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Pharmacists

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October 17, 2024 — Pharmacists are regarded as the medication management experts of the health care team and collaborate with patients, their families and other health care professionals to benefit the health of Canadians.Reference1

Use the sections below to learn about the supply, education, employment and distribution of pharmacists across the country. 

Key findings

In 2023,

  • 30,696 pharmacists were employed in direct patient care in Canada. This number increased by 669 between 2022 and 2023 (an annual growth rate of 2.2%).Footnote i
  • In the jurisdictions where place of work data was available, the number of pharmacists employed in direct care roles increased by 291 in hospitals (+4.9%), 285 in community care (+1.2%) and 88 in other health care settings.Footnote i
  • The overall supply of pharmacists licensed to practise in Canada was 48,312, an increase of 3.5%.
  • The number of internationally educated pharmacists increased, with an average annual growth rate of 3.5% between 2019 and 2023. In 2023, internationally educated pharmacists accounted for 35.7% of the pharmacist supply (12,921).
    • The 3 jurisdictions with the largest proportions of internationally educated pharmacists were Ontario (48.8%), Alberta (35.4%) and the Northwest Territories (29.2%).
  • More than 60% of pharmacists were female. About 44.4% of the pharmacist supply was younger than 40.

Featured material

Quick Stats

This interactive tool is ideal for workforce planners, health service managers and analysts who want to create customized visualizations.

Explore and compare the supply, workforce, inflow/outflow and provincial and territorial trends of Canada’s pharmacists.

Download Quick Stats(XLSX)

Data tables

These tables are meant for analysts, researchers and those who want to explore and analyze the raw data.

Access 10 years of supply, workforce, employment, education and demographic trends for Canada’s pharmacists.

Download data tables(XLSX)

Methodology notes

These notes are meant for all data users.

They summarize the sources, definitions, strengths and limitations of the data available.

Download methodology notes(PDF)

Reports

The state of the health workforce in Canada, 2023

ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨has compiled the most recent data (up to 2023) on selected health professionals to illustrate the current state of the health workforce, with a special focus on primary care.

Read report

The state of the health workforce in Canada, 2022

This report provides an overview of 4 key areas: health workforce supply and distribution, internationally educated health professionals, workplace measures and specific population needs.

Read report

ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ workforce in Canada: In focus  

Learn about the impacts of COVID-19 on pharmacists and how these professionals helped shape Canada’s response to the pandemic. 

Read report

Databases and data sources

ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Workforce Database

ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨collects record-level, standardized, comparative data on the supply, demographics, geographic and distribution characteristics, and education and employment details of pharmacists in Canada. To find out more about CIHI’s pharmacist data, visit the ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Workforce Database metadata page.
 

Reference

1.

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Canadian Pharmacists Association. . Accessed October 26, 2023.

Footnote

i.

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Excludes Quebec, the Yukon and Nunavut, as workforce data for pharmacists was not submitted to CIHI. In 2023, Newfoundland and Labrador data was submitted using the updated ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Human Resources Minimum Data Set; therefore, data elements were limited compared with last year’s data tables.

 

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Information. Pharmacists. Accessed January 7, 2025.

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