10 Countries With the Highest Demand for Nurses: See Where You’re Needed Most

There are not enough nurses all over the world. More people are getting old, and they need someone to look after them when they are sick. There are lots of chances for nurses to work in other countries where they are really needed.

If you know which countries don’t have enough nurses, you can figure out where to go if you want to work outside of your country. We looked at numbers and facts and picked out 10 countries where they really need nurses right now. We thought about things like how many nursing jobs are empty, how many old people there are, and how fast their healthcare is growing.

1. United States

The US has a big health system and it needs lots more nurses. A group called the American Nurses Association says the US will need more than a million new nurses by 2024 to make sure there aren’t too few as more old people need medical help and more people have insurance to pay for it. This is happening all over the country.

In the US, there are a few reasons why they need so many nurses. There are a lot of older people who have lots of health problems. Hospitals have to spend less money because of changes in the law about paying back for medical care. Also, many nurses are almost old enough to stop working too.

Big cities in the US like Denver, Orlando, Phoenix, Seattle, and Tampa might not have enough nurses to fill all the open jobs. Big places like these usually offer more money to get nurses to come work there. For example, nurses in San Francisco can make around $140,000 every year.

Nurses from other places can come work in the US if they pass a nursing test called NCLEX-RN and get a license to work in the state they want to. If you’re especially good at taking care of very sick patients, people with cancer, or old people, you might have a better chance of getting a good job in the US.

2. Australia

Australia has a lot of old people and everyone can get healthcare, so there are good chances for nurses to work. By 2030, more than 20% of Australians will be over 65 years old. But the nurses in Australia are quite old too.

People think Australia will be short by about 85,000 nurses by 2025 and will have more than 123,000 nursing jobs to fill by 2030. The government there is trying to get more people to study to be nurses. But around half of the nurses in Australia will probably retire in the next 10 to 15 years.

In places far away from the cities, they have a harder time finding nurses. That’s why healthcare places in Australia try to offer good money and other nice things to get nurses to come work for them.

Australian nurses usually make between $73,000 and $112,000 in Australian dollars each year, which is about $50,000 to $77,000 in U.S. dollars. Nurses are really needed in emergency care, critical care, mental health, older adult care, and surgery.

3. United Kingdom

The UK has a big healthcare service called the NHS, and they are really short on nurses. They also have lots of old people, and the nurses are getting old too. England needs more than 36,000 nurses, and the UK will need about 190,000 more nurses by 2027.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak made many nurses in the UK decide to leave their jobs because it was too hard and stressful. Now there’s a big problem because one out of every ten nursing jobs there is empty.

The areas in the UK that don’t have enough nurses are places like London, the Midlands, Yorkshire, the South West, South East, and the East of England. They are looking for nurses who know how to take care of emergencies, critical care, babies, kids, mental health, community health, and general family health care.

Nurses in the UK can make between £24,000 and £40,000 a year, which equals about $29,000 to $48,000 in U.S. dollars. If nurses become citizens or residents of the UK, they can find many jobs with the NHS.

4. Canada

Canada needs to hire over 199,000 more nurses by 2030 to take care of everyone who needs help. Like in other places, many nurses in Canada are planning to retire, and almost one in three might leave their job in the next ten years.

Canada has many old people who are getting sick, so they need more nurses to look after them. There are nursing jobs all over Canada, but some parts like Ontario need even more nurses.

Nurses in Canada get good money. Registered nurses make about $70,000 in Canadian dollars, which is close to $52,000 in U.S. dollars. Nurse practitioners can make around $95,000 in Canadian dollars, about $71,000 in U.S. dollars. They often get extra things like pensions, paid holidays and sick leave, medical insurance, and help with paying for more school.

Nurses from other countries can move to Canada if they pass the NCLEX-RN test and get a license from the province they want to work in. They really need nurses who know a lot about hearts, kidneys, cancer, kids, old people, and really sick patients.

5. Germany

Germany is expecting lots of nurses to retire in the next 10 years. About 500,000 nurses, almost half of the nurse workforce, will be old enough to retire by 2029. It’s going to be tough finding new nurses.

Germany has a lot of old people too. By 2030, more than a quarter of Germans will be older than 65. As the number of old people goes up, so does the need for nurses.

If nurses from other countries can speak German, they might have a better chance of finding a job there. More and more, jobs in big cities ask for just a little bit of German, and some places help nurses learn the language when they get there.

German nurses earn around €40,000 to €50,000 each year, which is about $43,000 to $54,000 in U.S. dollars. Nurses who work with old people, in the ICU, with heart problems, cancer, kidneys or in the surgery room are really in demand in Germany.

6. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one place where they really don’t have enough nurses. The country has a lot of young people, and they need more and more medical care,

Currently, in the Kingdom, only about 57% of nurse jobs are filled. By 2030, the Saudi government wants to add more than 106,000 new nurse positions.

The quick growth of healthcare in Saudi Arabia is causing a big need for nurses. As part of Vision 2030, the country wants to build many new hospitals, clinics, and research centers. It’s very important to get nurses from other countries to work in these places.

Foreign nurses like the tax-free money and housing money they get in Saudi Arabia. Senior nurses can make from $70,000 to more than $100,000 each year. They usually get good vacation time and travel perks too.

Saudi Arabia brings in nurses from places like India, the Philippines, and South Africa to help where there aren’t enough nurses. Nurses from other places need to get a license from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to work there.

7. Singapore

The Ministry of Health in Singapore thinks there will be a need for 65,000 more workers in healthcare by 2030, and nurses are really needed. Around one-third of Singapore’s nurses are thought to retire in that time.

As Singapore’s population gets older and has more chronic diseases, and medical services grow, there’s a bigger need for more nurses. Job openings are in both public and private hospitals.

An average registered nurse in Singapore makes about S$55,000 SGD (US$40,000) a year. Nurse managers and advanced practice nurses make more. Nurses often get bonuses, health insurance, paid leave, and retirement money.

Singapore’s main language is English, so it’s easier for nurses from some countries to move there. To work there as a nurse from another place, you have to pass local tests and sign up with the Singapore Nursing Board.

8. New Zealand

New Zealand is looking for more than 12,000 nurses by 2027 to help with the healthcare demands and to replace nurses who leave their jobs. There are job opportunities all over the country in different health settings. Nurses who think about going to New Zealand can expect good pay and lots of different jobs.

Registered nurses in New Zealand usually make between $37,000 to $56,000 a year based on where they work and their experience. The country has a good lifestyle with beautiful nature and interesting culture.

New Zealand’s healthcare system is focused on good quality care, making it a good place for global nurses. The country is ready to welcome nurses who want to help the healthcare system grow.

9. Denmark

Denmark expects to have more trouble finding enough nurses because a lot of the population is old. About one-third of Danish nurses are close to retiring, which will reduce the number of available nurses. International nurses who speak English well have good chances to get jobs caring for Denmark’s old people.

Nurses thinking about moving to Denmark can look forward to good pay, usually between $58,000 to $80,000 a year for registered nurses. The country is known for a good way of life, balance between work and personal time, and a supportive healthcare setting.

The healthcare system in Denmark is all about caring for the patient and being innovative. Nurses who can share their skills are needed to face the challenges brought by an older population.

10. Ireland

Ireland needs more nurses, like many other places. Nurses are wanted for different types of jobs across the country, such as in hospitals, local community healthcare, and special areas.

Registered nurses in Ireland usually earn from $32,000 to $56,000 a year. Ireland offers a rich culture and welcomes international nurses warmly.

In Ireland’s healthcare system, improving and valuing nurses’ work is important. Ireland invites skilled nurses to be part of their healthcare services as they keep getting better.

Conclusion

The lack of nurses worldwide means that qualified nurses can find lots of chances to work in other countries, especially where there are many old people. By looking for jobs in countries that really need workers, you can get good pay, bonuses, and other benefits to attract skilled people.

If you want to work as a nurse in another country, look at places that really need more nurses for their public and private medical spots. Having the right paperwork and knowing the language will make you stand out in places where they need nurses a lot.

Choosing to work as a nurse in another country takes time and work. But it also gives you the chance to match your skills with places that really need them. Working abroad is rewarding and it can give you new experiences, help you understand different cultures better, and make you grow as a nurse.