Greece: Bottom of the EU in Healthcare Workers, Eurostat Data Shows

A new Eurostat study reveals that Greece has one of the lowest numbers of healthcare workers in the European Union (EU). Specifically, Greece records 219 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants, ranking among the lowest in the list.

Ireland holds the top position with 1,366 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Finland (1,267) and Germany (1,225). Conversely, Romania shows the lowest rate with only 100 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants.

The 2023 Eurostat study highlights that Germany has the highest absolute number of nurses and midwives employed in hospitals (559,000), while France (386,163) and Italy (286,051) follow.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the EU will face a shortage of 4.1 million healthcare workers by 2030, due to factors such as low wages and poor working conditions.

Furthermore, the study notes the aging of the healthcare workforce, with Lithuania and Latvia having the highest percentages of nurses aged 55 and over.

Across all EU countries, women make up the majority of nurses, with Latvia recording the highest percentage (99.5%).