Number of Foreign Doctors in Germany Doubles

Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), has reported that the number of doctors without German citizenship working in the country has reached 64,000, accounting for 13 percent of all practicing physicians. This figure has more than doubled compared to 30,000 (7 percent) in 2014.

Isteqamat Press – the office added that 42 percent of these foreign doctors have lived in Germany for less than 10 years, and many of them are younger than their German counterparts.

The source noted that while foreign nationals make up 15 percent of Germany’s overall labor market, the healthcare sector has demonstrated a greater capacity to absorb foreign specialists.

In 2024, the qualifications of more than 7,600 foreign-trained doctors and dentists (primarily from other countries) were officially recognized, making medicine the second most frequently accredited international profession after nursing. Some of those recognized were German nationals who completed their medical studies abroad, including in countries such as Austria and Hungary.

Additionally, enrollment of new medical students for the 2024–۲۰۲۵ academic year increased by 30 percent to 15,900, reflecting efforts to strengthen the domestic healthcare workforce.