Latest NMC data highlights a rise in number of nurses and midwives

There are more nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register than ever before, recent data has shown.  

The latest annual data report from the NMC has revealed that the number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the register is now at 826,418.

That’s an increase of 37,723 (4.8 per cent) compared to the same period last year, and 128,184 (18.4 per cent) over the last five years.

This includes 765,051 nurses (+4.6 per cent since 2023); 44,125 midwives (+5.8 per cent); and 10,881 nursing associates (+16.6 per cent). There are also 6,361 dual registrants who are both a nurse and midwife (-2.5 percent).

This growth is due, in large part, to the continuous rise in first-time joiners to the register – 59,991 in the last 12 months alone.

That’s nearly 15 per cent higher than the same period last year (52,193), and almost double the number of joiners compared to 2018-2019 (30,618).

The number of UK and internationally educated joiners within the last year was almost equally split – 30,363 and 29,628, respectively.

The year-on-year growth is higher among international joiners, with 29,628 being an increase of more than 18 per cent compared to the previous year.

Almost half (14,615) of this year’s new joiners were educated in India. The steadily high number of international professionals reflects initiatives such as NHS England’s Maternity International Recruitment Programme which saw more than twice the number of midwives (711) joining from outside the UK compared to the previous year (348).

However, there are proportional rises in first time joiners from several ‘red list’ countries, from which active recruitment is not permitted.

Continued growth in international professionals, together with an ethnically diverse cohort of UK joiners means the profile of the register continues to change.

Professionals from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds now make up nearly a third of the register.

Meanwhile, there has been a slight decrease in leavers as a proportion of the register – from 4.2 per cent in the year 2018-2019, to 3.4 per cent in the last year.

However, data highlights that one fifth (20.3 per cent) of the nurses, midwives and nursing associates who left the register over the last 12 months did so within the first ten years of joining their chosen profession.

Of the professionals who left the register, 7,647 completed the NMC annual leavers’ survey. While retirement remains the top reason for leaving, professionals also cited poor health (both physical and mental), and burnout as the most common factors.

Four in five of those citing poor mental health specifically, said their role negatively contributed to this.

While these reasons were consistent among the nursing and midwifery professions, staffing issues, concerns for quality of care and lack of colleague support were more common secondary drivers for midwives.

Compared to nurses, midwives were also less likely to recommend nursing or midwifery as a career path.

Most leavers (85 per cent) said they had no intention of returning to the professions in the future.

Of those who said they might return, one in five said that they would only return to practise outside the UK.

In line with findings from last year’s survey, around half of total respondents left earlier than planned - typically five years sooner than expected.

Matthew McClelland, Executive Director of Strategy and Insight at the NMC, said: “We welcome the record number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates across the UK.

“This is positive news as professionals face a rising demand for health and social care services, caring for peoples’ increasingly complex and changing needs, and daily workforce pressures.”

He added: “As the number of new joiners continues to grow, we are grateful to these professionals, both UK and internationally educated, for the vital care they provide to people every day.

“We are committed to working with our partners across the sector to provide professionals with the support they need to carry out their essential roles.”

He concluded: ““I hope our data can provide the insight we need to support all those on our register, and the wider sector, so they can provide the safe, effective, and kind care the public has the right to expect.”

Read the full UK report, four country specific reports, and data tables here.