Distribution of health workers by occupation in 47 countries in the African Region, 2018
| Categories | % public sector | % private for profit | % private for non-profit | % Total | Total no |
| Physicians generalists | 6.4 | 6.2 | 10.1 | 6.8 | 243 254 |
| Physicians specialists | 2.2 | 0.6 | 5.7 | 2.5 | 90 913 |
| Professional nurses and associates | 28.2 | 21.6 | 52.1 | 30.6 | 1 093 957 |
| Professional midwives and associates | 6.8 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 6.1 | 217 551 |
| Dentists and technicians | 1.5 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 58 028 |
| Pharmacists and technicians | 2.2 | 1.2 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 94 098 |
| Laboratory workers | 11.9 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 10.4 | 370 104 |
| Technicians on medical imaging and equipment | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 25 804 |
| Environment and public health workers | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 40 043 |
| Health services managers | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 30 754 |
| Administrative and support staff | 12.9 | 6.3 | 7.3 | 12.0 | 428 235 |
| Community health workers | 15.3 | 15.5 | 0.1 | 13.6 | 486 186 |
| Traditional and complementary medicine | 0.2 | 26.9 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 49 742 |
| Other health workers | 9.6 | 14.1 | 8.2 | 9.7 | 345 028 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 3 573 697 |