Overview

• The global nursing workforce grew to 29.8 million in 2023, but shortages persist, especially in low- and middle-income regions.
• Nearly 70% of the projected 4.1 million global nursing shortfall by 2030 will occur in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Africa faces one of the lowest nurse-to-population ratios globally, with just 14.1 nurses per 100,000 people, and 42% of African nurses intend to emigrate.
• High-income nations host nearly half the global nursing workforce despite representing only 17% of the world’s population, exacerbating inequities.
• The WHO calls for targeted investments in education, pay, mental health support, and ethical recruitment to address disparities and strengthen health systems.