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South Carolina Physician Shortage Facts

01/31/2024

THE PROBLEM

Physician supply lags patient demand nationally and across South Carolina. 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 by 2030.¹
By 2030, the United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.²

South Carolina is projected to be short 3,230 doctors by 2030.

Primary care alone is projected to be short 815 providers.³

South Carolina ranks in the bottom half of states in the country in the availability of primary care doctors and general surgeons and for physician supply overall.⁴

41 of South Carolina’s 46 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).⁵

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.⁶