Top Countries by Nurses per 1,000 People, 2026 Snapshot
Which OECD Countries Had the Highest Nurse Density in 2023?
Switzerland led the 33-country OECD comparison with 18.8 nurses per 1,000 residents in 2023. Norway followed at 15.6 and Iceland at 15.2. These are published workforce-density observations, not 2026 estimates.
The ranking reproduces the practising nurses per 1,000 population column of the OECD's Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6. It covers 33 OECD members with a reported 2023 value; higher density ranks first. The table is a compiled research dataset based on 5 OECD sources, with row-level source and method notes shown in the ranking table. All numeric country values come from Table 1.6; other OECD publications verify country-specific definitions, including Chile's licensed-nurse count and Colombia's professionally active workforce.
2026 snapshot of 2023 observations, published in 2025. Data statuses: 33 official_value, 0 calculated_value, 0 official_forecast, 0 modeled_projection and 0 industry_observed_value. No forecast or imputed country value is used.
OECD nurse-density value, per 1,000 people.
Lowest among these 33 countries, not a global minimum.
OECD members with an eligible 2023 observation.
OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; 2023 reference year.
All official observations; no calculated values or projections.
Overview: What the OECD Nurse-Density Indicator Measures
The rate shows the reported nursing workforce per 1,000 residents, rather than the total number of nurses. The OECD column is labelled practising nurses, but its national components are not fully harmonised. Several countries, including Colombia, report professionally active nurses; Chile includes all nurses licensed to practise; Austria and Greece report only hospital-employed nurses.
Practising nurses deliver patient care. Professionally active nurses also include qualified nurses working in management, teaching or research. Licensed nurses have authorisation to practise but may not be employed as nurses. Professional and associate professional nurses can both be included when recognised as nurses; nursing aides are excluded. A licence does not guarantee current clinical employment. Australia, Ireland and Spain also include midwives in national nurse counts.
The OECD reported a 9.2 nurses-per-1,000 average for 2023 or the nearest available year. That is the OECD's published benchmark, not a mean calculated from these 33 entries. More recent national observations may exist in OECD Data Explorer; this comparison deliberately uses the fixed 2023 reference year of the 2025 report.
Top 10 OECD Countries by Reported Nurses per 1,000 People
Differences in national definitions mean small gaps in the ranking should not be interpreted as equivalent differences in bedside staffing.
| Rank | Country | Nurses / 1,000 | Source / method note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 18.8 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (33%-50% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 2 | Norway | 15.6 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 3 | Iceland | 15.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (33%-50% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 14.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 5 | Ireland | 13.7 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles; midwives included. |
| 6 | Australia | 13.0 | Oceania; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes midwives under Australian nursing classifications; associate professional nurses are included. |
| 7 | Finland | 12.7 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 8 | United States | 12.4 | North America; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles; associate professional nurses included. |
| 9 | Germany | 12.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 10 | New Zealand | 11.7 | Oceania; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
Compiled research dataset using 5 OECD sources: all numbers from Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6, with separate OECD definitions cross-checked for country exceptions. Values are sorted descending at the published one-decimal precision; ties are ordered alphabetically.
Chart: Top 20 OECD Nurse-Density Observations
Bars compare the 20 highest values in the same 2023 table. Their lengths represent workforce density, not full-time-equivalent staffing or nurse-to-patient ratios.
Bar width = country value ÷ 18.8 × 100%. The 20th entry is Lithuania at 7.5 per 1,000 residents.
Methodology: Source, Inclusion Rules and Reporting Differences
Metric, order and precision
OECD Table 1.6: practising nurses per 1,000 population, highest first. Published values have one decimal. Equal values are ordered alphabetically; no additional source precision is assumed.
Observation year and scope
All 33 ranked entries use 2023 nurse observations. Belgium, France, Japan and Sweden are omitted because Table 1.6 identifies older nursing years (2017–2022). Costa Rica has no value. The 2026 label refers to the review, not the observed year.
Countries Using Broader Nurse Definitions
OECD uses professionally active nurse counts for Colombia, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Türkiye and the United States (also excluded France). Such counts may include nurses working as managers, educators or researchers rather than delivering direct patient care. Chile instead includes all nurses licensed to practise, whether or not they currently practise.
Hospital-Only Counts and Midwives
Austria and Greece report hospital-employed nurses only, omitting nurses outside hospitals. Australia, Ireland and Spain include midwives under national reporting classifications. Qualified associate professional nurses count where recognised.
Sources and value status
The table is a compiled research dataset based on 5 OECD sources: one published table supplies every numeric value, and four OECD references document definitions and country exceptions. All 33 observations retain official_value status; none is calculated or projected. No values from World Bank, WHO or commercial datasets are blended into this ranking.
Missing data and limitations
Missing or older observations are not imputed, averaged, projected or mixed into the ranking. Headcounts cannot establish nursing hours, vacancies, professional skill mix, local access or clinical quality. Regional filters are editorial geography, not OECD statistical groupings.
The compiled research dataset preserves the 2023 published figures without harmonising differing national occupational categories. Official publication does not mean all counts represent direct-care nurses. Bar lengths are calculated from the same values shown in the main table; the numerical ranking is unchanged.
For a broader global comparison, World Bank indicator SH.MED.NUMW.P3 reports nurses and midwives together and does not share the same definition or uniform reference year. The related StatRanker ranking appears in Sources.
Full Ranking: 33 OECD Countries, 2023 Observations
Find a country, filter by region or data status, or change the sorting. Top 10 and Top 20 refer to the original ranking positions.
| Rank | Country | Nurses / 1,000 | Source / method note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 18.8 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (33%-50% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 2 | Norway | 15.6 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 3 | Iceland | 15.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (33%-50% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 14.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 5 | Ireland | 13.7 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles; midwives included. |
| 6 | Australia | 13.0 | Oceania; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes midwives under Australian nursing classifications; associate professional nurses are included. |
| 7 | Finland | 12.7 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 8 | United States | 12.4 | North America; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles; associate professional nurses included. |
| 9 | Germany | 12.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 10 | New Zealand | 11.7 | Oceania; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 11 | Netherlands | 11.1 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles. |
| 12 | Austria | 10.6 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Hospital-employed nurses only; excludes nurses outside hospitals. |
| 13 | Denmark | 10.5 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Tied with Slovenia at the published precision. |
| 14 | Slovenia | 10.5 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Associate professional nurses exceed half of its reported nurse workforce. |
| 15 | Canada | 10.0 | North America; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (15%-30% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 16 | Korea | 9.5 | East Asia; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (33%-50% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 17 | United Kingdom | 9.1 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (15%-30% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 18 | Czechia | 9.0 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 19 | Portugal | 7.6 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles. |
| 20 | Lithuania | 7.5 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 21 | Italy | 6.9 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles. |
| 22 | Estonia | 6.6 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 23 | Poland | 5.9 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Tied with Spain at the published precision. |
| 24 | Spain | 5.9 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes midwives under national nurse classifications. |
| 25 | Slovak Republic | 5.7 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles. |
| 26 | Israel | 5.6 | Middle East; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 27 | Hungary | 5.5 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (15%-30% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 28 | Chile | 4.4 | Latin America; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes all nurses licensed to practise, including potentially non-practising nurses (OECD International Migration Outlook 2025, Figure 5.2). |
| 29 | Latvia | 4.2 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Published OECD nurse-density indicator; subject to national reporting definitions. |
| 30 | Greece | 3.8 | Europe; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Hospital-employed nurses only; broader workforce density is understated. |
| 31 | Mexico | 3.0 | Latin America; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Includes associate professional nurses (33%-50% of nurses in the OECD figure). |
| 32 | Türkiye | 2.9 | Europe/Asia; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Professionally active nurse series: can include non-clinical roles. |
| 33 | Colombia | 1.6 | Latin America; OECD Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6; observed 2023; official_value. Uses professionally active nurses, potentially including management, education and research roles (OECD International Migration Outlook 2025, Figure 5.2). |
Compiled research dataset based on 5 OECD sources. Numerical values: Health at a Glance 2025, Table 1.6 (observed 2023); country reporting exceptions: OECD definitions and International Migration Outlook 2025. Row-level source and method notes identify broader categories and hospital-only coverage.
Insights from the OECD Comparison
Key Insight
Switzerland leads the included group with 18.8 reported nurses per 1,000 residents, 3.2 above Norway's 15.6. Its indicator includes a substantial associate professional nurse workforce.
Notable Pattern
New Zealand is tenth at 11.7, while the Netherlands ranks 11th at 11.1. The Dutch count covers professionally active nurses, making it important to compare definitions as well as numbers.
Regional Concentration
Seven of the Top 10 are in Europe: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland and Germany. Australia, New Zealand and the United States fill the other places.
Lowest Value in the Selected OECD Group
Colombia is 33rd at 1.6. That is the lowest value among the included OECD observations, not a claim about the worldwide minimum or a statistically tested outlier.
What Nurse Density Can and Cannot Tell Us
The ratio allows comparisons between differently sized populations but cannot reveal the number of hours nurses actually work. Hospital-only and professionally active counts can also shift apparent positions without representing the same bedside staffing availability.
For workforce planning, read nurse density together with vacancies, full-time-equivalent staff, regional distribution, population needs, qualifications and patient outcomes. A figure including licensed or non-clinical nurses cannot be interpreted as a direct-care staffing count; this ranking alone cannot establish that one country provides better care than another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which OECD country had the most nurses per 1,000 people?
Switzerland leads these 33 OECD observations at 18.8 in 2023, followed by Norway at 15.6 and Iceland at 15.2. The result does not establish a worldwide leader.
Are the figures measured in 2026?
No. All 33 values are observations for 2023 from OECD Health at a Glance 2025. The year 2026 identifies the review snapshot.
What is the difference between practising and professionally active nurses?
Practising nurses care for patients. Professionally active nurses also include some qualified nurses in non-clinical jobs, including management, teaching and research. Several OECD countries report the wider concept.
What about licensed nurses?
Licensed nurses are qualified and authorised to practise, whether or not they currently provide patient care. Chile's published OECD value includes all nurses licensed to practise. Colombia and several other countries use the broader professionally active category. The ranking reproduces those published values without replacing them with estimates.
Does the indicator include midwives?
Midwives are generally separate from nurses. Australia, Ireland and Spain are national exceptions within the OECD publication. The World Bank's combined nurses-and-midwives indicator is a different measure.
Why were Belgium, France, Japan, Sweden and Costa Rica excluded?
The first four have older nursing observation years in Table 1.6; Costa Rica has no corresponding nursing value. Restricting the comparison to 2023 avoids mixing measurement years.
Are these official published values?
Yes. The OECD directly publishes all 33 numbers. The compiled research dataset uses additional OECD documentation to explain national differences, including Colombia's professionally active nurses and Chile's licensed nurses. No ranked value is imputed or forecast.
How is a tie handled?
Equal source values are shown to one decimal and ordered alphabetically. Denmark and Slovenia both have 10.5; Poland and Spain both have 5.9.
Does higher nurse density prove better healthcare?
No. Staffing hours, workload, patient needs, local distribution and outcomes all matter. National headcounts alone are not a direct measure of care quality.
Sources and Related Research
OECD Health at a Glance 2025 — Table 1.6
Sole numerical source for the 33 country values and footnotes identifying older observations. Official intergovernmental publication.
OECD Health at a Glance 2025 — Nurses
Explanation of professional and associate nurses, national midwife exceptions, Greece's hospital-only coverage, and the published OECD average.
OECD Nurses Indicator — Definition
Lists countries using professionally active nurses and hospital-only nurse counts; explains the measurement unit and occupational scope.
OECD Data Explorer — Nurses
Definitions of practising, professionally active and licensed nurse categories; reference for updated observations beyond the fixed 2023 comparison.
OECD International Migration Outlook 2025 — Health Professionals
Methodological source for Figure 5.2, specifying that Colombia reports professionally active nurses and Chile includes all nurses licensed to practise. Used to interpret the 2023 observations, not to replace the numerical values from Health at a Glance.
Related StatRanker Ranking — Global Nurses and Midwives
Separate global comparison based on World Bank indicator SH.MED.NUMW.P3. Its combined occupational definition and variable observation years differ from this OECD dataset.
https://statranker.org/medical/top-100-countries-by-nurses-per-1000-people-2026-snapshot/
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