State of the World's Nursing Report 2025
The new report released on International Nurses Day is a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the nursing workforce. According to the report, the global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in the availability of nurses remain across regions and countries. Inequities in the global nursing workforce leave many of the world’s population without access to essential health services, which could threaten progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), global health security and the health-related development goals.
Policy priorities for 2026–2030
The report introduces forward-looking policy priorities, calling on countries to:
- expand and equitably distribute nursing jobs, especially in underserved regions;
- strengthen domestic education systems and align qualifications with defined roles;
- improve working conditions, pay equity, and mental well-being support;
- further develop nursing regulation and advanced practice nursing roles;
- promote gender equity and protect nurses working in fragile, conflict-affected settings;
- harness digital technologies and prepare nurses for climate-responsive care; and
- advance nursing leadership and ensure leadership development opportunities are equitable.
You can read the full report here:
