Average age of Canada's MDs is on the rise

Although the overall number of physicians relative to the population has remained stable over the last 5 years at about 185 physicians per 100 000 population, the proportion of family physicians relative to the supply of specialists is decreasing. The number of family physicians per 100 000 population dropped by 3.1% between 1995 and 1999, while the number of specialist physicians per 100 000 population rose by 3.4%.

The number of physicians emigrating from Canada continues to decline from the peak levels reached in the mid-1990s, with 585 physicians moving abroad during 1999 and 343 returning. The proportion of specialists migrating (69%) far exceeded that of family physicians (31%), although this has not always been the case. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, the proportion of emigrating family physicians was consistently higher than that of specialists.