Nursing numbers climb across GCC, Oman also records strong growth

MUSCAT: The number of nursing staff across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries recorded an average annual growth rate of 4.6 percent between 2014 and 2024, reflecting sustained investment in healthcare systems across the region.

According to the Ministry of Health’s annual report of 2024, more than 23,000 nurses are currently working in Oman, a significant increase from just over 1,000 nurses in 1980.

Data issued by the Gulf Statistical Center shows that the total number of nursing staff in GCC countries reached 413,200 by the end of 2024. This marks an increase of around 150,000 nurses over the past decade, highlighting accelerated efforts to expand healthcare capacity and meet rising demand for services.

Nursing staff now account for about 30.3 percent of the total health workforce in the GCC, underlining their critical role in sustaining healthcare systems and delivering medical services.

The data also indicates that 62.4 percent of nurses are employed in government health facilities, demonstrating the region’s continued reliance on the public sector for both curative and preventive care.

Efforts to strengthen national participation in the profession are showing progress. The share of GCC nationals in the nursing workforce rose to 30.3 percent in 2024, up from 29.6 percent in 2023, reflecting policies aimed at encouraging citizens to join and advance in the field.

Women continue to dominate the profession, making up 73.6 percent of the nursing workforce in GCC countries, in line with global trends.

In terms of workforce density, GCC countries recorded an average of 67.5 nurses per 10,000 people in 2024—well above the global average of 37.7 nurses per 10,000 people.

Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that there were approximately 29.8 million nurses in 2023, with women representing about 67 percent of the nursing and midwifery workforce.

These figures underscore the essential role of nurses as the backbone of healthcare systems, contributing to patient care, disease prevention, and health awareness, while supporting the GCC’s broader goals of enhancing healthcare quality and sustainability.