Minnesota Physician Shortage Facts

Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across Minnesota. As supply falls, patients wait longer to see a doctor, and doctors burn out.


The U.S. is projected to have 120,000 too few doctors nationally.

  • Nearly 40% of American physicians will reach retirement age.
  • The United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.
  • 29.9% of Minnesota physicians are within retirement range right now.

Minnesota is projected to be short 2,260 doctors.

  • Primary care alone is projected to be short 1,187 providers.

Overall, Minnesota ranks in the bottom half of states for primary care and physician availability.7

MN-ranking-stats

69 of Minnesota’s 87 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).

  • Low-income citizens are disproportionately affected by these shortages.
  • HPSA designations indicate areas where there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider.
MN-HPSAs

Ranked against other states, Minnesota’s doctor-to-patient ratio is:

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