The U.S. had 254 working physicians for every 100,000 residents in 2008, according to a Nov. 17 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Physician supply varied from a high of 405 per 100,000 residents in Massachusetts to a low of 174 in Mississippi. Northeastern states had the highest concentration of physicians. One in four working physicians was age 60 or older in 2008, and 29% were women.

Enrollment in medical/osteopathic schools grew in all but a few states between 1999 and 2008, with Nevada, Florida, and Arizona seeing more than 68% growth.
The Northeast and Midwest regions had the highest concentration of medical students. According to the report, two-thirds of physicians end up practicing in the same state where they obtained their medical education and residency training.

The data book contains the latest data and ranking by state for the U.S. physician supply, medical school enrollment, graduate medical education and retention of physicians.

The AAMC Center for Workforce Studies estimates that the United States will face a shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025.

For more information on the "2009 State Physician Workforce Data Book," visit www.aamc.org.