Minnesota Physician Shortage Facts
THE PROBLEM
Physician supply lags patient demand nationally and across Minnesota. As supply falls, patients wait longer to see a doctor, and doctors burn out.
By 2030
![](https://ciceroinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/healthcare-icon-1.png)
The U.S. is projected to have 120,000 too few doctors nationally.1,2,4
- 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’s physicians are within retirement range right now.
![](https://ciceroinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/healthcare-icon-2.png)
Minnesota is projected to be short 2,260 doctors.2,3
- Primary care alone is projected to be short 1,187 providers.
![](https://ciceroinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MN-ranking-stats.png)
Overall, Minnesota ranks in the bottom half of states for general surgeons and obstetrician availability.4
![](https://ciceroinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MN-HPSAs.png)
69 of Minnesota’s 87 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).5,6
- 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.
Ranked against other states,
Minnesota’s doctor-to-patient ratio is:
16% worse
for infectious disease
16% worse
for internal medicine
17% worse
for pediatrics
29% worse
for plastic surgery
Louisiana Physician Shortage Facts