MDCAT candidates decline by over 31% in five years

The number of candidates appearing in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) has declined by more than 31% over the past five years, according to available figures.

A total of 138,158 candidates appeared in this year’s test, compared with 204,000 in 2022. The number fell to 180,000 in 2023, 167,000 in 2024 and 140,125 in 2025.

Around 22,000 seats are available in public and private medical and dental colleges across the country under the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Government medical and dental colleges account for around 4,000 to 5,000 of these seats.

The decline has been attributed to several factors, including higher fees at private medical and dental colleges, the limited number of seats in government institutions and an increasing trend among students to pursue medical education abroad.

The fall in candidate numbers could affect competition for admission to government medical and dental colleges.