The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a report in 2006, projecting a shortfall of approximately 55,000 physicians in 2020. If current trends continue, the full time equivalent (FTE) physician supply is projected to grow to 866,400 by 2020, while demand for physicians will increase to 921,500 due to the growth and aging of the U.S. population. The report projects shortages will be in greatest in non-primary care specialties.

Source: The Federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Physician Supply and Demand: Projections to 2020 (2006)