More psychiatrists today but still only 1 to 16,400 — Although the total number of psychiatrists in the United States has increased 21% in the last three years, there are still very few in proportion to the population, especially in remote regions away from the big cities.… The U.S. now has on an average one psychiatrist for every 16,400 persons. But in North Dakota there is only one for every 72,000 persons. South Carolina and Alabama also have ratios of more than 65,000 persons to each psychiatrist. The psychiatrists in the U.S., few in number though they are, do not devote all their time to treating patients …. Only 15% are engaged solely in private practice. Others must devote part of their time to …teaching, research, hospital work and clinic work.
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