We have published our State of the Register 2025 report which shows that as of 1 June 2025, there were 92,385 nurses and midwives on the NMBI Register, 86,948 who state that they are currently practising and 79,194 who are patient-facing.
The publication, now in its fourth edition, provides an overview of the composition and trends within Ireland’s nursing and midwifery professions. In 2022, the first published State of the Register showed that 81,431 nurses and midwives were registered. In 2025, there are 92,385 registrants recorded, showing an overall increase of 13.45% over the four years.
The data contained in the report provides robust evidence to inform workforce planning, policy formulation and strategic decision-making across the Irish health sector.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill commented on the report, stating, “The number of Irish-educated graduate nurses and midwives coming onto the NMBI Register is increasing year on year. In addition, Irish educated and registered nurses and midwives are opting to stay and practise in Ireland. This is positive news and is important for workforce planning and long-term stability in our health services.”
Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna, added, “This latest State of the Register Report provides clear, reliable data and important insights that can inform policy development and decision-making.
The information is central in helping to shape better policies to support and empower nurses and midwives and advance their practice, while ensuring the highest standards of public safety.”
NMBI President, Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride, said: “This report is a valuable resource for policymakers and workforce planners, supporting evidence-based decisions that enhance healthcare delivery across Ireland. It acts as an important tool for our colleagues across the health sector, as we collectively strive to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure public confidence in nursing and midwifery.
As a regulator, we continue to advance the standards of nursing and midwifery in Ireland for the benefit of patients, service users, communities and society.”
NMBI Chief Executive Officer, Carolyn Donohoe, remarked, “The comprehensive data, provided in the NMBI State of the Register, supports our collective efforts to ensure the Irish healthcare system is equipped to meet future needs. It is heartening to note that there are now 92,385 nurses and midwives on the NMBI Register, which is a 3% increase on the previous year, and the highest number recorded to date.”
The State of the Register 2025 report provides an in-depth look into the registration data for the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland. It is available for download on the NMBI website.
The data is based on the information collected by NMBI as part of the annual renewal process. Data is compared annually in June each year and covers the 12-month period from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025.
Overview of the data
As of 1 June 2025, there were 92,385 nurses and midwives on the NMBI Register, which represents a 3% increase on the previous year. It is the largest number of registered nurses and midwives recorded to date. The number of practising and patient facing registrants has also increased. 86,948 nurses and midwives state that they are currently practising (a 3% increase) and 79,194 state they are patient-facing (a 4% increase).
5,136 new registrants joined the NMBI Register in the period, including Irish and internationally educated nurses and midwives. While there has been a decrease in the number of new registrants who were educated abroad, there has been a consistent increase in the number of Irish graduates joining the Register. In 2025, 1,649 new Irish-educated nurses and midwives were added to the NMBI Register, up 5% (1,569) on 2024 figures.
On a divisional level, there were increases in the number of registered General Nurses (3%); Psychiatric Nurses (2%) and Children’s Nurses (1%) while the number of Intellectual Disability Nurses remained the same (0.4%).
The number of registered Midwives decreased (3%), while the division saw an increase in the numbers practising (2%) and patient-facing (3%).
There has been sustained growth in the post-primary divisions of the Register, reflecting continuing professional development and diversification within the professions. There was a 24% increase in Advanced Nurse Practitioners (total of 1,204 on the register) and an 8% increase in Advanced Midwife Practitioners (total of 40 on the register). Nurse Prescribers increased by 15% (total of 2,963 on the Register, and Midwife Prescribers increased by 26% (total of 132 on the Register). The number of registered Public Health Nurses increased marginally by 1% (total of 2,780 on the Register).
Advanced practice is a career pathway for registered nurses and midwives, committed to continuing professional development and clinical supervision, to practise safe and effective person-centric care at a higher level of capability as independent, autonomous, and expert practitioners.
Since June 2023, there has been a steady decrease in the number of registered nurses and midwives requesting a Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) from NMBI to work abroad. A CCPS is required by regulators in other jurisdictions to confirm an individual’s good standing before they can practise abroad. This downward trend in CCPS applications suggests that fewer nurses and midwives are choosing to seek registration to work in another jurisdiction.
