The Committee on Manpower of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery conducted its annual survey of otolaryngological manpower in April 1983. A net decline of 16 otolaryngologists occurred in the past one year. Only one province sustained a net increase. A review of previous manpower surveys indicates that a decline in overall numbers has been present since 1979. If this trend continues we can expect severe manpower shortages within 10 years time.