To mark International Nurses Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO), alongside global partners, unveiled the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 (SoWN) report.
The report is a comprehensive analysis of the global nursing workforce and its critical role in advancing health systems worldwide.
The launch event spotlighted key findings and policy recommendations from the report, presented by lead author Dr. Carey McCarthy of WHO.
The event featured an international panel of nursing leaders, including report co-chairs Sheila Bonito of the University of the Philippines and Howard Catton of the International Council of Nurses.
They were joined by Jim Campbell, WHO Director of Health Workforce, and Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu, WHO Chief Nursing Officer, for a global discussion highlighting the importance of the report across diverse health contexts.
Building on the 2020 edition, the 2025 report reflects changes in the global health landscape, addressing new challenges such as increasingly complex disease profiles, greater demand on health systems, and the urgency of aligning with the remaining years of the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The report delivers the most current data on critical areas, including nursing education, employment, migration, regulation, working conditions, and leadership.
It also provides updated estimates and projections on nursing workforce supply and demand through 2030.
In addition to the global launch, national and regional discussions are being held to explore local data and policy implications.
The report aims to inform and support evidence-based policy decisions, helping countries determine where and how to invest in nursing to strengthen primary healthcare systems and achieve universal health coverage.
The release of SoWN 2025 comes at a pivotal moment, as Member States prepare for the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly.
There, they will consider extending the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025 to 2030, as recommended by WHO’s Executive Board earlier this year.
With validated data and strategic policy options, the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report is set to be a vital tool for governments, planners, and healthcare leaders committed to building resilient and equitable health systems worldwide.
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