Doctor Growth in Canada More Than Doubles Population Increase Over Last 5 Years

Despite higher numbers of doctors, many Canadians continue to report difficulties finding a family physician

People walk toward the entrance to the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville, N.S., on April 30, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

VICTORIA—The number of doctors in Canada is growing at a rate more than double that of the population, says a report by the Canadian Institute of Health Information.

Canada’s population increased by 4.6 percent between 2014 and 2018, while the number of physicians grew by 12.5 percent over the same time period, says the report released Thursday.