The Cuban healthcare system concluded the year 2025 with a total of 71,635 registered doctors, as detailed in the 2025 Health Statistical Yearbook released by the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) in mid-October 2026. This marks a decrease of 3,729 medical professionals compared to the 75,364 recorded in 2024, representing an annual reduction of nearly 5%.
The statistics are derived from Table 102 of the document, based on data from the Health Workforce Registry managed by MINSAP's Human Capital Directorate. It is crucial to note that these figures refer to registered personnel, not necessarily those practicing within the country. Table 105 of the same report includes medical residents, professionals on international missions, as well as those involved in teaching, research, or administration. MINSAP has cautioned that these indicators are preliminary, implying possible minor adjustments by the end of the current year.
Ongoing Decline in Medical Workforce
The reduction observed in 2025 is part of an ongoing trend that has intensified since 2021 when the registry tallied 106,131 doctors. Over four years, this figure plummeted to 71,635, which constitutes a loss of 34,496 professionals—approximately 32.5% of the total medical workforce. The sharpest decline was recorded between 2023 and 2024, with Cuba losing over 13,000 doctors in a single year.
The yearbook does not provide a detailed breakdown of the causes behind this reduction. Analysts suggest factors such as emigration—amidst Cuba's largest migration wave in recent history—insufficient salaries prompting career abandonment, retirements, and deployments on international missions. None of these factors are quantified officially in the document.
Broader Health System Challenges
The decline extends beyond physicians, affecting the entire National Health System. Table 96 of the yearbook shows 365,515 health workers in 2025, down from 390,279 in 2024 and 421,120 in 2023. Over two years, the system lost 55,605 workers. Among those remaining, 259,964 are women, making up 71.1% of the workforce. The number of nurses stands at 134,817, while there are 11,740 dentists, translating to a rate of 12.2 per 10,000 inhabitants.
Declining Doctor-to-Population Ratio
In 2025, the doctor-to-population ratio was 74.7 per 10,000 people, a figure that contradicts the official narrative of Cuba's supposed medical prowess. This ratio has been worsening consistently: from 113 in 2022 to 127 in 2023, and then to 131 in 2024, as reported by the National Office of Statistics and Information.
The collapse of the Cuban healthcare system has been acknowledged at the official level. In July 2025, Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda admitted to the National Assembly that the country was facing an "unprecedented structural crisis," with only 30% of essential medications available and 32% stocked in pharmacies. By the end of 2024, 461 out of 651 essential medicines—70.8%—were either unavailable or had limited supply.
Indicators of Health System Deterioration
The 2025 yearbook was published alongside other indicators of decline. Official mortality statistics show 128,106 premature deaths in 2024, an increase of 10,357 from the previous year. The rate of potential years of life lost per 1,000 inhabitants rose from 76.3 in 2023 to 81.8 in 2024, according to data from the prior year's report.
In September 2026, MINSAP tightened the requirements for medical practice, mandating a degree, registration, and legalized documentation, a regulatory change that might affect the number of qualified professionals in future records.
Key Questions About Cuba's Healthcare Workforce Decline
What was the total number of registered doctors in Cuba by the end of 2025?
By the end of 2025, Cuba had 71,635 registered doctors.
How does the doctor-to-population ratio in 2025 compare to previous years?
The doctor-to-population ratio was 74.7 per 10,000 people in 2025, down from 113 in 2022, 127 in 2023, and 131 in 2024.
What factors are contributing to the reduction of medical professionals in Cuba?
The decline is attributed to factors such as emigration, low salaries leading to career abandonment, retirements, and professionals being sent on international missions.