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

Many countries are facing a shortage of nurses due to an aging population and more illnesses that last a long time. This problem means that there are many chances for nurses to work in different countries where they are needed the most.

To help you figure out where you might go to find nursing jobs, we have looked at data and made a list of the 10 countries where nurses are needed most right now. This includes places where there are many job openings, lots of older people, and where the healthcare system is growing fast.

1. United States

The United States has a huge healthcare industry and needs many trained nurses. There’s an expected need for over 1.3 million new nurses by 2024 to prevent a shortage as the number of older people increases and more people have health insurance. All states will see this need.

A few things cause this high demand, such as the population getting older, hospitals trying to save money, and many current nurses getting close to the age when they retire.

Cities like Denver, Orlando, Phoenix, Seattle, and Tampa will have a lot of jobs open for nurses. In big cities, nurses can get paid more like in San Francisco, where the average salary for nurses is over $140,000 a year.

If you are a nurse trained in another country, you can work in the U.S. if you pass the NCLEX-RN exam and get a state license. Having experience in areas like critical care, cancer care, or taking care of old people can help you get a job in the U.S.

2. Australia

Australia also needs nurses because its population is aging and it offers healthcare for all. By 2030, one out of five Australians will be over 65 years old, but the nurses there are getting older too.

It is predicted that Australia will be short by 85,000 nurses by 2025 and need over 123,000 by 2030. The government is trying to get more people to study nursing because nearly half of its nurses will retire in the next 10 to 15 years.

In areas that are not in the big cities, it is harder to find nurses, so healthcare providers offer good pay and benefits to attract nurses.

Nurses in Australia can make between $73,000-$112,000 AUD ($50,000-$77,000 USD) a year on average. Emergency, critical care, mental health, aged care, and operating room nurses are especially needed.

3. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is also dealing with a nurse shortage, made worse by an aging population of patients and nurses. England is short over 36,000 nurses, with the whole UK needing an extra 190,000 nurses by 2027.

The pandemic made many nurses in Britain leave their jobs because of stress, making the shortage worse. Now there are many nursing job openings that need to be filled.

London, the Midlands, Yorkshire, the South West, South East, and the East of England are areas where nurses are needed the most. Emergency, critical care, newborn care, children’s care, mental health, community health, and general practice nurses are in high demand.

The average pay for nurses in the United Kingdom is between £24,000-£40,000 ($29,000-$48,000 USD) a year. Nurses who are citizens or residents of the UK have many job opportunities with the NHS.

4. Canada

Canada will need to hire over 199,000 extra nurses by 2030 because of demands in the healthcare system. With a lot of nurses planning to retire soon, there is a struggle to find new ones. Provinces like Ontario will need to hire 77,000 new nurses this decade.

As the population in Canada gets older and more people get chronic illnesses, the need for nurses grows. Nurses in Canada get good pay, around $70,000 CAD ($52,000 USD) for registered nurses and $95,000 CAD ($71,000 USD) for nurse practitioners, plus benefits like pensions and health insurance.

International nurses who want to work in Canada must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and get a license in the province they want to work in. Nurses with skills in heart care, kidney care, cancer care, children’s care, elderly care, and intensive care are in high demand.

5. Germany

Germany is about to face a big challenge because around 500,000 nurses, which is 40% of its workforce, will retire by 2029. Also, since Germany has one of the world’s oldest populations, with more than a quarter of its people being over 65 by 2030, the need for skilled nurses will jump.

While knowing German will help you get a nursing job there, bigger cities are starting to look for nurses who know just basic German. Some recruiters even help nurses from other countries learn German after they arrive.

Nurses in Germany usually make about €40,000-€50,000 ($43,000-$54,000 USD) a year. Geriatrics, ICU, heart care, cancer care, kidney care, and operation room nursing are particularly in demand.

6. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has one of the biggest shortages of nurses currently. With a lot of young people and growing需求 for healthcare, the country is in serious need of nurses.

Right now, only 57% of nursing jobs in Saudi Arabia are filled. The country has plans to add more than 106,000 nursing jobs by 2030. This is because the healthcare system is growing fast. Saudi Arabia wants to build lots of new hospitals, clinics, and places to do medical research as part of its Vision 2030. They need a lot of good nurses from other countries to work in these new places.

Foreign nurses like working in Saudi Arabia because they don’t have to pay income tax and they get extra money for housing. Nurses with a lot of experience can make between $70,000 and $100,000 or more every year. They also get long vacations and travel perks. Saudi Arabia hires nurses from countries like India, the Philippines, and South Africa to help with the nurse shortage. Nurses from outside Saudi Arabia have to get a license from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to work there.

7. Singapore

Singapore’s Ministry of Health thinks they will need 65,000 more healthcare workers by 2030. Many nurses are going to retire soon, so the shortage is big. As more people get older and get chronic diseases, and medical services grow, more nurses are needed in both public and private hospitals.

A regular nurse in Singapore earns about S$55,000 (US$40,000) each year. Nurses who are managers or have advanced training can make more. Benefits usually include extra money, health insurance, paid holidays, and retirement plans. Since English is the main language in Singapore, nurses from English-speaking countries find it easier to move there. But to work in Singapore, foreign nurses still need to pass local tests and sign up with the Singapore Nursing Board.

8. New Zealand

New Zealand is looking for over 12,000 nurses by 2027 to make up for nurses leaving and because there’s a bigger need for healthcare. Nurses can find all kinds of jobs across the country in places like community health, hospitals, homes for older people, and other special areas. Nurses thinking about New Zealand can expect good pay and many different job choices.

Registered nurses in New Zealand make between $37,000 to $56,000 a year, which changes based on their experience and where they work. The country is an attractive place to live with nice scenery and culture.

New Zealand’s healthcare system values good care, so it’s a great place for nurses from around the world. The country wants nurses who are good at their jobs and excited to make the healthcare system better.

9. Denmark

Denmark is also expecting fewer nurses soon because a lot of them are getting old and retiring. International nurses who speak English well will have many opportunities to help take care of Denmark’s elderly people.

Nurses that move to Denmark can make between $58,000 to $80,000 per year. Denmark is known for having a good life quality, focusing on a balance between work and life, and a helpful healthcare system.

The Danish healthcare system is centered around the patient and is always looking for better ways to do things. It’s a place where nurses can really use their skills and knowledge. Denmark needs more nurses to deal with the needs of its aging population.

10. Ireland

Ireland needs more nurses too, because of its growing need for healthcare. There are many jobs in different places like hospitals, community health, and specialized areas.

Nurses in Ireland usually make between $32,000 to $56,000 each year. Ireland also has a rich culture and is a friendly place for nurses coming from different countries.

The Irish healthcare system aims to always get better and values the work nurses do. Nurses with the right skills can help Ireland with its healthcare needs.

Conclusion

There are many chances for qualified nurses to work in other countries because of the worldwide shortage of nurses. Countries with many older people are offering better salaries, bonus money when signing a contract, and other perks to get talented nurses to come work for them.

Look for jobs in countries that really want to hire nurses from other places. They have jobs in both public and private medical places. If you get the right papers and learn any languages you need, you’ll have a better chance of finding a good job.

Moving to another country to work as a nurse takes some planning and hard work. But it can also make your career better, teach you about other cultures, and help you grow as a nurse and as a person.