Overview

• The global nursing workforce grew from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, with the nursing shortage projected to decline to 4.1 million by 2030.
• Approximately 78% of nurses are concentrated in countries with only 49% of the global population, leaving low- and middle-income regions critically underserved.
• Forty-two percent of nurses in Africa intend to emigrate, exacerbating shortages in a region already struggling with low nurse-to-population ratios.
• Women, who make up 85% of the nursing workforce, continue to face a 7% pay gap and limited leadership opportunities globally.
• The report outlines 2026–2030 priorities, including equitable job distribution, stronger education systems, mental health support, and advancing nursing leadership.