At least 15,421 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have been registered to practise in the United Kingdom between 2017 and March 31, 2025, according to the latest data from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The NMC, which regulates nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK, disclosed that Nigeria now ranks as the third-highest source of foreign-trained professionals on its register, after the Philippines and India.
Figures obtained showed that the number of Nigerian professionals on the register rose from 14,815 as of September 30, 2024, to 15,421 by the end of March 2025 — representing a 4.1 per cent increase within six months.
However, the report also pointed to a general slowdown in international recruitment. A total of 20,671 foreign-trained professionals joined the NMC register in the last year, marking a 30.2 per cent drop compared to 29,628 recorded in the previous 12 months.
Specifically, the number of new joiners from India, the Philippines, and Nigeria declined by 36.7 per cent, 47.6 per cent, and 25.5 per cent respectively.
In the same period, 5,276 international professionals exited the register — 1,317 more than the 3,959 that left the previous year, indicating a 33.3 per cent rise in leavers. While this represents just 2.7 per cent of the total international workforce, it is a slight increase from the 2.4 per cent recorded the year before.
The council attributed the drop in international recruitment to various factors, including changes to the UK’s Health and Care Worker visa, as well as a new emphasis on domestic staffing under the National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Workforce Plan.
It also noted growing interest among international professionals in relocating to other countries, with better earning potential being a key motivation.
Despite the overall drop in foreign recruitment, the NMC observed that diversity in the UK’s healthcare workforce is rising, with professionals from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds now making up 32.5 per cent of the register — up Over 30.6 per cent in March 2024.
“There is now an increased need to ensure that all professionals can work in an environment that respects diversity and actively tackles racism,” the NMC said.
The report further highlighted a shift in the age profile of new entrants into the register, with more than half (over 50 per cent) of new joiners in the past year aged 31 and above.
This trend was largely driven by foreign-trained professionals, with 58.3Nigerian per cent of international joiners aged between 31 and 50. Among UK-trained professionals, the number of those entering the workforce in their 30s or later also rose, with 46.5 per cent of new domestic joiners aged 31 and above, compared to 37 per cent five years ago.
The NMC concluded that although the number of UK-educated professionals joining the register continues to grow, it has not been enough to offset the decline in international recruitment, leading to a general slowdown in the register’s overall growth.
