South India Leads India's Nursing Workforce, National Ratio Below WHO Benchmark
South India Leads India's Nursing Workforce, National Ratio Below WHO Benchmark
IN · Published Jul 24, 2026
Recent parliamentary data highlights a significant regional divide in India's nursing workforce. Southern states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, account for nearly half of the country's registered hospital nurses. As of December 31, 2025, India had 46.02 lakh registered nursing personnel, translating to a nurse-population ratio of 2.60 per 1,000 people, according to Union Health Minister JP Nadda. This figure falls short of the World Health Organization's benchmark of three nurses per 1,000 population. Kerala leads with 10.47 nurses per 1,000 people, while Telangana lags behind its southern counterparts with only 1.58 nurses per 1,
Northern and eastern states, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, face severe shortages, with ratios as low as 0.15 and 0.96, respectively.

Impact & Risks

The uneven distribution of nursing personnel across India poses significant challenges to healthcare delivery, particularly in northern and eastern states. Regions with low nurse-population ratios may struggle to provide adequate care, especially in critical areas like intensive care units and emergency departments. Southern states, while better equipped, may face strain due to their role in supplying nurses to other parts of the country and overseas. The shortage of nurses in populous states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could exacerbate healthcare disparities, impacting millions of residents.

Related News