UK Midwifery Register Grows Slightly as New Entrants Decline

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reported that the number of midwives on the UK register increased by 4.2% to 48,545 in 2025‑26, but the growth rate slowed from the 5.6% recorded the previous year. New midwives joining the register fell to 3,304, a drop of more than 10% from 3,704 the year before.

Across nursing and midwifery together, new joiners declined by 21.4% while the number of people leaving rose by 5.3%, highlighting ongoing retention challenges. Internationally educated professionals made up 26.4% of new joiners, down from a peak of 49.4% two years earlier. For the first time, 33.8% of all registered nursing and midwifery staff are from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, with UK‑educated new joiners from these groups rising to 35% from 22.3% five years ago.

The Royal College of Midwives warned that the shrinking pipeline and burnout, unsafe staffing levels, and poor working conditions risk further workforce shortages.