Nurses trained abroad in the UK: the top 10 countries (2026)
On 31 March 2026, 212,109 of the 867,935 people on the UK's NMC register trained outside the UK, 186,681 of them outside the EU and EEA, including 4,455 with unknown training country (NMC register data, published July 2026). In the six months to 31 March 2026, 4,640 people trained abroad joined the register for the first time, against 8,136 a year earlier.
Statistics, not advice. These are official counts for past dates. Registration is decided by the NMC (UK) and the NMBI (Ireland), visas by the Home Office, and the rules on international recruitment can change: check the official pages before you apply or pay.
Where people on the register trained
| Area of training | On the register | Share | Joined in the last 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trained in the UK | 655,826 | 75.6% | 16,608 |
| Trained in the EU or EEA | 25,428 | 2.9% | 210 |
| Trained elsewhere (including 4,455 with unknown training country) | 186,681 | 21.5% | 4,430 |
| All | 867,935 | 100% | 21,248 |
Source: NMC, register data tables, March 2026 (UK) (XLSX, file dated 28 July 2026, downloaded on 5 November 2026), sheets "Training Country ALL" and "Training Country Joiners". The register includes nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Data: NMC register data tables (© NMC), reproduced as factual information with a link to the original file; this is not an NMC publication.
The 10 countries of training with the most people on the register
| Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Rest of the World | 73,026 | 70,186 | 1,748 |
| Philippines | Rest of the World | 50,527 | 50,485 | 337 |
| Nigeria | Rest of the World | 17,092 | 15,760 | 683 |
| Ghana | Rest of the World | 8,531 | 7,254 | 612 |
| Romania | EU/EEA | 7,226 | 7,321 | 14 |
| Zimbabwe | Rest of the World | 4,798 | 4,731 | 55 |
| Portugal | EU/EEA | 3,713 | 3,860 | 8 |
| Nepal | Rest of the World | 3,087 | 2,595 | 248 |
| Italy | EU/EEA | 2,866 | 2,978 | 15 |
| South Africa | Rest of the World | 2,836 | 2,965 | 8 |
Source: NMC, register data tables, March 2026 (UK) (XLSX, file dated 28 July 2026, downloaded on 5 November 2026), sheets "Training Country ALL" and "Training Country Joiners"; "Unknown" training country (4,455) left out. The register includes nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Data: NMC register data tables (© NMC), reproduced as factual information with a link to the original file; this is not an NMC publication.
People trained abroad joining the register, every six months
The highest figure in the NMC series was 15,035, in the six months to 30 September 2023; a year before the latest figure, in the six months to 31 March 2025, it was 8,136.
| Period | Trained outside the UK | All joiners |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months to 30 September 2024 | 12,533 | 27,304 |
| 6 months to 31 March 2025 | 8,136 | 25,529 |
| 6 months to 30 September 2025 | 6,321 | 20,294 |
| 6 months to 31 March 2026 | 4,640 | 21,248 |
Source: NMC, register data tables, March 2026 (UK) (XLSX, file dated 28 July 2026, downloaded on 5 November 2026), sheets "Training Country ALL" and "Training Country Joiners". The register includes nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Data: NMC register data tables (© NMC), reproduced as factual information with a link to the original file; this is not an NMC publication.
Questions people ask
How many foreign nurses are in the UK?
212,109 people on the NMC register trained outside the UK on 31 March 2026, 24.4% of 867,935. The NMC counts the country of training, not nationality.
Where do international nurses in the UK come from?
By country of training: India 73,026, Philippines 50,527, Nigeria 17,092, Ghana 8,531, Romania 7,226 (NMC, March 2026).
How many nurses who trained in the Philippines are in the UK?
50,527 people on the NMC register trained in the Philippines on 31 March 2026. This counts training, not nationality.