Registered doctors in the UK 2025, by specialty and PMQ

The United Kingdom's medical workforce reflects a diverse mix of professionals, with ** percent of all doctors receiving their primary medical qualification (PMQ) in the UK as of February 2025. This majority is even more pronounced among general practitioners, where a quarter obtained their qualifications domestically. International medical graduates make up a significant portion of the workforce, with ** percent of all doctors qualifying outside the UK and European Economic Area (EEA).

Growth and composition of the medical workforce

The number of registered doctors in the UK has shown consistent growth over the years, increasing from ******* in 2006 to over ******* in 2024. This expansion includes a substantial rise in specialists, with ******* specialist doctors registered in 2024. The number of general practitioners has also increased, reaching ****** GPs that year. However, GPs are still facing unprecedented pressure due to high workload and staff shortage, leading to burnout.

Specialization and regional qualifications

Among specialist doctors in the UK, medicine is the most common medical specialty group, accounting for over ****** doctors. Among them, half were specialized in general (internal) medicine. The impact of Brexit on the medical workforce is evident, with the share of EEA graduates among UK doctors decreasing since 2014. In 2025,around half of registered doctors received their PMQ in the UK, with India, Pakistan, and Nigeria being the most common countries of qualification outside the UK.