In 2021, there were approximately 593 thousand nurses in employment in the United Kingdom (UK). This is a large increase from 2010 when there were around 541 thousand nurses. However, the number of nurses decreased significantly from 2020 to 2021.
Trends among other healthcare personnel in the UK
The number of medical practitioners employed in the UK amounted to approximately 290 thousand in 2019. This is an increase from the 236 thousand practitioners in 2010, which shows that it follows a similar pattern to the number of nurses. The number of midwives in the UK amounted to 31.5 thousand in 2018, but has been slightly declining in numbers since 2013.
Impact of Brexit
Since the UK made the decision to leave the European Union, the number of new nurses and midwives from the EEA has significantly decreased. In the year 2018/19, the number of new registrants from the EEA was less than one thousand, while almost 9.4 thousand joined from the EEA in 2015/16, which was before the referendum concerning the EU membership.
Annual number of nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2021
(in 1,000)
Annual population survey data relating to employees and self-employed health professionals by occupation group (based on Standard Occupation Classification 2010, code 2231).
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (October 12, 2021). Annual number of nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/318922/number-of-nurses-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Annual number of nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000)." Chart. October 12, 2021. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/318922/number-of-nurses-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2021). Annual number of nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/318922/number-of-nurses-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Annual Number of Nurses in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Oct 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/318922/number-of-nurses-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Annual number of nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/318922/number-of-nurses-in-the-uk/ (last visited June 28, 2022)
