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Surge in Dentist Numbers in Spain with Almost 41,000 Registered Professionals

Surge in Dentist Numbers in Spain with Almost 41,000 Registered Professionals Spain has witnessed a significant increase in the number of registered dentists,...

Dr. Zainab Rangwala

Dr. Zainab Rangwala

Chief Dentist · GDCHJ

3 min read45,431 views
  • professional education
  • dental education
  • Dental Education & Research
  • dentistry
  • spain
  • female dentists
  • growth
  • demography
  • Dental News

Surge in Dentist Numbers in Spain with Almost 41,000 Registered Professionals

Spain has witnessed a significant increase in the number of registered dentists, reaching a staggering figure of 40,968 professionals. This represents a remarkable growth of 26.3% over the past decade, as there were 32,445 dentists registered in 2013.

These statistics reveal that the national ratio of active dentists per 100,000 inhabitants stands at 82, rising to 134 in the Community of Madrid, which boasts the highest concentration of practicing dentistry professionals in the country. Conversely, the region with the lowest rate is Castilla La Mancha, with 46 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants.

Notably, the number of female dentists has seen a significant increase from 17,241 in 2013 to 23,916 in 2022. A decade ago, women accounted for 52.1% of the total, but they now represent 58.4% of dentists in Spain.

Regarding dentistry degrees, the annual number of graduates from both public and private faculties has remained steady, with a current rate of 1,775 students per year.

Based on projection analysis, it is estimated that the number of active dentists in 2030 will reach 44,600 professionals. These calculations consider a substantial decrease in the percentage of graduates who eventually register as dentists. In 2022, only 31% of graduates were registered, compared to a figure above 50% between 2017 and 2020.

These key findings are derived from a technical report on the demography of dentists in Spain, compiled by the General Council of Dentists using data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the Ministry of Health.

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References

  1. [1]World Health Organization. Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030 World Health Organization. 2024. Available at: source
  2. [2]FDI World Dental Federation. Vision 2030: Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All FDI World Dental Federation. 2021. Available at: source

Written by

Dr. Zainab Rangwala

Dr. Zainab Rangwala

Chief Dentist · GDCHJ

With over 12 years of clinical experience, Dr. Zainab Rangwala brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and communication excellence to her role as the Media and PR Head at DentalReach. Passionate about bridging the gap between dentistry and digital communication, she plays a key role in shaping the platform’s voice and outreach.

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