Nurses and midwives, total — all countries

Nurses and midwives, total — Australia and New Zealand

Nurses and midwives, total in Australia and New Zealand in 2024 — 453,932 people. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 93.1%.

2024 453,932 people +5.25% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 453,932 people2024
Period minimum 214,131 people1987

Trend over time

1980–2024 · people

Nurses and midwives, total — Australia and New Zealand, 1980–2024200,000300,000400,000500,00019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 235,073 people1981: 233,948 people1982: 239,170 people1983: 246,163 people1984: 248,402 people1985: 244,940 people1986: 272,953 people1987: 214,131 people1988: 225,295 people1990: 229,755 people1991: 241,239 people1992: 233,362 people1993: 229,166 people1994: 239,422 people1995: 230,842 people1996: 244,663 people1997: 225,832 people1998: 228,374 people1999: 228,175 people2000: 228,544 people2001: 242,804 people2002: 230,950 people2003: 232,489 people2004: 242,001 people2005: 237,139 people2007: 253,849 people2008: 262,927 people2009: 278,150 people2010: 276,664 people2011: 290,602 people2012: 279,037 people2013: 324,751 people2014: 333,910 people2015: 341,736 people2016: 351,829 people2017: 359,941 people2018: 371,774 people2019: 384,916 people2020: 392,290 people2021: 408,063 people2022: 413,579 people2023: 431,295 people2024: 453,932 people
Change over the period: +218,859 (+93.1%) Average annual rate: 1.51 %
Nurses and midwives, total — Australia and New Zealand, by year Australia and New Zealand All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 453,932 +22,637 +5.25%
2023 431,295 +17,716 +4.28%
2022 413,579 +5,516 +1.35%
2021 408,063 +15,773 +4.02%
2020 392,290 +7,374 +1.92%
2019 384,916 +13,142 +3.53%
2018 371,774 +11,833 +3.29%
2017 359,941 +8,112 +2.31%
2016 351,829 +10,093 +2.95%
2015 341,736 +7,826 +2.34%
2014 333,910 +9,159 +2.82%
2013 324,751 +45,714 +16.38%
2012 279,037 −11,565 −3.98%
2011 290,602 +13,938 +5.04%
2010 276,664 −1,486 −0.53%
2009 278,150 +15,223 +5.79%
2008 262,927 +9,078 +3.58%
2007 253,849
2005 237,139 −4,862 −2.01%
2004 242,001 +9,512 +4.09%
2003 232,489 +1,539 +0.67%
2002 230,950 −11,854 −4.88%
2001 242,804 +14,260 +6.24%
2000 228,544 +369 +0.16%
1999 228,175 −199 −0.09%
1998 228,374 +2,542 +1.13%
1997 225,832 −18,831 −7.7%
1996 244,663 +13,821 +5.99%
1995 230,842 −8,580 −3.58%
1994 239,422 +10,256 +4.48%
1993 229,166 −4,196 −1.8%
1992 233,362 −7,877 −3.27%
1991 241,239 +11,484 +5%
1990 229,755
1988 225,295 +11,164 +5.21%
1987 214,131 −58,822 −21.55%
1986 272,953 +28,013 +11.44%
1985 244,940 −3,462 −1.39%
1984 248,402 +2,239 +0.91%
1983 246,163 +6,993 +2.92%
1982 239,170 +5,222 +2.23%
1981 233,948 −1,125 −0.48%
1980 235,073

About the indicator

The number of nursing and midwifery personnel, from WHO. This category is almost always the largest in a health system — worldwide there are on average about three times as many nurses as physicians, and in countries with developed primary care the gap is wider still.

Important: The ratio of nurses to physicians speaks of the structure of a system: a low value usually means that physicians are doing the work of nursing care, and that is a sign of a staffing shortage rather than of an abundance of doctors.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.