Nurses beyond borders: The Philippine dilemma – wanted worldwide, needed at home

According to the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report by the WHO and International Council of Nurses (ICN):

• In 2023, there were about 29.8 million nurses worldwide.
• By 2030, that number is projected to rise to 35.9 million.

At first glance, this appears to signal progress.

But by 2030, those nurses will need to serve a projected global population of 8.5 billion people, stretching systems that are already under pressure.

Not all regions are affected equally.

The African and Eastern Mediterranean regions are expected to face the most severe shortages in the coming years. These are also regions with some of the greatest healthcare needs.

On the move

Migration is now central to global healthcare staffing. According to the WHO and ICN report, about one in seven nurses works outside the country of their birth.

This reflects how heavily many healthcare systems depend on migrant labour. But the challenge is not simply about overall supply – it is about distribution.

About 78% of the world’s nurses are concentrated in countries that account for less than half of the global population.

Across much of Asia, the outflow of nurses to wealthier economies is straining local healthcare systems.