- Posted on 14 May 2025
- 3 min read
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the highly anticipated State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025 (SOWN25) on International Day of the Nurse – a crucial updating of the previous 2020 report.
This report provides the latest evidence, strategies, indicators, and issues of the global nursing workforce and is critical to our work here at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Development UTS (WHO CCNM UTS). The evidence highlights once again the importance and need of investing in nursing.
Evidence from the report indicates that while the number of nurses has increased worldwide to 30 million, a shortage of around 4 million nurses is still expected by 2030. Furthermore, 78% of the world’s nursing workforce serves only 49% of the global population.
Despite being the largest health workforce, indispensable to combatting health inequities, there continues to be a lack of investment in nursing leadership, education, working conditions, and more. Consequently, there is a rise in emotional, physical, and mental health issues amongst nurses that are insufficiently addressed.
With regards to WHO CCNM UTS’ work, particularly in the Pacific region, an updated number of 86% of the entire health workforce in Pacific Island Countries being nurses and midwives highlights the importance of collaborating with them in achieving Universal Health Coverage in the region. From primary health care in rural regions to specialised care in NCD treatments, nurses are at the forefront of addressing population health needs – but are lacking much needed support.
The SOWN25 report reiterates the 12 policy priorities as aligned with the Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021–2025, with 5 additional priorities to address emerging needs. Education systems in the Pacific need to be re-aligned to meet population health needs, regulation, standards of practices and nursing leadership, with a focus on gender equity, disability rights and social inclusion. Health systems need to be further strengthened to withstand health workforce shortages and improve working conditions for sustainable service delivery and care.
WHO CCNM UTS remains committed to addressing nursing education, regulation, leadership, capacity building, and policy through our programs, using evidence from this latest report to align our work with the region’s health needs. Most importantly, the Centre remains committed to regional collaboration to ensure no one is left behind, and calls for continued and increased investment from all stakeholders to achieve global health goals.
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