The number of practising and patient facing registrants has also increased. 86,948 nurses and midwives state that they are currently practicing (a 3% increase) and 79,194 state they are patient-facing (a 4% increase).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 with the NMBI. In 2025, there are 92,385 registrants recorded, showing an overall increase of 13.45% over the four years.
In the period of this report 5,136 new registrants joined the NMBI Register, 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 Register 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, the NMBI has observed a steady decrease in the number of registered nurses and midwives requesting a Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) from NMBI to work outside of Ireland. 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.
The data contained in this NMBI report provides robust evidence to inform workplace planning, policy formation and strategic decision-making across the Irish health sector.
Document: NMBI State of the Register 2025
