primary care doctors: 76.7 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.0 per 100,000 people (22nd highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 403.4 per 100,000 people (10th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 6.0% (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.0% (17th highest)
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28. Virginia
> Primary care doctors: 76.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.9 per 100,000 people (25th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 319.7 per 100,000 people (20th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.8% (19th highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.6% (11th lowest)
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27. Kansas
> Primary care doctors: 76.2 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.0 per 100,000 people (18th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 349.1 per 100,000 people (21st highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.7% (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (21st lowest)
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26. North Dakota
> Primary care doctors: 76.0 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 14.3 per 100,000 people (15th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 317.3 per 100,000 people (19th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 7.5% (23rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.3% (9th lowest)
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25. South Dakota
> Primary care doctors: 75.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 11.8 per 100,000 people (the lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 334.2 per 100,000 people (24th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 9.1% (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (24th highest)
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24. Nebraska
> Primary care doctors: 75.6 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 14.2 per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 309.1 per 100,000 people (17th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.3% (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.8% (13th lowest)
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23. New Mexico
> Primary care doctors: 74.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.8 per 100,000 people (7th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 388.3 per 100,000 people (13th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 9.1% (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.7% (2nd highest)
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22. Montana
> Primary care doctors: 74.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.9 per 100,000 people (12th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 347.1 per 100,000 people (23rd highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.5% (21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (23rd lowest)
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21. Tennessee
> Primary care doctors: 72.2 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.1 per 100,000 people (10th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 446.6 per 100,000 people (8th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 9.5% (13th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.0% (10th highest)
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20. Florida
> Primary care doctors: 72.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.5 per 100,000 people (13th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 337.4 per 100,000 people (25th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 12.9% (5th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.0% (17th highest)
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19. Iowa
> Primary care doctors: 71.9 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 13.1 per 100,000 people (5th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 316.8 per 100,000 people (18th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 4.7% (6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.7% (12th lowest)
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18. Delaware
> Primary care doctors: 71.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.8 per 100,000 people (25th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 354.0 per 100,000 people (20th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.4% (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (19th highest)
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17. Missouri
> Primary care doctors: 70.6 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.5 per 100,000 people (14th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 395.2 per 100,000 people (12th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 9.1% (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.4% (21st highest)
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16. North Carolina
> Primary care doctors: 70.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.6 per 100,000 people (18th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 371.8 per 100,000 people (15th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 10.7% (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (13th highest)
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15. Wyoming
> Primary care doctors: 67.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.1 per 100,000 people (20th lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 347.4 per 100,000 people (22nd highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 12.3% (6th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (19th lowest)
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14. South Carolina
> Primary care doctors: 67.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.1 per 100,000 people (11th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 412.3 per 100,000 people (9th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 11.0% (9th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (9th highest)
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13. Indiana
> Primary care doctors: 66.9 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.7 per 100,000 people (17th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 398.5 per 100,000 people (11th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.2% (24th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.5% (20th highest)
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12. Louisiana
> Primary care doctors: 66.5 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.1 per 100,000 people (6th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 452.3 per 100,000 people (7th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 8.4% (22nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.7% (2nd highest)
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11. Arkansas
> Primary care doctors: 66.5 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 24.5 per 100,000 people (the highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 463.3 per 100,000 people (5th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 7.9% (25th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (7th highest)
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10. Kentucky
> Primary care doctors: 65.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.3 per 100,000 people (5th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 474.3 per 100,000 people (3rd highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 5.4% (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 17.2% (5th highest)
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9. Georgia
> Primary care doctors: 65.7 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.8 per 100,000 people (12th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 381.5 per 100,000 people (14th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 13.4% (4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.9% (11th highest)
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8. Alabama
> Primary care doctors: 65.4 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 21.4 per 100,000 people (4th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 472.4 per 100,000 people (4th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 9.4% (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.9% (6th highest)
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7. Arizona
> Primary care doctors: 65.1 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 17.8 per 100,000 people (16th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 331.4 per 100,000 people (22nd lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 10.1% (11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.9% (11th highest)
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6. Idaho
> Primary care doctors: 64.6 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 15.3 per 100,000 people (21st lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 306.6 per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 10.1% (11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.8% (25th lowest)
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5. Oklahoma
> Primary care doctors: 62.9 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 19.6 per 100,000 people (9th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 459.4 per 100,000 people (6th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 14.2% (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (8th highest)
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4. Texas
> Primary care doctors: 60.3 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 18.2 per 100,000 people (15th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 341.1 per 100,000 people (24th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 17.3% (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (13th highest)
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3. Nevada
> Primary care doctors: 56.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 20.5 per 100,000 people (8th highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 364.8 per 100,000 people (17th highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 11.2% (8th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (24th highest)
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2. Utah
> Primary care doctors: 56.5 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 12.1 per 100,000 people (3rd lowest)
> Premature mortality rate: 292.5 per 100,000 people (10th lowest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 9.2% (15th highest)
> Poverty rate: 9.7% (6th lowest)
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1. Mississippi
> Primary care doctors: 52.8 per 100,000 people
> Adults in fair or poor health: 22.2 per 100,000 people (3rd highest)
> Premature mortality rate: 499.4 per 100,000 people (the highest)
> Share of pop. without health insurance: 12.0% (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.8% (the highest)
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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