GENEVA, Switzerland — As the world commemorates International Nurses Day 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of nurse emigration from Africa, revealing that 42 per cent of nurses across the continent intend to leave their countries in search of better opportunities abroad.
In a statement on Sunday, May 11, 2025, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, described the trend as “alarming” and said it risks further weakening already fragile health systems in many African nations.
“Nurses are the backbone of our health systems. Yet nearly half of them are looking to leave, drawn by better pay, safer environments, and clear career pathways in wealthier nations,” Mr Ihekweazu said.
“This has far-reaching implications for access to care and health equity.”
The warning comes as Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, grapples with an escalating health workforce crisis.
Data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) revealed that over 15,000 Nigerian nurses obtained verification to work overseas between 2021 and 2023 alone.
This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Health Systems and Economies,” underscores the urgency of investing in the nursing workforce.
The 2025 State of the World’s Nursing Report, cited by Ihekweazu, paints a mixed picture. While the global nursing workforce has grown to 29.8 million, nearly 80 per cent of those nurses serve just 49 per cent of the world’s population.
In Africa, nurses account for nearly 70 per cent of the health workforce, but the region continues to record one of the lowest nurse-to-population ratios globally — just 14.1 nurses per 100,000 people.
Although the regional workforce nearly doubled from 900,000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023, this growth has not kept pace with demand.
According to the report, nurses account for 66 per cent of Africa’s projected health worker shortfall, which is expected to reach 6.1 million by 2030.
The result is limited access to essential services ranging from maternal and child health to chronic disease management, further hindering progress toward universal health coverage.
The WHO also highlighted demographic and gender-related concerns. While 43 per cent of nurses in Africa are under the age of 35, many lack structured mentorship or viable career advancement opportunities.
Additionally, women comprise 85 per cent of the global nursing workforce yet face a seven per cent pay gap and underrepresentation in leadership roles.
Ihekweazu warned that high-income countries are accelerating recruitment from lower-income settings.
“In some cases, foreign-born nurses now make up nearly a quarter of the workforce in those countries, draining talent from where it is needed most,” he said.
Following the adoption of the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter in 2024, some African nations are beginning to respond. Zimbabwe, for instance, plans to mobilise $166 million annually over the next three years to bolster its health workforce through a locally tailored Investment Compact.
To address the crisis, WHO is calling on African governments and their partners to implement five key actions:
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Expand education and training opportunities.
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Strengthen regulatory frameworks for quality and safety.
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Create advanced practice roles to broaden care access.
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Improve pay and mental health support for healthcare workers.
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Invest in leadership development, especially for women.
“Without urgent and sustained action, Africa risks losing a generation of healthcare professionals,” Ihekweazu warned. “Caring for nurses means caring for the health of our future.”
