New report reveals over 15,000 nurses left Nigeria for UK in eight years

A new data released by UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), has revealed that 15,421 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have obtained licenses to practise in the United Kingdom in eight years, between 2017 and 2025.

According to the Council register, the number of nurses and midwives that have migrated to the UK from Nigeria ranks as the third-highest source of foreign-trained nurses in the UK, coming only behind the Philippines and India.

In a statement posted on the website of the NMC which is the regulatory body of nurses and midwives in the UK saddled with the responsibility of registering qualified professionals and investigate concerns related to nurses, midwives, and nursing associates, states that as of September 30, 2024, the number of the health professionals stood at 14,815, but increased to 15,421, representing a 4.1 per cent rise on March 31, 2025.

“A total 20,671 professionals educated outside the UK joined the NMC register for the first time over the past year,” the NMC said.

“That represents 8,957 (30.2 per cent) fewer than the previous year, which recorded 29,628 new international joiners in the 12 months to March 2024.

“The decline in international recruitment was observed across countries, including the top three: India, the Philippines, and Nigeria.

“The number of joiners who were educated in these three countries fell by 36.7 per cent, 47.6 per cent and 25.5 per cent respectively, over the past year.

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“Additionally, a total of 5,276 international professionals left the register during this period – 33.3 per cent (1,317) more than the previous year (3,959).

“That said, it is important to consider leavers data in the context of a growing register – 2.7 per cent of the international cohort left the register over the last year, which is a marginal rise compared to 2.4 per cent the year before. Factors may include changes for professionals on the Health and Care Worker visa.

“There has also been greater emphasis on domestic recruitment in England under the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. Additionally, analysis of our data by the Health Foundation found a significant rise in international professionals on the NMC register seeking to move to other countries, drawn mainly by the prospect of better earnings potential.

“These professionals now account for just under a third of everyone on the register (32.5 per cent, compared to 30.6 per cent on 31 March 2024)

“This makes it more important than ever that professionals can practise in an environment that values diversity and tackles racism. As the professional regulator, we also have a responsibility to deliver fair outcomes and positive experiences for everyone on our register, regardless of their background or characteristics.

“This was the first year that more than 50 per cent of new joiners were aged 31 and above, following a gradual increase over time in the proportion of joiners within this age range.

“This is predominantly due to large numbers of people aged 31–50 joining from outside the UK (58.3 per cent of international joiners over the last year).

“However, there has also been an increase in the number of people from the UK joining the professions in their thirties or later – in the last six months, 46.5 per cent of UK joiners were aged 31 or above, whereas five years ago the figure was 37 per cent,” the Council explained.

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