The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns about a significant shortage of healthcare professionals worldwide, projecting a deficit of 11.1 million workers by 2030. According to a report published on October 19, 2026, titled "National health workforce accounts: health workforce levels and trends 2026," the global healthcare workforce has seen a 52% increase in density over the past two decades, rising from 44.8 to 67.9 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants between 2006 and 2025.
Despite this growth, the WHO notes that there are significant disparities in the distribution of healthcare workers. The density of doctors in the European region is 13 times higher than in the African region, and for nursing and midwifery personnel, the gap is six times. The report also highlights the aging of the healthcare workforce, with nearly one in four doctors globally aged over 55 and expected to retire within the next decade. In high-income countries, this proportion approaches one in three.
The WHO emphasizes that the aging population and increasing healthcare needs will exacerbate the shortage. The organization estimates that 67 countries will not have sufficient healthcare professionals to meet their population's needs by 2030. To address this issue, the WHO calls for strengthened planning, training, employment, and retention of healthcare workers.
The report also notes progress in data collection, with over 90% of WHO member states providing information on their healthcare workforce in 2025. Since the launch of the National Health Workforce Accounts in 2017, the availability of these data has increased nearly 20-fold.
The WHO stresses the urgency of investing in healthcare workers to reduce inequalities, strengthen health systems, and ensure equitable access to care. The organization's data underscore the need for immediate action to address the looming shortage and its implications for global health.
The global healthcare workforce currently numbers over 70 million, including healthcare professionals and support staff. However, the WHO's projections indicate that without concerted efforts to address the shortage, many countries will struggle to provide adequate healthcare to their populations by 2030.
The WHO's warning highlights the need for governments, healthcare organizations, and stakeholders to prioritize investments in healthcare workforce development, education, and retention to mitigate the impending shortage and ensure that healthcare systems can meet the needs of their populations.
Key points
- The WHO projects a global healthcare worker shortage of 11.1 million by 2030.
- The aging healthcare workforce and unequal distribution of professionals are major contributors to the shortage.
- The WHO calls for strengthened planning, training, employment, and retention of healthcare workers to address the shortage.
