States losing the most physicians in rural areas — a slideshow

As the spring 2025 growing season starts across much of America, the rural landscape may include plenty of corn, wheat, soybeans and fresh produce.

But doctors are getting harder and harder to come by.

The Physicians Advocacy Institute released the report “Rural Areas Face Steep Decline in Independent Physicians and Practices,” analyzing data from 2019 to the beginning of 2024. It quantifies the declining numbers of physicians — 2,500, from an estimated 52,600 to 50,100. They populated medical practices that also dropped 3,300 in number, from 30,000 to 26,700.

Health care companies are consolidating, but not necessarily increasing the numbers of doctors, medical practices or hospitals. The figures are dismal for independent physicians whose number declined by 43% over the five-year period. Independent practices declined by 42% in number, as corporate-owned practices more than doubled.

“There was a sharp decline in independent physicians and practices and a growing shift toward hospital and corporate employment,” the report said. “However, overlaying these shifts was an overall loss in physicians practicing in rural America. The total number of rural physicians declined by nearly 2,500, while rural practices decreased by 3,300, representing a 5% and 11% decline, respectively.”

Some states had it worse than others.

This slideshow presents the regional rankings, then the worst of the worst by state for declines. Along with the state name, the numbers represent the rank for greatest percentage decline of independent physicians practicing in rural areas by state, Jan. 1, 209, to Jan. 2, 2024.

All figures come from the Physicians Advocacy Institute, which commissioned Avalere to calculate the data. A full explanation of methodology is here.