Nigerian nurses UK migration hits 15,421 by March 2025, as NMC data shows Nigeria remains third in foreign-trained nurse registrations despite global slowdown

No fewer than 15,421 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have been licensed to practise in the United Kingdom between 2017 and March 2025.

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This is according to the latest data from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council, reviewed by our correspondent. The NMC is the statutory body regulating nursing, midwifery, and nursing associate professionals across the UK.

As of September 2024, 14,815 Nigerian professionals were on the register. By March 2025, that number rose by 4.1 per cent, reaching 15,421.

Nigeria remains the third-largest source of foreign-trained nurses in the UK, behind only the Philippines and India.

The NMC revealed that 20,671 international professionals joined its register in the past year, a sharp drop of over 30 per cent from the previous period. The number of Nigerian joiners declined by 25.5 per cent during this time.

The council explained the dip as part of a broader shift, noting that 5,276 international registrants left within the year.

Though this was a 33 per cent rise in departures, it still accounts for only 2.7 per cent of the total international cohort.

One major reason cited was the UK’s increased domestic recruitment push under the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

A notable trend is the migration of registered professionals to other countries.

“There’s a significant rise in international professionals on the NMC register seeking to move elsewhere, drawn mainly by better earnings potential,” the council stated.

Another shift involves the age profile of entrants. For the first time, over half of new joiners were aged 31 or above. Of international entrants, 58.3 per cent were between 31 and 50 years old.

Diversity on the register also continues to grow. As of March 2025, 32.5 per cent of all professionals on the register were from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds, up from 30.6 per cent just six months earlier.

“This makes it more important than ever that professionals can practise in an environment that values diversity and tackles racism,” the NMC report said.

Despite recruitment fluctuations, Nigeria’s contribution to the UK healthcare system remains substantial. “

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The quality and dedication of Nigerian professionals have long been evident,” a senior NMC official told our correspondent. “They play an indispensable role in delivering frontline care.”