The 'International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians,' which polled 10,895 PCPs across 10 countries this year, found the U.S. has the highest rate of doctors reporting feelings of burnout: 43% of U.S. PCPs are burned out. In comparison, New Zealand and Canada tied for second place at 38%, while the Netherlands reported the lowest rate at 11%.
The Administrative Burden Crisis
Globally, dissatisfaction with the time spent on paperwork is the overwhelming problem. More than four out of five PCPs in every country surveyed reported being dissatisfied with administrative time, including 85% of U.S. PCPs.
When asked specifically what caused their burnout, administrative pressure was cited as the primary reason for more than two out of five U.S. PCPs. While the U.S. ranked fourth (44%) in the percentage of burned-out doctors citing administrative pressure as problematic, other nations reported even higher burdens: Switzerland topped the list at 65%, followed by Germany at 50%, and Canada at 45%.
In stark contrast, working with patients was rated as a much lower cause of burnout in every country. The U.S. and Canada tied at just 14% of burned-out PCPs citing patient work as a cause, highlighting the severity of the bureaucratic strain.
Workload, Time, and Retention
Other factors like limited time per patient and feeling undervalued also contribute to the exhaustion. 54% of burned-out PCPs in the U.S. were dissatisfied with the amount of time they spent with patients during visits. Germany led in heavy workload metrics, with 63% of burned-out PCPs spending less than 15 minutes with patients per routine visit, and 78% seeing over 150 patients weekly.
The report emphasized that administrative burden, heavy workload, and moral distress are fueling exhaustion. PCPs who feel overwhelmed by bureaucracy are more likely to experience emotional distress and intend to leave the profession in the near future, threatening the stability of primary care.
Source: Medical Economics | November 20, 2025