PUBLISHED DECISION GUIDE
China's Nursing Workforce Expansion: A Guide to Recent Developments
Understanding the growth, training, and services shaping China's nursing sector as part of broader healthcare reforms.
China has significantly increased its nursing workforce over the past five years, with registered nurses surpassing 6.06 million by the end of 2025. This guide outlines key statistics, training initiatives, and service expansions reported by the National Health Commission (NHC).
Independently written English guidance based on cited public sources. Every public guide is human reviewed; it is not an official translation of the source publisher.
Workforce Growth and Availability
According to the National Health Commission (NHC), the number of registered nurses in China increased by 29% from 2020 to 2025, reaching over 6.06 million by the end of 2025. The density of registered nurses per 1,000 people rose from 3.34 in 2020 to 4.32 in 2025. Additionally, more than 80% of nurses now hold qualifications at or above college level.
These figures indicate a substantial expansion in the availability of nursing professionals, which is a critical component of the country's healthcare infrastructure.
Specialized Training and High-Demand Fields
The NHC reports that over 90% of nurses working in high-demand and understaffed fields—including rehabilitation, geriatric care, pediatrics, intensive care, and infectious disease care—have received specialized training. This ensures a skilled workforce in areas that are essential for comprehensive patient care.
This focused training aims to address specific healthcare challenges, particularly in aging populations and complex medical conditions.
Home-Based Nursing Services
Nearly 6,000 medical institutions across China now provide more than 60 types of home-based nursing services across seven categories. These categories include maternal and infant care, geriatric care, chronic disease management, rehabilitation guidance, and hospice care. This expansion reflects a growing emphasis on providing care outside traditional hospital settings.
These services are part of broader efforts to improve access to healthcare, especially for elderly and chronically ill patients who may prefer home-based care.
Future Directions and National Goals
Looking ahead, the NHC plans to continue strengthening the nursing workforce by improving incentive and support measures for nurses. Expansion of assisted care services and enhanced access to elderly care services are also priorities.
These initiatives align with China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which aims to accelerate progress toward the Healthy China 2035 goal. The plan emphasizes providing fairer and more systemic healthcare services to the public and improving overall public health.
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This guide received human editorial review. Use its public sources and review date to assess the current information boundary.
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