In the UK, the number of medical graduates from abroad have increased in recent years. In 2024, roughly one in ten registered doctors received their primary medical qualification (PMQ) in the European Economic Area (EEA) excluding the UK. Moreover, another third of doctors were international medical graduates (IMG). The number of international graduates started to increase in 2018. This was due to the removal of the cap limit of ****** doctors per year from outside the UK or EU/EEA. Since then, the number of IMGs has increased dramatically. Emergency measures taken in the early stages of the pandemic caused the rise in licensed doctors from the UK in 2020 and 2021, such as the introduction of a temporary emergency register and the earlier registration of graduates.

In 2025, just over half of doctors registered in the United Kingdom had received their primary medical qualification (PMQ) in the UK itself. This came to over *** thousand doctors that year. The second most common country, where a doctor received their PMQ, was India, followed by Pakistan and Nigeria. The PMQ does not equal the nationality of the doctor. There are already more doctors of ethnic minorities registered in the UK than white doctors.

In 2025, out of the *** thousand registered doctors in the United Kingdom, *** thousand were men and *** thousand were women. There was a more pronounced gender gap among specialist doctors in the UK, with ** thousand men to nearly ** thousand women qualified on the specialist register. Although on the GP register, women outnumber men with over ** thousand female GPs to nearly ** thousand male GPs. Gender distribution of UK doctors by age While there are **** male doctors than female doctors in total, the gender distribution of doctors in the UK looks different depending on the age group. Female doctors ********* their male counterpart in all age groups under 45 years old. Therefore, as more doctors retire, the proportion of female doctors will increase. Worldwide make-up of doctors in the UK Although the majority of medical practitioners in the UK received their medical qualification from within the UK, there is still a significant number of doctors who graduated outside the UK. As of 2024, some ** percent of registered doctors in the UK are from the European Economic Area (EEA) while a further third are international medical graduates (IMG) indicating the reliance of the NHS on immigration to support the organization’s workforce.

In 2025, roughly *** thousand doctors were registered in the United Kingdom (UK). Of these, around *** thousand were white, while the largest ethnicity of UK doctors other than white was Asian or Asian British. Some *** thousand doctors reported so. This is unsurprising considering the most common foreign country of medical qualification is India, followed by Pakistan. As of 2024, there were more doctors of ethnic minorities than white doctors in the UK.

The United Kingdom's medical workforce reflects a diverse mix of professionals, with 54 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 36 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 240,000 in 2006 to over 393,000 in 2024. This expansion includes a substantial rise in specialists, with 110,430 specialist doctors registered in 2024. The number of general practitioners has also increased, reaching 80,540 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 30,000 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.

The average for 2020 based on 27 countries was 3.56 doctors per 1,000 people. The highest value was in Austria: 5.35 doctors per 1,000 people and the lowest value was in Brazil: 2.05 doctors per 1,000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The percentage in the brackets demonstrates the percentage of each religious affiliation within that specialty as a total of the religious affiliation i.e., 9.7% of all atheists are anaesthetists or intensivists. Please note that each doctor can be registered in more than one speciality.

In the UK, for the first time, the number of doctors of ethnic minorities surpassed the number of white doctors in 2023. The largest increase was seen among Asian or Asian British ethnicity group. This was due, in part, to the large influx of international medical graduates since 2018, when the cap limit of ****** doctors per year from outside the UK or EU/EEA was removed.

As of September 2024, there were 146,387 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors in NHS Hospitals and Community Health Services (HCHS) in England, which is more than two thousand times the number reported in September 1995.

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Travel Vaccines Market Size 2025-2029

The travel vaccines market size is forecast to increase by USD 7.05 billion, at a CAGR of 10.7% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing global migration and the changing demographic profile of travelers. With more individuals moving across borders for work, education, or personal reasons, the demand for travel vaccines is on the rise. Additionally, an expanding middle class in developing countries is leading to a rise in international travel, further fueling market growth. However, challenges persist in this market. A notable obstacle is the lack of coverage for travel vaccines in health plans. Examples include the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and influenza vaccine.
This issue can limit market penetration and hinder the growth potential for companies in the market. To capitalize on opportunities and navigate these challenges effectively, market players must focus on developing affordable and accessible vaccination solutions for a diverse customer base. By addressing this need, companies can differentiate themselves and gain a competitive edge in the dynamic and evolving market. The rise in international vacations and medical tourism has led to an increase in the number of travelers, thereby driving demand for travel vaccines.

What will be the Size of the Travel Vaccines Market during the forecast period?

Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2019-2023 and forecasts 2025-2029 - in the full report.
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The market continues to evolve, driven by the constant assessment of disease risks and the need for effective prevention strategies. Booster shot timing and disease prevention are critical considerations, as cold chain logistics ensure the viral load reduction necessary for vaccine efficacy. Quarantine requirements and vaccine interactions necessitate rigorous safety monitoring and disease surveillance, while adverse event profiles and antibody response data inform immunization protocols. Pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis play essential roles in infection control, with adjuvant technology enhancing vaccine potency and herd immunity. Immunogenicity studies and immunization record maintenance are crucial for understanding vaccine efficacy and ensuring proper dosage regimens.

Infection prevention measures, such as travel health insurance and vaccination schedules, rely on risk stratification and pre-travel consultation. Vaccine storage and pathogen inactivation are vital aspects of vaccine delivery systems, while vaccine contraindications and clinical trial data inform vaccine safety and efficacy. Disease surveillance and health advisories help maintain vaccine potency and inform the public of potential risks. The market is expected to grow by over 10% annually, reflecting the ongoing demand for effective disease prevention solutions. For instance, a recent study demonstrated a 95% efficacy rate for a new travel vaccine, highlighting the importance of continuous research and innovation in the field.

By addressing the complexities of disease risk assessment, vaccine interactions, and cold chain logistics, the market continues to unfold, providing vital solutions for individuals and communities alike.

How is this Travel Vaccines Industry segmented?

The travel vaccines industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Disease Type

  Influenza
  Diptheria
  Hepatitis
  Typhoid and others


End-user

  Adult vaccines
  Pediatric vaccines


Type

  Outbound
  Inbound


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Disease Type Insights

The Influenza segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The market, specifically for influenza, is experiencing substantial growth due to the revival of leisure and corporate travel, heightened health consciousness among travelers, and the ease of access to influenza shots. Influenza incidence is on the rise and is anticipated to continue increasing during the forecast period. To ensure vaccine efficacy, cold chain logistics play a crucial role in maintaining the required temperature throughout the supply chain. Vaccine interactions and safety monitoring are essential considerations, with clinical trial data and immunization records used to assess vaccine potency and seroprotection rates. However, the high cost of vaccine research, development, and manufacturing remains a significant challenge for market participants.

Adherence to dosage regime

Among OECD countries in 2022, South Korea had the highest rate of yearly visits to a doctor per capita. On average, people in South Korea visited the doctors 15.7 times per year in person. Health care utilization is an important indicator of the success of a country’s health care system. There are many factors that affect health care utilization including healthcare structure and the supply of health care providers.

OECD health systems

Healthcare systems globally include a variety of tools for accessing healthcare, including private insurance based systems, like in the U.S., and universal systems, like in the U.K. Health systems have varying costs among the OECD countries. Worldwide, Europe has the highest expenditures for health as a proportion of the GDP. Among all OECD countries, The United States had the highest share of government spending on health care. Recent estimates of current per capita health expenditures showed the United States also had, by far, the highest per capita spending on health worldwide.

Supply of health providers

Globally, the country with the highest physician density is Cuba, although most other countries with high number of physicians to population was found in Europe. The number of graduates of medicine impacts the number of available physicians in countries. Among OECD countries, Latvia had the highest rate of graduates of medicine, which was almost twice the rate of the OECD average.

The online doctor consultations segment of the digital health market was forecast to continuously increase between 2025 and 2029 by a total of **** million users. A significant jump in the number of users of telemedicine was recorded after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to socially distance. Revenue growth and market penetration As user numbers climb, the financial outlook for online doctor consultations is equally promising. Global revenue in this segment is forecast to rise significantly in the coming years, reaching ***** billion U.S. dollars by 2028. This growth is accompanied by an increasing market penetration rate, which is expected to reach **** percent by 2029, marking a steady upward trend in the adoption of telemedicine services worldwide. Time savings and international adoption The benefits of telemedicine extend beyond convenience, offering significant time savings for patients. In Australia, for instance, telemedicine could save individuals up to *** hours annually in the most optimistic scenario. The adoption of online healthcare services varies internationally, with the United Kingdom leading in online appointment requests. In 2019, ** percent of UK primary care physicians offered this service, compared to just ** percent in Switzerland, highlighting the disparities in digital health integration across different healthcare systems.

Among OECD member countries, the United States had the highest percentage of gross domestic product spent on health care as of 2023. The U.S. spent nearly ** percent of its GDP on health care services. Germany, France and Japan followed the U.S. with distinctly smaller percentages. The United States had both significantly higher private and public spending on health compared with other developed countries. Why compare OECD countries?OECD stands for Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It is an economic organization consisting of ** members, mostly high-income countries and committed to democratic principles and market economy. This makes OECD statistics more comparable than statistics of developed and undeveloped countries. Health economics is an important matter for the OECD, even more since increasing health costs and an aging population have become an issue for many developed countries. Health costs in the U.S.  A higher GDP share spent on health care does not automatically lead to a better functioning health system. In the case of the U.S., high spending is mainly because of higher costs and prices, not due to higher utilization. For example, physicians’ salaries are much higher in the U.S. than in other comparable countries. A doctor in the U.S. earns almost twice as much as the average physician in Germany. Pharmaceutical spending per capita is also distinctly higher in the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. also spends more on health administrative costs compare to other wealthy countries.

According to a report carried out by the Consumer Choice Center in 2023, the United States had the ******* average wait for a primary physician appointment at almost ***** weeks. On the other hand, those in *********** only had to wait around *** days for an appointment. In Spain, it was estimated that the average wait time for an elective surgery appointment was ** days.

In 2023, there were nearly 11 thousand hospitals in Columbia, the highest number among OECD countries, followed by 8,156 hospitals in Japan. If only general hospitals were counted (excluding mental health hospitals and other specialized hospitals), Japan had the most number of general hospitals among OECD countries worldwide. Most countries reported hospitals numbers similar to or lower than the previous year. Meanwhile, Mexico, South Korea and the Netherlands all reported more hospitals than last year.

In 2023, the United States had the highest per capita health expenditure among OECD countries. At that time, per capita health expenditure in the U.S. amounted over ****** U.S. dollars, significantly higher than in Switzerland, the country with the second-highest per capita health expenditure. Norway, Germany and Austria are also within the top five countries with the highest per capita health expenditure. The United States also spent the highest share of it’s gross domestic product on health care, with **** percent of its GDP spent on health care services. Health Expenditure in the U.S. The United States is the highest spending country worldwide when it comes to health care. In 2022, total health expenditure in the U.S. exceeded **** trillion dollars. Expenditure as a percentage of GDP is projected to increase to approximately ** percent by the year 2031. Distribution of Health Expenditure in the U.S. Health expenditure in the United States is spread out across multiple categories such as nursing home facilities, home health care, and prescription drugs. As of 2022, the majority of health expenditure in the United States was spent on hospital care, accounting for a bit less than *** third of all health spending. Hospital care was followed by spending on physician and clinical services which accounted for ** percent of overall health expenditure.