International Nurses Day 2025 observed; State of the World's Nursing 2025 report released
International Nurses Day was observed on 12 May 2025 with the ICN theme 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies', and the State of the World's Nursing 2025 report put the global nursing workforce at 29.8 million in 2023.
Summary
International Nurses Day is observed on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) chose 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies' as the 2025 theme, focusing on nurses' health and wellbeing; the 2024 theme was 'The Economic Power of Care'. The State of the World's Nursing 2025 report, by WHO, ICN and partners, says the global stock of nurses was 29.8 million in 2023, up from 27.9 million in 2018, with a shortage of 5.8 million projected to fall to 4.1 million by 2030. Around 78% of the world's nurses are in countries with only 49% of the world's population.
Key facts
- Day
- 12 May — Florence Nightingale's birth anniversary
- IND 2025 theme
- Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies
- Global nurses, 2023
- 29.8 million (27.9 million in 2018)
- Shortage
- 5.8 million (2023) → 4.1 million projected (2030)
- Inequity
- ~78% of nurses in countries with 49% of population
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What was the theme of International Nurses Day 2025, chosen by the International Council of Nurses?
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Correct answer: A — Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies
The IND 2025 theme was 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies'. 'The Economic Power of Care' was the 2024 theme.
According to the State of the World's Nursing 2025 report, the global stock of nurses in 2023 was:
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Correct answer: B — 29.8 million
The global stock was 29.8 million in 2023 (27.9 million in 2018). 36 million is the 2030 projection; 5.8 million is the 2023 shortage.
Consider the following statements about the State of the World's Nursing 2025 report: 1. The global nursing shortage was 5.8 million in 2023 and is projected to fall to 4.1 million by 2030. 2. About 49% of the world's nurses are in countries that have 78% of the world's population. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. It is the reverse: about 78% of nurses are in countries with only 49% of the world's population.