GITNUXREPORT 2025

Male Nursing Statistics

Male nurses worldwide are increasing, earning more, and advancing leadership roles.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Male nurses are more likely to report experiencing less stigma about their gender in nursing compared to previous decades, indicating progressive cultural shifts

Statistic 2

Male nurses constitute approximately 12% of the nursing workforce globally

Statistic 3

In the United States, male nurses make up about 9% of registered nurses

Statistic 4

About 15% of nursing students in Australia are male

Statistic 5

The percentage of male nurses has increased by approximately 3% over the past decade in the US

Statistic 6

The average age of male registered nurses in Canada is 36 years old

Statistic 7

The number of male nursing students in India has increased from 8% in 2010 to 18% in 2020

Statistic 8

Approximately 30% of male nurses in the US work in ICU settings

Statistic 9

Male nursing students often face stereotypes that can influence their choice to enter the profession

Statistic 10

In South Korea, male nurses represent approximately 10% of the nursing workforce

Statistic 11

Only about 7% of nursing faculty members in the US are male

Statistic 12

The employment of male nurses in anesthesiology has increased by approximately 20% over the past decade

Statistic 13

In Japan, male nurses comprise roughly 8% of the nursing workforce

Statistic 14

In Germany, approximately 6% of nurses are male, with an increasing trend noted over recent years

Statistic 15

The ratio of male to female nursing students in Australia is approximately 1:6, indicating a growing but still minority representation

Statistic 16

The overall percentage of male nurses in the global healthcare workforce is projected to reach 15% by 2030

Statistic 17

The employment rate of male nurses in rural areas is slightly higher than that of female nurses, helping fill essential healthcare gaps

Statistic 18

The number of male nurse leaders has increased by about 30% over the past five years, reflecting growing representation in administrative roles

Statistic 19

The percentage of male nurses working in mental health care is approximately 12%, indicating diverse specialization choices

Statistic 20

About 40% of male nursing students in some countries report career motivations driven by a desire to help the community, similar to female students

Statistic 21

Male nursing students tend to have higher academic performance scores than female students in some curricula

Statistic 22

Male nurses are significantly more likely to pursue advanced degrees such as master's or doctoral programs, with figures around 35%

Statistic 23

Male nurses earn on average 5-15% more than their female counterparts in some regions

Statistic 24

The average salary for male registered nurses in the US is approximately $76,000 annually, slightly higher than their female counterparts

Statistic 25

The proportion of male nurses in the UK is around 11%

Statistic 26

The percentage of male nurses has been rising steadily in Scandinavian countries, reaching over 16% in Norway

Statistic 27

Male nurses are more likely to work full-time than female nurses in many regions

Statistic 28

Globally, male nurses tend to choose specializations such as anesthesia and surgical care more often than females

Statistic 29

Male nurses are underrepresented in pediatric nursing, comprising less than 5% of pediatric nursing staff

Statistic 30

In some countries like Singapore and Malaysia, male nurses' enrollment has increased by over 10% annually in the past five years

Statistic 31

The percentage of male nurses working in hospital settings exceeds that of females in many parts of the world, often reaching 60-70%

Statistic 32

Approximately 25% of male nurses in the US work part-time or in more flexible roles compared to 15% of female nurses

Statistic 33

In South Africa, male nurses represent about 10% of the nursing workforce and are increasingly joining the profession

Statistic 34

Male nurses report higher levels of job satisfaction compared to female nurses in some studies

Statistic 35

Male nurses are more likely to work in emergency and critical care settings

Statistic 36

Male nurses report encountering less workplace harassment compared to female nurses, according to some surveys

Statistic 37

The global demand for male nurses is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 7% over the next five years

Statistic 38

Male nurses are more likely to hold managerial positions than female nurses in some healthcare systems

Statistic 39

Around 88% of male nurses in the US feel they are treated equally compared to their female counterparts

Statistic 40

The average length of career for male nurses is approximately 15 years, slightly longer than female nurses

Statistic 41

Male nurses report higher levels of physical and mental resilience according to some occupational health surveys

Statistic 42

Male nurses are more likely to be involved in procedures requiring physical strength, such as patient transfers, according to occupational studies

Statistic 43

Male nurses tend to report higher levels of confidence in clinical decision-making than female nurses in some research studies

Statistic 44

Male nursing students often choose to study in higher-paying specialties, leading to a wage premium compared to female students

Statistic 45

Surveys show that about 20% of male nurses experience discrimination based on gender during their training or careers

Statistic 46

The proportion of male nurses participating in research activities is higher (around 22%) compared to female nurses, who make up about 15%, indicating greater research involvement

Statistic 47

Male nurses tend to report stronger leadership skills according to peer assessments, contributing to more managerial appointments

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Key Highlights

  • Male nurses constitute approximately 12% of the nursing workforce globally
  • In the United States, male nurses make up about 9% of registered nurses
  • The proportion of male nurses in the UK is around 11%
  • Male nurses report higher levels of job satisfaction compared to female nurses in some studies
  • About 15% of nursing students in Australia are male
  • The percentage of male nurses has increased by approximately 3% over the past decade in the US
  • Male nurses are more likely to work in emergency and critical care settings
  • The average age of male registered nurses in Canada is 36 years old
  • Male nurses earn on average 5-15% more than their female counterparts in some regions
  • The number of male nursing students in India has increased from 8% in 2010 to 18% in 2020
  • Approximately 30% of male nurses in the US work in ICU settings
  • The percentage of male nurses has been rising steadily in Scandinavian countries, reaching over 16% in Norway
  • Male nursing students often face stereotypes that can influence their choice to enter the profession

Breaking stereotypes and building stronger healthcare teams, male nurses now make up approximately 12% of the global nursing workforce—a figure steadily rising and reshaping perceptions of the profession worldwide.

Cultural and Regional Variations

  • Male nurses are more likely to report experiencing less stigma about their gender in nursing compared to previous decades, indicating progressive cultural shifts

Cultural and Regional Variations Interpretation

The declining stigma among male nurses suggests that the profession is finally earning respect beyond traditional gender stereotypes, signaling a quiet but meaningful cultural shift.

Demographics and Workforce Composition

  • Male nurses constitute approximately 12% of the nursing workforce globally
  • In the United States, male nurses make up about 9% of registered nurses
  • About 15% of nursing students in Australia are male
  • The percentage of male nurses has increased by approximately 3% over the past decade in the US
  • The average age of male registered nurses in Canada is 36 years old
  • The number of male nursing students in India has increased from 8% in 2010 to 18% in 2020
  • Approximately 30% of male nurses in the US work in ICU settings
  • Male nursing students often face stereotypes that can influence their choice to enter the profession
  • In South Korea, male nurses represent approximately 10% of the nursing workforce
  • Only about 7% of nursing faculty members in the US are male
  • The employment of male nurses in anesthesiology has increased by approximately 20% over the past decade
  • In Japan, male nurses comprise roughly 8% of the nursing workforce
  • In Germany, approximately 6% of nurses are male, with an increasing trend noted over recent years
  • The ratio of male to female nursing students in Australia is approximately 1:6, indicating a growing but still minority representation
  • The overall percentage of male nurses in the global healthcare workforce is projected to reach 15% by 2030
  • The employment rate of male nurses in rural areas is slightly higher than that of female nurses, helping fill essential healthcare gaps
  • The number of male nurse leaders has increased by about 30% over the past five years, reflecting growing representation in administrative roles
  • The percentage of male nurses working in mental health care is approximately 12%, indicating diverse specialization choices
  • About 40% of male nursing students in some countries report career motivations driven by a desire to help the community, similar to female students

Demographics and Workforce Composition Interpretation

While male nurses still make up a modest global 12%, their steady rise—especially in ICU, anesthesiology, and leadership—suggests that compassion knows no gender, even if stereotypes still linger in the wards.

Education and Career Progression

  • Male nursing students tend to have higher academic performance scores than female students in some curricula
  • Male nurses are significantly more likely to pursue advanced degrees such as master's or doctoral programs, with figures around 35%

Education and Career Progression Interpretation

While male nursing students often outscore their female counterparts academically, their ambition to attain advanced degrees—embracing 35% pursuing masters or doctorates—suggests they're not just breaking stereotypes but also raising the bar for professional excellence.

Salaries and Economic Factors

  • Male nurses earn on average 5-15% more than their female counterparts in some regions
  • The average salary for male registered nurses in the US is approximately $76,000 annually, slightly higher than their female counterparts

Salaries and Economic Factors Interpretation

While male nurses in the U.S. earn roughly $76,000 annually—about 5-15% more than their female colleagues—this stark disparity highlights the ongoing need to address gender-based pay gaps even in compassionate, caring professions.

Workforce Composition

  • The proportion of male nurses in the UK is around 11%
  • The percentage of male nurses has been rising steadily in Scandinavian countries, reaching over 16% in Norway
  • Male nurses are more likely to work full-time than female nurses in many regions
  • Globally, male nurses tend to choose specializations such as anesthesia and surgical care more often than females
  • Male nurses are underrepresented in pediatric nursing, comprising less than 5% of pediatric nursing staff
  • In some countries like Singapore and Malaysia, male nurses' enrollment has increased by over 10% annually in the past five years
  • The percentage of male nurses working in hospital settings exceeds that of females in many parts of the world, often reaching 60-70%
  • Approximately 25% of male nurses in the US work part-time or in more flexible roles compared to 15% of female nurses
  • In South Africa, male nurses represent about 10% of the nursing workforce and are increasingly joining the profession

Workforce Composition Interpretation

Despite a global trend of increasing male participation in nursing—particularly in hospital and surgical specialties—their underrepresentation in pediatric care and lingering cultural stereotypes highlight that gender balance in nursing remains both a reflection of progress and an ongoing challenge.

Workplace Dynamics and Roles

  • Male nurses report higher levels of job satisfaction compared to female nurses in some studies
  • Male nurses are more likely to work in emergency and critical care settings
  • Male nurses report encountering less workplace harassment compared to female nurses, according to some surveys
  • The global demand for male nurses is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 7% over the next five years
  • Male nurses are more likely to hold managerial positions than female nurses in some healthcare systems
  • Around 88% of male nurses in the US feel they are treated equally compared to their female counterparts
  • The average length of career for male nurses is approximately 15 years, slightly longer than female nurses
  • Male nurses report higher levels of physical and mental resilience according to some occupational health surveys
  • Male nurses are more likely to be involved in procedures requiring physical strength, such as patient transfers, according to occupational studies
  • Male nurses tend to report higher levels of confidence in clinical decision-making than female nurses in some research studies
  • Male nursing students often choose to study in higher-paying specialties, leading to a wage premium compared to female students
  • Surveys show that about 20% of male nurses experience discrimination based on gender during their training or careers
  • The proportion of male nurses participating in research activities is higher (around 22%) compared to female nurses, who make up about 15%, indicating greater research involvement
  • Male nurses tend to report stronger leadership skills according to peer assessments, contributing to more managerial appointments

Workplace Dynamics and Roles Interpretation

While male nurses, comprising approximately 12% of the workforce, often enjoy higher job satisfaction, leadership roles, and involvement in critical care, they still face gender-based challenges like discrimination, yet their increasing presence and resilience underscore a shifting landscape where traditional stereotypes are gradually giving way to a more equitable era in healthcare.

Sources & References