The total number of registered nurses in China reached 6.062 million by the end of 2025, up by about 1.35 million, or roughly 29 percent, from 2020, according to data from the National Health Commission.

Meanwhile, the number of registered nurses per 1,000 people rose from 3.34 in 2020 to 4.32 in 2025, and more than 80 percent of nurses now hold associate degrees or higher qualifications, the commission said ahead of this year's International Nurses Day, which is observed annually on May 12.