* Data is scattered: There's no centralized global database that tracks every licensed veterinarian.
* Different standards: Definitions of "veterinarian" vary across countries, some may include paraprofessionals.
* Constantly changing: The number of vets is always growing as new graduates enter the profession.
However, we can get a general idea:
* The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) estimates there are approximately 1 million veterinarians globally.
* This number is likely to be an underestimate, as some countries don't have accurate data.
Keep in mind, this is just an approximation, and the actual number could be higher.