The Medical Demographics of 2025 is a study conducted by the University of São Paulo (USP) in partnership with the Brazilian Medical Association and the Ministry of Health, aiming to understand the current state of medicine in Brazil and present a perspective on the future of the field.
The study uses data collected nationwide and estimates that there are currently 572,960 doctors in the country , with projections indicating that this number will grow to over 1.15 million by 2035.
But what does that mean?
In this article, you will understand how the current context directly impacts your choice of a medical career and your future in the healthcare field.
What does the Medical Demographics 2025 report say about the number of doctors in Brazil?
Based on data collected over the last 5 years, there has been an increase of 116,500 new doctors in Brazil, leading to a simultaneous increase in the doctor-to-inhabitant ratio. Today, the ratio stands at 2.98 doctors for every 1000 inhabitants.
Currently, the country has 572,960 doctors, representing a growth of over 100% since the year 2000, mainly due to the expansion of undergraduate medical courses in recent years.
From 2004 to 2024, an average of 2,538 places were opened for Medicine per year, increasing from 13,820 in 2004 to 48,491 places in 2024.
This growth was primarily driven by the Mais Médicos Law of 2013, with 91% of the growth being attributed to private educational institutions.
However, when analyzing the distribution of these doctors across the country, it is possible to identify a concentration of healthcare professionals in the South and Southeast regions.
- Capital cities (34.6%)
- Inland +300 thousand inhabitants. (21.6%)
- Inland 100 thousand to 300 thousand inhabitants. (28.8%)
- Interior -100 thousand inhabitants. (14.8%)
Female predominance
For the first time, the majority of medical professionals are women.
According to the study, women currently represent 50.9% of medical professionals , and the projection for 2035 is that this number will grow to 56%. This is mainly due to the increasing number of female enrollments in medical courses (61.8% of the total enrolled).
Women also make up the majority in the specialties of Dermatology, Pediatrics, and Endocrinology.
Medical specialties
Currently in Brazil, according to data from a study by USP (University of São Paulo), 59.1% of doctors have some kind of specialty.
Of the 55 regulated specialties in the country, 50.6% of specialists are concentrated in 7 of them.
They are:
- Medical Clinic (12.4%) – 59,038 specialists
- Pediatrics (10%) – 47,787 specialists
- General Surgery (7.8%) – 37,208 specialists
- Gynecology and Obstetrics (7.4%) – 35,528 specialists
- Anesthesiology (4.7) – 22,367 specialists
- Cardiology (4.3%) – 20,414 specialists
- Orthopedics and Traumatology (4%) – 18,998 specialists
Disparity between medical school graduates and medical residency positions
Compared to 2018, there was a 20% growth in national Medical Residency programs. However, this number did not reach – much less keep pace with – the increase in professionals graduating in Medicine.
According to information provided by USP in the Medical Demographics 2025, there are 32,611 doctors who graduated in the previous year (2023), for 16,189 medical residency positions available (2024).
Furthermore, 54.3% of resident physicians are located in the Southeast Region.
Alternatives to Medical Residency
Given the high level of competition, the search for alternatives to medical residency for those who want to specialize is increasingly common.
It is common for some to seek medical residency specialization options in underserved areas, which consequently have less competition.
However, this alternative reduces the possibilities for choosing areas of specialization and, even with less competition, there are still no guarantees of securing a position.
Therefore, many also see postgraduate studies lato sensu. This option, in addition to offering a guaranteed job, does not prevent the doctor from practicing medicine even during the course period.
This is because it's easier to reconcile study schedules with daily appointments, especially considering the options for online, hybrid, and in-person postgraduate programs with flexible schedules.
And, of course, to officially become a specialist in the field through postgraduate studies, the doctor simply needs to pass the Board Certification Exam recognized by the Medical Councils.
Today, according to information provided by Medical Demographics, 36.3% of medical specialists have been certified by medical societies.
What does all this mean for the future of medicine in Brazil?
In general, what can be concluded from the 2025 Medical Demographics data is that there is an exponential growth trend in the number of medical graduates that is not being matched by the number of residency positions available.
Today, more than 60% of medical school graduates are unable to enter a residency program. It is projected that by 2035 the number of doctors will exceed 1.15 million , and even with the growth of residency programs, the available positions are still insufficient to meet the demand.
Because of this, it is necessary to seek alternatives that allow doctors to choose their area of practice without having to go through such an arduous and lengthy process as residency programs.
Today, medical postgraduate programs range from 12 to 24 months in duration and still offer the possibility of choosing between distance learning, blended learning, or in-person classes adaptable to the students' needs.
Now that you understand the current state of medicine in Brazil and have a perspective on the future of a medical career, how about taking a look at the postgraduate courses at São Leopoldo Mandic?
