outline
The World Health Organization (WHO), ICN (International Council of Nurses) and partners have released a report in 2025, and the world’s nursing personnel have grown significantly from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023.
The 2025 edition of the world nursing week offers the most comprehensive and latest analysis of nursing personnel. The report has a new indicator of important areas of nursing, such as educational ability, advanced practice nursing and remuneration. In addition to the 12 policy priorities of the global strategy order for nursing and midwife 2021–2025, there are five additional policy priorities and data editing in each region. The national profile reflects the national data of each country and can be downloaded from the WHO National Health Workforce Accounts Data Portal.
Main result
- Global nursing personnel increased from 22.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, and the world’s shortage decreased from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023. According to the project, it can decrease to 4.1 million by 2030.
- Overall progress still adds to deep regional imbalances. About 78%of the world’s nurses are concentrated in countries that account for 49%of the world’s population. LMICS is having difficulty graduating, employment and maintaining nurses in a health system, and needs to increase domestic investment to create and maintain jobs.
- Gender and equity remain a central concern of nursing personnel. Women continue to dominate their jobs, accounting for 85%of the world’s nursing personnel.
- According to the survey, one out of seven people and 23%of high -income countries are from foreign countries and emphasize the dependence on international migration.
2026–2030 policy priority
This report introduces the future policy priorities and requires the country to:
- Expanding nursing jobs and distributing fairly, especially in the marginalized areas;
- Strengthen the domestic education system and adjust the defined roles and qualifications.
- Improve working conditions, improving equality and mental welfare support.
- It further develops nursing regulations and advanced practice nursing roles.
- Protect nurses working in an environment affected by fragile conflict and protect nurses.
- Use digital technology and prepare nurses to treat climate reactivity. and
- Preliminary nursing leadership and leadership development opportunities ensure fairly.
Nepal’s main story: Nepal’s school health and nursing service program
In 2019, the Ministry of Health and Population approved the School Health and Nursing Service Program to guarantee the presence of medical personnel and provide essential health services. The program aims to promote the healthy lifestyle between youth by certifying the school as a “health promotion school” and to implement national health initiatives such as nutrition, vaccination and grades and reproductive health education. It creates a safe and supportive school environment to emphasize health education from behavioral changes, mental health promotion, first aid and accident, injury and drug abuse. Regular health checkups and timely recommendations for health facilities help to solve health problems, while the program works to reduce absence and dropouts. Performance includes successful implementation of the Deworming program, iron and folic acid supplementation and vaccination range for youth girls (Covid-19; MEXLES, MUMPS and ROWNLA-MMR; Typhoid). Health education has contributed to a safe community by raising the perception of disease prevention and healthy lifestyles. School stones have been reduced and mental health initiatives have been promoted through counseling and social emotional learning. The school also developed a disaster preparedness plan with regular training, which plays an important role in improving youth health and developing Nepal’s UHC goals. (p.23)
Happy International Nurses 2025: Nurses. Our future. Caring for nurses strengthens the economy!
