Click on the following link to access to the African Health Workforce Database provided by WHO
The starting point for this online database was a comprehensive health workforce survey conducted by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with WHO department of human resources for health in Geneva in 2004/2005. All 46 member states of the African Region have contributed to this data collection.
The data base presented here is the best available information base on the health workforce in the African Region to date and it will be continuously updated.
Following the specification of the World Health Report 2006, the health workforce is defined as all individuals engaged in the promotion, protection or improvement of population health. This means not only those who diagnose and treat diseases, but also those involved in promoting and preserving health are recorded. It also includes administrative staff and support workers – those who help the health system function but do not directly provide health services as such.
Data is provided for 23 different types of health care cadres, both as total numbers and densities per 10000 population. For many health care cadres, additional data e.g. on the age characteristics and the urban/rural distribution is available. This information is provided country by country in separate fact sheets.
Any updates and comments on the data are most welcome and can be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More background information can be found in the definitions of health care cadres and the technical notes.