The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) has published its State of the Register 2025 Report. Now in its fourth edition, the annual statement provides an overview of the configuration and trends within both the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland. The data is based on the information collected by NMBI as part of the annual renewal process, which is compared annually in June each year.
This year’s document shows that as of 1 June 2025, there were 92,385 nurses and midwives on the NMBI Register. This figure reflects a 3 per cent increase since 2024 and is the largest number of registered nurses and midwives on record.
The number of practising and patient-facing registrants has also increased, with 86,948 nurses and midwives stating that they are currently practising (a 3% increase) and 79,194 are patient-facing (a 4% increase). However, the number of registered midwives decreased by 3 per cent.
Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Kenna said the latest report “provides clear, reliable data and important insights that can inform policy development and decision-making”. She also described the data provided by the document as “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”.
A total of 5,136 new registrants joined the NMBI Register, including Irish and internationally educated nurses and midwives. Compared to previous years, there has been a decrease in the number of new registrants who were educated abroad, and an 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, an increase of 5 per cent (1,569) since the 2024 figures were released.
Other notable figures include:
- 3 per cent increase in registered general nurses
- 2 per cent increase in registered psychiatric nurses
- 24 per cent increase in registered advanced nurse practitioners (total of 1,204 on the register)
- 8 per cent increase in registered advanced midwife practitioners (total of 40 on the register)
- 15 per cent increase in registered nurse prescribers (total of 2,963 on the register)
- 26 per cent increase in registered midwife prescribers (total of 132 on the register)
- No change in the number of registered intellectual disability nurses
- A marginal 1 per cent increase in registered public health nurses.
Since June 2023, the NMBI states it has observed a steady decrease in the number of registered nurses and midwives requesting a Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) – also commonly known as a Certificate of Good Standing or Verification of Registration – which is required to practise abroad.
According to the Board, this downhill trend in CCPS applications suggests that fewer nurses and midwives are choosing to register in other jurisdictions.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: “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.”
NMBI Chief Executive Officer Carolyn Donohoe added: “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 per cent increase on the previous year, and the highest number recorded to date.”
The full report is available to download on the NMBI website.
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