5 Key Physician Burnout Statistics

Physician burnout has become an increasingly visible concern within the healthcare industry, impacting clinicians worldwide.

Defined by a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress, burnout is characterized by symptoms such as depersonalization, a feeling of reduced personal achievement, and emotional exhaustion.

Reports indicate a marked rise in physician burnout rates, with primary care physicians often being at a higher risk due to their front-line role in patient care.

In this article, we will examine current physician burnout statistics, exploring trends within doctor burnout rates and the broader implications for healthcare burnout statistics.

The Importance of Measuring the Physician Burnout Rates

Measuring the burnout rates among physicians is crucial for several reasons. Notably, burnout can lead to significant negative outcomes not only for the doctors themselves but also for the quality of patient care and the healthcare system at large.

1. Identification and Scope

The quantification of burnout facilitates the identification of its prevalence and severity.

Statistics on physician burnout highlight a critical concern in the healthcare profession.

For example, reports indicate that burnout rates spiked to 63% in 2021, a substantial increase from 38% in the previous year. Such data underscores the urgency of the problem.

2. Resource Allocation

Understanding the extent of burnout allows healthcare institutions to allocate resources appropriately.

Data-driven insights empower administrators to target interventions and support systems to the areas most in need.

3. Benchmarking and Trends

Tracking burnout rates over time also serves as a benchmarking tool.

Healthcare providers can compare rates across departments, specialties, and time, gaining insight into which factors may contribute to higher levels of burnout.

4. Prevention and Intervention

Measuring burnout is the first step towards preventative strategies and interventions.

It highlights the correlation between burnout and systemic issues within the healthcare setting, prompting organizational changes.

5. Implications for Patient Care

Finally, assessing burnout rates is indirectly related to patient safety and care quality.

Overworked, stressed physicians may have a higher propensity for errors. Thus, monitoring burnout rates is a leading indicator of potential future disruptions in patient care.

10 Key Current Statistics on Physician Burnout in the US

1. Physician burnout rate fell below 50% in 2024

AMA data shows physician burnout dropped below 50% for the first time since 2020, following a high of 62.8% in 2021.‍

Source: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/physician-burnout-rate-drops-below-50-first-time-4-years

2. 63% of emergency medicine doctors reported burnout in 2024

Medscape’s 2024 survey of 9,200 physicians found burnout especially high in Emergency Medicine (63%), OB-GYN (53%), Oncology (53%), Pediatrics (51%), and Family Medicine (51%).‍

Source: https://resources.healthgrades.com/pro/the-most-and-least-burned-out-physicians-by-specialty

3. Nearly half of physicians (49%) reported burnout nationwide in 2024

Medscape reported the U.S. burnout rate at 49% in 2024, down from 53% in 2023 but higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 44% in 2019.‍

Source: https://www.augnito.ai/resources/physician-burnout-latest-statistics/

4. 56% of female physicians experienced burnout in 2024 vs 44% of men

Female burnout rates dropped from 63% in 2023 to 56% in 2024, compared to 44% among male physicians, highlighting ongoing gender disparities.‍

Source: https://resources.healthgrades.com/pro/the-state-of-physician-burnout-and-depression

5. 43.2% of physicians reported at least one burnout symptom in 2024

The AMA organizational well-being snapshot shows burnout improved from 53% in 2022 to 48.2% in 2023 and 43.2% in 2024.‍

Source: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/which-physician-specialties-are-seeing-drop-burnout

6. 45.1% of physicians reported high job stress in 2024

ASC News reports stress levels dropped slightly, from 50.7% in 2023 to 45.1% in 2024, but remain a major challenge in physician well-being.‍

Source: https://ascnews.com/2025/05/physician-burnout-rates-decline-but-pressures-remain-for-asc-leaders/

7. AI scribes reduced burnout by up to 30% in 2025

Ambient documentation tools reduced clinician burnout by 21.2% at Mass General Brigham and improved documentation-related well-being by 30.7% at Emory.‍

Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1095044

8. 48% of physicians reported burnout in a 2025 AMA poll

In March 2025, nearly half of physicians (48%) said they were burned out, with particularly high rates among women.‍

Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/09/covid-doctor-stress-burn-out

9. 27% of medical groups lost a physician to burnout-related turnover in 2024

An MGMA poll revealed that over one-quarter of practices had at least one physician retire or leave due to burnout; 41% said burnout worsened, while only 14% saw improvements.‍

Source: https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/physician-burnout-still-major-factor-even-as-unexpected-turnover-eases

10. Nearly half of physicians worked without fully staffed teams more than 25% of the time in 2025

A JAMA Internal Medicine study found ongoing staffing shortages contribute significantly to burnout in U.S. practices.‍

Source: https://3bhealthcare.us/staffing-shortages-physician-burnout-2025/

Final Thoughts on Physician Burnout

Physician burnout continues to be a pressing challenge that affects not only clinicians but also patient safety and the overall quality of healthcare delivery.

While recent statistics show signs of improvement since the pandemic peak, nearly half of doctors still report experiencing burnout, underscoring the urgency for systemic solutions. Factors such as high stress, staffing shortages, gender disparities, and administrative burden remain significant drivers, even as technology like AI scribes shows promise in reducing documentation-related fatigue.

Addressing physician burnout will require sustained commitment from healthcare organizations, policymakers, and technology innovators to create healthier work environments and safeguard patient care.