WHO warns health-worker shortfall could reach 11.1 million by 2030
WHO says global staffing has improved but large regional inequalities remain, with Africa far below Europe in doctor, nursing and midwifery density.
The global shortfall of health workers could reach 11.1 million by 2030, the World Health Organization has warned in its latest National Health Workforce Accounts update.
WHO says global workforce density has increased, but large inequalities remain. Doctor density is reported to be 13 times higher in the WHO European Region than in the African Region, while nursing and midwifery density is six times higher.
The update also says nearly one in four doctors in the countries covered is older than 55, raising concerns about retirement and replacement. These are global and regional figures; they are not a Ghana-specific retirement estimate.
Source: World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news/item/18-09-2026-one-in-four-doctors-nearing-retirement-age-as-who-warns-of-global-health-workforce-gap
Additional regional context: https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2026-05/State%20of%20the%20Health%20Workforce%20in%20Africa%202026.pdf
Image note: the Cameroon hospital photograph is illustrative and does not depict the WHO report or Ghana’s workforce.
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