The table and charts provide information about the number of doctors in Australia in 1986, 1996, and 2006, as well as the distribution of these doctors by gender and place of birth over the same years.
Overall, the number of doctors in Australia increased steadily over the two decades. The data also reveals a slight shift towards a more balanced gender distribution, while the percentage of doctors born overseas rose gradually.
In 1986, the number of doctors in Australia stood at 23,720. By 1996, this figure had risen to 29,060, and it continued to increase, reaching 35,450 in 2006. Regarding gender, the majority of doctors were male in all three years, although the gap narrowed slightly over time. In 1986, nearly 80% of doctors were male, while only about 20% were female. This ratio changed gradually, with the proportion of female doctors increasing to around 35% in 2006.
Looking at the place of birth, in 1986, approximately 60% of doctors were born in Australia, with the remaining 40% born overseas. By 1996, this proportion had shifted slightly, with the percentage of doctors born overseas rising to around 45%. In 2006, doctors born overseas made up almost 50% of the total, showing a trend towards greater diversity in the Australian medical workforce.