35 Countries that Need Nurses the Most

Afifa Mushtaque

Mon, Sep 11, 2023, 11:45 AM13 min read

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In this article, we will look at the 35 countries that need nurses the most. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of nursing shortages in the US, head straight to the 10 Countries that Need Nurses the Most.

Nursing Shortages: A Global Concern

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has sounded a global alarm about the critical shortage of nurses with staggering statistics. Drawing on data from over 100 studies, the ICN report reveals that between 40% to 80% of nurses across the world fell victim to psychological distress during the pandemic. This distress, fueled by the pandemic's relentless pressures, eventually led to a surge in nurses' intentions to leave their profession. Moreover, the annual turnover rate in hospitals has soared to more than 10%.

This global shortage of nursing staff poses a severe threat to healthcare systems globally. The pandemic has exposed the fragility of these systems, making it clear that immediate and heavy investments are required to support and retain nurses. Failure to act decisively could further plunge the world into a healthcare crisis.

Nursing Shortages in the US

The picture of nurse shortages is even darker in the US. As of May 2023, the nursing workforce in the United States continues to grapple with huge challenges, particularly in the face of persistent turnover. A recent survey of 368 frontline nurses revealed that 31% of respondents still express an intent to leave their current direct patient care positions within the next year.

This percentage, while showing signs of stabilization, remains considerably higher than the 22 percent reported in February 2021. The impact of this attrition can not be ignored, as the actual hospital and staff RN turnover has been increasing from 18 percent in fiscal year 2020 to 27 percent in fiscal year 2021. Even though turnover reduced to 23 percent in fiscal year 2022, it remains high compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Moreover, the RN workforce declined by approximately 100,000 by the end of 2021. While the reasons for leaving the profession vary, 35% of surveyed nurses who intend to leave stated they will remain in direct patient care but with a different employer or role, while others plan to exit the workforce entirely or pursue alternative career paths. To read more about nursing shortages and its impact, check out our article on highest paying countries for nurses.

It is worth noting that Denmark is the European country that needs nurses the most. However, European country that pays the highest salaries to nurses is Switzerland with an annual average salary of $105,347.

How are Nursing Shortages Being Addressed?

To address the challenges of nursing shortages, Adtalem Global Education Inc (NYSE:ATGE) is employing the Social Determinants of Learning (SDOL) framework. With the US nursing shortage expected to reach hundreds of thousands, Adtalem Global Education Inc (NYSE:ATGE) recognizes that success in nursing is 70% influenced by psychosocial factors, while only 30% depends on academic abilities.

By prioritizing holistic admissions and personalized support, Adtalem Global Education Inc (NYSE:ATGE) helps students overcome barriers like financial instability and transportation issues. It is also worth noting that Adtalem Global Education Inc (NYSE:ATGE) is the largest grantor of bachelor of science in nursing degrees to underrepresented minority students in the US, with approximately 38,000 students across 23 campuses and online programs.

The success of Adtalem Global Education Inc (NYSE:ATGE) is not just limited to its social impact, it is also translated into its financials. Adtalem Global Education Inc (NYSE:ATGE) reported total revenue of $1.45 billion for 2022 which is a 5% increase from the previous year. The company's gross profit reached $802.34 million in the same year. On the other hand, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) is addressing the shortage of nurses through their increased financial investments and innovative initiatives. They have committed over $300 million towards nurse education and training, with $200 million allocated to expanding Galen College of Nursing and approximately $136 million for the establishment of new Centers for Clinical Advancement.

Since 2019, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) has already opened 12 Centers for Clinical Advancement, and they plan to invest an additional $90 million to open 20 more in the next three years. These centers serve as vital training hubs and offer practice-based instruction while utilizing advanced technology like simulation rooms and more than 145 manikins. Due to their unwavering commitment to quality services, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) also owns most of the best for profit hospitals in the US.

HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) is also poised for financial growth as Baron Health Care Fund made the following comment about HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) in its Q2, 2023 investor letter:

“The flip side of higher medical utilization trends is that health care providers and medical device companies will benefit. We own HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation’s largest providers of health care services, with 182 hospitals and 2,300 ambulatory sites of care in 20 states and the U.K. We own several medical device companies that should benefit in the short term from procedure recovery and in the long term from new product innovation and increasing demand driven by an aging global population and a higher disease burden from chronic diseases. For the most part, our investments are in companies addressing non-elective procedures, which makes them less likely to be deferred in a recession.”
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Our Methodology

To rank the countries that need nurses the most, we have relied on the data from WHO about the number of registered nurses per 10,000 people in respective countries. The 35 countries with the lowest number of nurses per 10,000 people have been selected. The list is presented in descending order.

Note: In case of similar number of nurses, the country with a higher population has been ranked higher.

35. Australia

Nurses Per 10,000: 150

Australia is facing nursing shortages owing to the travel restrictions for overseas nurses, reallocation to COVID-19 efforts, and decreased nursing course enrollments. Nevertheless, recent data indicates a demand for nurses, particularly registered ones.

34. Ireland

Nurses Per 10,000: 148

Nursing in Ireland has problems as there aren't enough nurses, and the ones there are, are overburdened. Moreover, housing is expensive in Ireland which makes it even harder for nurses to pay for with their current salaries.

33. New Zealand

Nurses Per 10,000: 117

Nursing shortages in New Zealand are a critical issue. As the demand for nurses exceeds the available workforce, it does not only affect patient care but also substantially increases the workload on practicing nurses. New Zealand is one of the countries that need nurses the most.

32. Denmark

Nurses Per 10,000: 105

Denmark is facing a huge nurse shortage as approximately 14% of nurses, around 4,600 individuals, left the Danish public health system within a year. This loss occurred between November 2021 and 2022. The departure rate has been over 10% annually since 2017, which has been increasing by 2.5% since 2020. Denmark is one of the European countries that need nurses the most.

31. Canada

Nurses Per 10,000: 100

In Ontario, the total number of nurses employed increased from 155,018 in 2022 to 158,430 in 2023. This includes more than 15,000 new nurse registrations this year. However, around 9,000 nurses chose not to renew their registrations. The proportion of actively working nurses decreased from 90.6% in 2020 to 88.9% in 2023, while the proportion of nurses taking leaves or moving out of the province rose from 3.3% in 2016 to 5.8% in 2023.

30. United Kingdom

Nurses Per 10,000: 92

Nurse shortages in the UK result from a combination of factors, like increased patient demand, inadequate staffing levels, high turnover, and Brexit-related immigration restrictions. These challenges have strained the healthcare system and made it challenging to recruit and retain qualified nursing professionals. However, owing to the high standard of living in the UK along with high salaries, UK is one of the best countries for nurses to work and live.

29. Paraguay

Nurses Per 10,000: 90

Paraguay is faced with severe healthcare staffing challenges with a serious shortage of healthcare personnel. The primary healthcare system serves only 30% of the population, and the country has limited healthcare resources, particularly in rural areas, with most services concentrated in urban regions.

28. United Arab Emirates

Nurses Per 10,000: 62

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is projected to experience severe nursing shortages by 2030, and will require over 33,000 additional healthcare workers, including nurses and other healthcare professionals. It is one of the countries to work as a nurse without IELTS.

27. Saudi Arabia

Nurses Per 10,000: 56

Saudi Arabia requires an additional 175,000 healthcare workers by 2030 to address the healthcare workforce shortages. This includes 69,000 doctors, 64,000 nurses, and 42,000 other health professionals. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries the need nurses the most.

26. Argentina

Nurses Per 10,000: 52

Argentina is faced with serious understaffing of nurses, especially in its provinces. With varying densities of nursing personnel in different provinces, this issue undermines healthcare capacity and quality in Argentina.

25. Chile

Nurses Per 10,000: 46

Despite Chile's economic growth and government investments in education and healthcare, a nursing shortage persists due to low salaries and the allure of better-paying careers. While education opportunities have also expanded, many opt for more high paying professions, and as most find nursing less attractive.

24. Nepal

Nurses Per 10,000: 35

Nepal has a shortage of nurses because many are leaving for jobs in countries like the UK. This is a problem for Nepal's healthcare system. However, it's also important to know that working conditions for nurses can be tough in these destination countries as well. So, while Nepal has a nurse shortage, it's not always easy for nurses who go abroad to work either.

23. Costa Rica

Nurses Per 10,000: 32

Interestingly, in Costa Rica, there is a surplus of newly graduated nurses compared to the available job openings in both public and private healthcare sectors. This means that more nurses are being trained than there are positions available for them to work. However, it's important to note that even with this surplus, Costa Rica still has a lower number of nurses per population when compared to the average in countries belonging to the OECD.

22. Peru

Nurses Per 10,000: 26

Nurse shortages in Peru can be attributed to low wages, inadequate working conditions, and a lack of educational opportunities for nurses. These challenges have led to difficulties in recruiting and retaining nursing professionals. Peru is one of the countries that need nurses the most.

21. Sri Lanka

Nurses Per 10,000: 25

In Sri Lanka, the nursing shortage has a direct impact on patient care quality and nurses' job satisfaction. A study conducted at Polonnaruwa District General Hospital found a positive correlation between nurse shortage and workload. Workload, in turn, significantly affects patient care quality. However, the study also highlighted the role of emotional intelligence in moderating nurses' job outcomes, helping them manage stress in their duties.

20. Bhutan

Nurses Per 10,000: 22

Bhutan has a serious shortage of nurses, with a density of nursing and midwifery personnel at just 2.1 per thousand population in 2020. This shortage poses huge challenges to the country's healthcare system.

19. Liberia

Nurses Per 10,000: 19

While Liberia faces a critical shortage of nurses and midwives, Partners In Health (PIH) established the Nursing Center of Excellence in 2019 to address the nursing shortages. This center aims to recruit, train, and empower healthcare professionals, with a focus on nursing specialists.

18. Zambia

Nurses Per 10,000: 18

In rural Zambia, a severe shortage of healthcare workers, particularly nurses and midwives, is exacerbated by rapid population growth. Zambia is one of the countries that need nurses the most.

17. Uganda

Nurses Per 10,000: 17

In Uganda, only 2,000 nurses are employed in government hospitals, as reported by Africa News. Low job prospects and insufficient salaries drive many nurses to seek work overseas and thus, creates concerns about healthcare staffing shortages and the ability to provide care for the population.

16. Timor Leste

Nurses Per 10,000: 16.5

Timor-Leste's healthcare system faced severe shortages after gaining independence in 2002, as over 70% of their facilities were destroyed and were only left with 20 doctors. While improvements have occurred, shortages of doctors, specialists, nurses, and midwives persist, which has severely impacted the coverage and quality of healthcare. Timor Leste is one of the poorest countries in the world.

15. Bolivia

Nurses Per 10,000: 16

Nursing shortages in Bolivia are primarily due to several factors. First, limited educational opportunities and low salaries discourage individuals from pursuing nursing careers. Many Bolivian nurses also seek higher-paying positions abroad which results in a brain drain. Additionally, challenging working conditions and inadequate resources in healthcare facilities contribute to job dissatisfaction and attrition. The country's geographic disparities also exacerbate the issue, as healthcare access is often unevenly distributed, with rural areas experiencing acute shortages.

14. India

Nurses Per 10,000: 16

India has currently a severe nursing crisis with only 1.7 nurses per 1000 people, far below the WHO recommendation of three nurses per 1000. Despite having over three million registered nurses, the country requires at least 4.3 million more by 2024 to meet international standards. Factors contributing to the crisis include low salaries, poor working conditions, and a lack of respect for the profession.

13. Nicaragua

Nurses Per 10,000: 15

One major reason for nurse shortages in Nicargua is low salaries, which fail to attract and retain qualified nursing professionals. Additionally, there's a lack of adequate education and training facilities to produce a sufficient number of nurses to meet the growing healthcare demands. Emigration plays a role as well, as many nurses seek higher-paying opportunities abroad and leave the domestic healthcare system understaffed.

12. Dominican Republic

Nurses Per 10,000: 14

The Dominican Republic faces a projected nurse shortage of 10,000 to 20,000 by 2030, with a current density of 14 nurses per 10,000 population. In 2018, there were 14,668 nursing personnel in the country which consisted of 3,864 nursing professionals, per reports from WHO. The share of nurses within the health workforce is only 26%.

11. Colombia