Mapping Health Workforce Inequality: A Global Spatial and Temporal Assessment, 2000–2023

ABSTRACT Although international efforts to strengthen health systems have intensified over the past two decades, the global distribution of health personnel remains deeply uneven. This study examines physician density trends across 199 countries from 2000 to 2023, using data from the WHO Global Health Workforce Statistics. Annual Theil indices are calculated, and a decomposition analysis is conducted to distinguish between‐region and within‐region disparities. The global Theil index declined from 0.42 in 2000 to 0.32 in 2023, reflecting gradual but incomplete progress. On average, 55% of the observed disparity stems from differences between regions, while 45% arises within them. To explore spatial patterns, Global Moran's I and Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) analyses are applied. The results reveal persistent clusters of physician shortages in Sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia, contrasted by sustained concentrations of physician abundance in Europe and Central Asia. These geographic imbalances highlight the limitations of relying solely on regional coordination. Achieving more equitable health workforce distribution will require country‐specific strategies that address structural disadvantages and reduce the loss of health professionals from underserved areas. Policy options include regional training partnerships, cross‐border mobility frameworks, and integrated workforce planning mechanisms responsive to local capacity and need.