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The global nursing workforce grew from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but major disparities remain in the availability of caregivers across regions and countries, according to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
This report, State of the World’s Nursing 2025, highlights “persistent and growing inequalities” in the sector, particularly in the distribution of nurses, their training, salaries, working conditions, and shortages of trained personnel.
“This trend of inequality recurs across regions and within them, between countries and within countries, and according to countries’ income classifications,” the report states.
The consequences of these disparities affect patient care and health outcomes, the functioning of health systems, health equity and access to care, universal health coverage, and broader economic and social development.
Addressing Inequality
“Inequalities within the global nursing workforce mean that a large portion of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services, potentially threatening progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), global health security, and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” note the WHO and ICN, stressing that these inequalities “must be urgently addressed.”
“We cannot ignore the imbalances that shape the global nursing landscape. On International Nurses Day, I urge countries and partners to use this report as a roadmap—showing us where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we need to go—as quickly as possible,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Data analysis revealed that the number of nurses worldwide would reach 29.8 million in 2023, up from 27.9 million in the 2018 report.
Risk of Shortages in Africa
However, the WHO noted that data reporting had improved for its second report and also emphasized that “the global distribution and density of caregivers in 2023 are highly inequitable and mask a shortage of 5.8 million nurses.”
The UN health agency’s analysis shows that the estimated global nurse shortage declined from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023 and is expected to drop further to 4.1 million by 2030.
Nevertheless, nearly 70% of the projected shortages by 2030 will affect the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, according to the report.
It also reveals that around 78% of the world’s nurses work in countries that represent only 49% of the global population. The study further suggests that high-income countries, which account for just 17% of the world’s population, are home to 46% of the global nursing workforce.
Disproportionate Access to Nursing Services
More broadly, the findings indicate that one in seven nurses globally—and 23% in high-income countries—was born abroad, highlighting the reliance on international migration. This is a situation that risks worsening.
High-income countries, in particular, need to prepare for a significant wave of retirements and reassess their dependence on foreign-trained healthcare personnel by strengthening bilateral agreements with the countries where nurses are recruited.
On another note, although the global average density is 37.1 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants, this figure is not evenly distributed across regions and nations. In fact, the nurse density in the WHO European Region is five times higher than in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, the report points out.
Furthermore, gender and equity remain central concerns within the nursing profession. Women continue to dominate the field, representing 85% of the global nursing workforce.
Source : UNITED NATIONS
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
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