Germany's Healthcare Staff Shortage Crisis Likely to Worsen Without Foreign Doctors

Key Takeaways

1. Germany has one of the lowest rates of medical graduates per inhabitant in the EU.
2. In 2023, 12% of doctors in Germany were foreign nationals.
3. Many doctors in Germany are nearing retirement, increasing the reliance on foreign doctors.

Germany is facing a significant healthcare staff shortage, exacerbated by one of the lowest rates of doctor graduates per inhabitant among EU countries in 2022. According to the latest Eurostat statistics, Germany had only 12.4 medical doctor graduates per 100,000 inhabitants, translating to approximately 10,500 graduates for a population of 84.4 million in 2022. The rate of dentist graduates was even lower, at nearly three per 100,000 inhabitants.

Alongside these low graduation rates, Germany has also reported significant healthcare-related shortages. This situation underscores the country's need for foreign doctors to mitigate the deepening healthcare crisis.

Nearly One-Third of Doctors in Germany Are 55 or Older

In 2023, 31% of doctors in Germany were aged 55 and above, as per the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This indicates that a substantial number of doctors will retire soon, increasing Germany's dependence on foreign doctors.

Germany is also experiencing a shortage of professional nurses, with an estimated need for an additional 150,000 nurses by 2025.

1 in 8 Doctors in Germany in 2023 Were Foreigners

The growing number of foreign doctors in Germany highlights the country's reliance on overseas healthcare workers. Destatis reported that 12% of all doctors in Germany were foreigners in 2023, amounting to 62,000 doctors, up from 29,000 a decade earlier. In 2022, the medical profession was the second most recognized foreign professional qualification in Germany, with 115 foreign doctors settling in the country.

Germany Aims to Attract Foreign Workers Amid Shortages in Over 70 Occupations
The healthcare sector is not the only one facing worker shortages. According to the latest EURES report, Germany is grappling with shortages in over 70 occupations, including transportation, manufacturing, construction, engineering, and information technology. To address these shortages, Germany has relaxed some immigration rules, such as introducing the Opportunity Card in June 2024, which facilitates job searches for non-EU citizens.