Albania

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source: Ministry of Health. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source: Ministry of Health.

Andorra

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
NA Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
NA

Armenia

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Republican Research and Information Health Centre and the National Statistic Service
of the Republic of Armenia, Report form of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia ? 17
?Health employment?, http://healthinfo.am/Statistical%20Report.htm, Statistical book, Armenia,
English version (zip) 2009.
Reference period: 31 December.
Deviation from the definition: Data on foreign midwives licences to practice and professionally
active are not included since data is not available. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Republican Research and Information Health Centre and the National Statistic Service
of the Republic of Armenia, Report form of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia ? 17
?Health employment?, http://healthinfo.am/Statistical%20Report.htm, Statistical book, Armenia,
English version (zip) 2009.
Reference period: 31 December.
Deviation from the definition: Data on professional nurses (ISCO-08 code: 2221) and associate
professional nurses (ISCO-08 code: 3221) are missing because all nurses are considered to be
professional.. Data on foreign nurses and medical assistants are not available and thus not
included.

Austria

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Austrian Federal Ministry of Health, Hospital Statistics.
Reference period: 31 December.
Coverage: Data include midwives employed by hospitals. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Austrian Federal Ministry of Health, Hospital Statistics.
Reference period: 31 December.
Coverage:
- includes professional nurses employed by hospitals;
- includes associate professional nurses employed by hospitals;
- excludes midwives.
Deviation from the definition:
- Self-employed nurses and nurses employed by other institutions than hospitals are not included.

Azerbaijan

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Reference period: data as of December 31. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Reference period: data as of December 31.
Note:Division on Professional and Associate professional nurses does not exist in the country,

Belarus

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: National Statistics Committee of Belarus http://belstat.gov.by/; National Archives
of the Republic of Belarus http://narb.by/
Reporting period: 31 December.
Note: The division into sub-professional level of midwives and midwifery (i.e. associate and
professional level) does not exist in the Republic of Belarus. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: National Statistics Committee of Belarus http://belstat.gov.by/; National Archives
of the Republic of Belarus http://narb.by/
Reporting period: 31 December.
Break in time series: 1998, 2010.
Beginning in 1998, includes data on paramedics. In 2009, the post of the assistant physician for
outpatient care was also included. Both of these categories are included in the 2010 data.

Belgium

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: Institut National d'Assurance Maladie Invalidite.
Coverage: Includes the number of midwives and number of nurses-midwives (combined degree) registered
at INAMI.
Deviation from definition: Covers only midwives with a registration at INAMI (self-employed
activity). However, the majority of midwives are working as salaried midwives in hospitals. These
are not included in the figures, hence the ?deviation? indication. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to licensed nurses.
Source of data: Service Public Federal Sante publique, securite de la chaine alimentaire et
environnement, DG2 - Soins de sante primaire et gestion de crises - FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid
van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, DG2 Basisgezondheidszorg en Crisisbeheer. Cellule Planification
des professionnels de sante - Cel planning Gezondheidsberoepen. Base de donnees federale des
professionnels de soins de sante - Federale databank van de beoefenaars van de
gezondheidszorgberoepen.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage: Data cover all nurses licensed to practice.
Estimation method: Estimate of headcount, based on the cross-referencing of different
administrative databases and registers.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Public Health Institute of FB&H - Annual report health personnel with university degree by
specialization and sex in FB&H
Public Health Institute of Republica Srpska - Annual report health personnel with university degree
by specialization and sex in Republica Srpska Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source: Public Health Institute of FB&H - Annual report health personnel with university degree by
specialization and sex in FB&H
Public Health Institute of Republica Srpska - Annual report health personnel with university degree
by specialization and sex in Republica Srpska

Bulgaria

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: National Statistical Institute, Exhaustive annual survey
Reference period: 31st December
Coverage: All midwives (head counts) (ISCO-08 code: 2222) who worked on a basic labour contract in
outpatient and inpatient establishments, as well as those who practice in other heath establishments
- centres for emergency medical care, centres for transfusion haematology, homes for medical and
social care for children, Hygiene-epidemiological inspections and others.
On 01.07.2000 Bulgaria started its Healthcare Reform, as a consequence, a new institution in the
outpatient care was build - the General Practitioner (GP) and the financing of curative medical care
by the National Health Insurance Fund came into force. Specialists working in individual and group
practices for specialized medical care, who have not signed contracts with the National Health
Insurance Fund, are not covered in the exhaustive annual survey carried out by the BNSI (Bulgarian
National Statistical Institute.), midwifes appointed by these physicians are not covered either.
Break in time series: 2000. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: National Statistical Institute, Exhaustive annual survey
Reference period: 31st December
Coverage: All nurses (head counts) who worked on a basic labour contract in outpatient and inpatient
establishments, as well as those who practice in other heath establishments - centres for emergency
medical care, centres for transfusion haematology, homes for medical and social care for children,
Hygiene-epidemiological inspections and others.
On 01.07.2000 Bulgaria started Healthcare Reform: a new institution in the outpatient care was build
- the General Practitioner (GP), financing of curative medical care by the National Health Insurance
Fund came into force. Specialists working in individual and group practices for specialized medical
care, who have not signed contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund, are not covered in the
exhaustive annual survey carried out by the BNSI, and neither nurses appointed by these physicians.
Break in time series: 2000.

Croatia

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data:ÿCroatian National Institute of Public Health, Health Manpower Register,
Reference period: data on December 31 Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data:ÿCroatian National Institute of Public Health, Health Manpower Register,
Reference period: data on December 31
Coverage: public and private health sectors included, private nurses have been included since 1993.

Cyprus

Midwives metadata:
No data for any midwife category. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data:
2000-2005: Public medical institutions
From 2006: Inspectors of Private Medical Institutions (Ministry of Health)
Reference period: 31st December.
Estimation method: The figures referring to years 2000-2005 have been estimated since no actual data
are available for these period for the private sector. From 2006 onwards the reported numbers are
actual.
Numbers referring to Public Sector are actual for all years and have been obtained from
administrative sources supplied from the public medical institutions, whereas the numbers referring
to the public sector from 2006 onwards have been obtained from administrative sources of the
Inspectors of Private Medical Institutions (Ministry of Health).

Czechia

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Czech Republic

Source of data: Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic; National
Health Information System (Annual report on health personnel).
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Until 1999, women's nurses working in other central organs not included. Since the year 2000, data
cover women's nurses in all health services.
- Since 2004, data collected on basis of new legislation on non-medical professions (until 2003:
women's nurses, since 2004: midwives).
- Double counting of midwives working in more than one health establishment.
- Data relate to midwives working in health establishments. Those working in social care sector are
not included.
Break in time series: 2000 and 2004. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Czech Republic

Source of data: Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic; National
Health Information System (Annual report on health personnel).
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Until 1999, nurses working in other central organs not included. Since the year 2000, data cover
nurses in total health services.
- Since 2004 data collected on basis of new legislation on non-medical professions.
- Double counting of nurses working in more than one health establishment.
- Data relate to nurses working in health establishments. Those working in social care sector are
not included.
Break in time series: 2000 and 2004.

Denmark

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: National Board of Health, Labour Register for Health Personnel.
Reference period: 31st December. Data show the number for January first the following year.
Coverage: Midwives whose status in the Central Personnel Register is active, i.e. in the country
(not dead or abroad); connected to HP1, HP2 or HP3 as either a) employed, b) employed, being on
leave or c) employed, receiving sickness benefit.
Note: The decrease in practising midwives in 1995 is due to the uncertainty in the numbers in
different industries. Approximately 75 midwives were misplaced in ?practising? industries in 1994.
In 1993 and 1995, those midwives were placed in public administration industries. There is therefore
not a real decrease in 1995, because the number in 1994 is overestimated. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: National Board of Health, Labour Register for Health Personnel.
Reference period: 31st December. Data show the number for January first the following year.
Coverage: Nurses whose status in the Central Personnel Register is active, i.e. in the country (not
dead or abroad); connected to HP1, HP2 or HP3 as either a) employed, b) employed, being on leave or
c) employed, receiving sickness benefit.

Estonia

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data:
- Annual reports, National Institute for Health Development, Department of Health Statistics.
- 1980-2004 data published by Statistics Estonia:
(http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/I_Databas/Social_life/05Health/04Health_care_institutions/04Health_c
are_institutions.asp).
Reference period: 31st of December.
Coverage:
- Presents practising midwives who provide services directly to patients.
- Medical staff working in military, research or other areas are not included.
Break in time series: 1991 and 2005.
- Until 1990, in addition to health personnel employed in the system of the Ministry of Health, the
data include the personnel who worked in the health care institutions of the Estonian Railway,
Estonian Airway and those belonging to the closed establishments of the Soviet Union.
- The total number of midwives from the year 1991 includes only the data of the Ministry of Health
and the Estonian Railway.
- Until 2004, the number of practising midwives was based on their last or main educational
qualifications.
- From 2005, the head count distribution is made according to their main occupational activity.
Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data:
- Annual reports, National Institute for Health Development, Department of Health Statistics.
- Registry of Health Care Professionals, Health Board (additional data since 2005).
- 1980-2003 nurses and assistant doctors, data published by Statistics Estonia
(http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/I_Databas/Social_life/05Health/04Health_care_institutions/04Health_c
are_institutions.asp).
Reference period: 31st of December.
Break in time series: 1992, 2005.
- Presents practising nurses who provide services directly to patients.
- The types of institutions included have changed over the period in question. Until 1991 data
correspond more to professionally active nurses (practising + working in health sector).
- Since 1992, medical staff working in military, research or other areas have not been included.
- Until 2004, the source was an annual report on practising health care personnel based on their
educational last or main qualification.
- From 2005, the head count distribution is made according to their main occupational activity.
Note: The decrease after 1991 was the result of the first reorganisation wave of health care system
of the independent country. A large-scale legislative reform took place in the early 1990s. In 1991
the provider licensing system was enhanced, which was an important precondition for decreasing
hospital network capacity to enable more efficient use of resources and to ensure quality. In 1994,
after a detailed review of all providers, substandard providers were closed.

Finland

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: THL Health Personnel Statistics; National Institute for Health and Welfare. The data
are based on the Employment Register kept by Statistics Finland.
Reference period: Data refer to information for the whole year. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: THL Health Personnel Statistics; National Institute for Health and Welfare. The data
are based on the Employment Register kept by Statistics Finland.
Reference period: Data refer to information for the whole year.
Coverage: Data include nurses active in health care in Finland.

France

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: ASIP- RPPS (Repertoire Partage des Professionnels de Sante).
http://esante.gouv.fr/espace-cps/editeurs/le-rpps.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Data refer to metropolitan France and D.O.M. (overseas departments).
- The data only refer to midwives providing direct care to patients. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Ministere de la Sante et des Sports - Direction de la Recherche, des Etudes, de
l'Evaluation et des Statistiques (DREES), Sous-Direction de l'Observation de la Sante et de
l'Assurance maladie, Bureau des Professions de sante, Repertoire ADELI.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Data refer to metropolitan France and D.O.M. (overseas departments).
- The data represent all active nurses, including those working in the administration, etc.
- Nursing assistants (?aide-soignantes?) are not included.
Break in time series:
- The decrease in 2007 reflects an adjustment in the ADELI file.

Georgia

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Data are based on annual statistical reports collected from health establishments to
the Ministry of Health and include both, public and private sectors and also facilities working
under other Ministries, such as Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of
Defence.
Reference period: 31 December 2012

Coverage: The provided data cover all regions except separatist regions, Abkhazia and South Osetia.
Data for those two regions are unavailable. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Data are based on annual statistical reports collected from health establishments to
the Ministry of Health and include both, public and private sectors and also facilities working
under other Ministries, such as Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of
Defence.
Reference period: 31 December 2012
Coverage: The provided data cover all regions except separatist regions, Abkhazia and South Osetia.
Data for those two regions are unavailable.
Note: 15% decrease in 2012 is due to an essential change of the data collection tool related to the
health human resources.

Germany

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Germany

Source of data: Federal Statistical Office, Health Care Personnel 2011, data released January 2013;
special calculation by the Federal Statistical Office, http://www.destatis.de or
http://www.gbe-bund.de.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Data (head-counts) contain the number of midwives actively practising in public and private
hospitals, primary health care and other health facilities including self-employed. They provide
services directly to patients.
- Excluded are midwives working in administration, research and in other posts excluding direct
contact with patients, midwives working abroad, unemployed and retired midwives and students who
have not yet graduated.
- From 2000 onwards, data from Health Care Personnel have been completely revised. Therefore
comparable data before 2000 is not available. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Germany

Source of data: Federal Statistical Office, Health Care Personnel 2011, data released January 2013;
special calculation by the Federal Statistical Office, http://www.destatis.de or
http://www.gbe-bund.de.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Data include professional nurses with a 3-year education and associate professional nurses with a
1-year education.
- Data (head-counts) contain the number of nurses actively practising in public or private
hospitals, primary health care and other health facilities including self-employed. They provide
services directly to patients.
- Excluded are nurses working in administration, research and in other posts excluding direct
contact with patients, nurses working abroad, unemployed and retired nurses and students who have
not yet graduated.
- Also excluded are midwives and nurses for the elderly with a 3-year education coded with 3460
ISCO-88COM.
- From 2000 onwards data from Health Care Personnel have been completely revised. Therefore
comparable data before 2000 are not available.

Greece

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: Hellenic Statistical Authority (EL.STAT.).
Reference period: 31st December. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Hellenic Statistical Authority (EL.STAT.).
Coverage: Figures refer to nurses working in hospital sector (public and private hospitals) and to
nursing personnel (including nurses, midwives and health visitors) working in Public Health Centers.

Hungary

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Hungarian Central Statistical Office; Report on personnel of health service.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage: From 1991, only persons who completed a midwifery educational programme are included.
Break in time series: 1991.
Note: In 2007, the number of obstetrics and gynaecology hospital beds was reduced (from 1949 in 2006
to 1599 in 2007). This is the cause for the reduction in the number of midwifes. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data : Hungarian Central Statistical Office; Report on personnel of health service.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage: From 1990: The report was made according to the 1990 account of the Central Statistical
Office ?Number of posts and the staff of ancillary workers by activity?. Nurse definition as of
ISCO 88 (code 2230 and code 323) includes qualified nurses and associate nurses. Midwives are
excluded. Caring personnel are excluded (ISCO 88 (code 5132) dieteticians, assistants, nursing).

Iceland

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Directorate of Health.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Midwives: 18 months of university education after completion of a nursing degree.
- Figures refer to midwives within hospitals, healthcare centers and nursing homes.
- Practising midwives - may refer more to professionally active midwives (but the group of
non-practising midwives is small).
- The peak in 2001 is due to ?change of source and methodology?.
- Year 2011. The peak cannot be explained fully but we will add the note ® estimate ¯ with the
figure of 2011.
The Directorate of Health that supplies the data uses data from the Association of Midwives and in
2012 a special work was conducted on its behalf on the number of midwives and hence the figure for
2012 is considered right. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Directorate of Health and Association of Icelandic Nurses.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Professional nurses: Four years of university education leading to a B.Sc. degree.
- Associate/Licensed practical nurses: Three years of education in secondary school (non-university)
and 16 weeks of practical training in health institutions. ÿ
- Figures refer to nurses who are members of The Association of Icelandic Nurses and associate
practical nurses who are members of the Icelandic Union of Practical Nurses.

Ireland

Midwives metadata:
No data for any midwife category. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: FAS / Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) analysis of CSO Quarterly
National Household Survey (QNHS) data (labour force survey).
http://www.skillsireland.ie/publication/egfsnSearch.jsp - National Skills Bulletin.
Reference period: Data are expressed as the annual average (average of four quarters).
Coverage:
- Data include midwives. It is not possible to distinguish between nurses and midwives as virtually
all registered midwives also hold registered nursing qualifications.
- Data include those working in both the public and private sectors.
Break in time series: Until 2009, the QNHS was conducted on seasonal quarters (first quarter
starting in December). Since 2009, the QNHS has been conducted on a calendar quarter basis. Also,
since 2009 an updated EU Classification of industrial sectors (NACE rev 2) was used.
Break in Series 2011: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) moved from using the Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) 1990 to the SOC 2010 in 2011.

Israel

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Israel

Source of data: The data are based on the Midwives License Registry maintained by the Nursing
Division and the Health Information Division in the Ministry of Health, for which the demographic
information is periodically updated from the Population Registry at the Ministry of Interior.
Reference period: End of the year.
Coverage: Data are for licensed midwives under age 65. The number of midwives is not included in the
number of nurses.
Note: The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant
Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the
Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of
international law. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Israel

Source of data: The data are based on the Labour Force Survey which is conducted routinely by the
Central Bureau of Statistics and includes persons who had worked for at least one hour during the
week before the survey, for pay, profit or other consideration. Occupation is determined by the type
of work performed by the interviewed person at his place of work, without regard to what he studied
if his work is not in that field. The classification of occupations is based on the classification
of the International Labour Office (ILO): International Standard Classification of Occupations ISCO
88.
Coverage:
- The data are for all nurses.
- The sample of practising nurses is relatively small and therefore the data are subject to large
variations due to sample errors and wide confidence intervals. Any data analysis should be carried
out with caution.
Estimation method: Moving average of three years (numbers for previous, current and next years) was
made in order to diminish the fluctuations in the numbers. For example, the number of practicing
nurses in 1996 is an average of 1995-1997. The number for 2011 is an average of 2010-2012.
Break in time series: From January 2012, the Central Bureau of Statistics has made a transition from
a quarterly system of measuring labour force characteristics to a new and improved system that
better suits the latest international recommendations on employment and unemployment - Monthly
Labour Force Survey. Therefore the 2012 (original) data refer to the entire labour force (including
the military service) and not to the civilian labour force, as it was before.
Further information:
http://www.cbs.gov.il/publications/labour_survey04/labour_force_survey/answer_question_e_2012.pdf.
Note: The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant
Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the
Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of
international law.

Italy

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: ISTAT, Labour Force Survey. http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/8263.
Reference period: Annual average.
Coverage: Sample survey.
Estimation method: Estimation from the sample survey. Data are subject to variations due to the
sample size. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: ISTAT, Labour Force Survey. http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/8263.
Reference period: Annual average.
Coverage: Sample survey.
- Data include professionally active professional nurses. In the Italian regulatory system, the
category ?Associate professional nurses? does not exist.
Estimation method: Estimation from the sample survey. Data are subject to variations due to the
sample size.

Kazakhstan

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Note: Division on Professional and Associate professional midwives does not exist in the country
Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Note: Division on Professional and Associate professional nurses does not exist in the country

Kyrgyzstan

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
NA Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
NA

Latvia

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data:
- Since 2005: Health Inspectorate of Latvia; Medical Persons' Register.
- 2004 and earlier: Health Statistics and Medical Technologies State Agency; Statistical Report
No.17 \Report About Medical Staff\".
Reference period: 31 December.
Break in series: 2005: Change in data source. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data:
- Since 2005: Health Inspectorate of Latvia; Medical Persons' Register.
- 2004 and earlier: Health Statistics and Medical Technologies State Agency; Statistical Report
No.17 \"Report About Medical Staff\".
Reference period: 31 December.
Break in series: 2005: Change in data source."

Lithuania

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Health Information Centre of Institute of Hygiene, data of entire annual survey of
health establishments. Report ?Health Statistics of Lithuania?, available from
http://sic.hi.lt/html/en/hsl.htm.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage: The number of practising midwives at the end of the year includes all professionally
active midwives excluding those working in administration, health education and research. Nurses
metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Health Information Centre of Institute of Hygiene, data of entire annual survey of
health establishments. Report ?Health Statistics of Lithuania?, available from
http://sic.hi.lt/html/en/hsl.htm
Reference period: 31st December
Coverage: The number of practising nurses at the end of the year includes all professionally active
nurses excluding those working in administration, health education and research.

Luxembourg

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Direction de la Sante - Service des statistiques. Register of doctors and health
professionals.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Head counts.
- Practising midwives; midwives who do not work in direct contact with patients (laboratories,
administration, R&D, etc) are excluded.
- Data should be considered with care due to methodological issues encountered during census series
concerning midwives, nurses and pharmacists.
Break in time series: 2003 and 2005 due to adjustments to the methodology. Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Direction de la Sante - Service des statistiques. Register of doctors and health
professionals.
Coverage:
- Head counts.
- Since 2010: Nurses working in administration and research have been excluded.
- Data should be considered with care due to methodological issues encountered during census series
concerning midwives, nurses and pharmacists.
Break in time series: 2003 and 2005, and 2010.
- 2003 and 2005 due to adjustments to the methodology.

Malta

Midwives metadata:
Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data:
- Starting from 2009 data was collected by the Department of Health Information and Research from
all establishments and departmen

Monaco

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives. NA
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses. NA

Montenegro

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: The source for all data submitted is the Institute of Public Health. Some additional information can be found in Health Statistical Yearbooks available at http://www.ijzcg.me/
Reference period: December 31st.
Coverage: Only data from the public sector.
Deviation from the definition: Data for practicing midwives and professionally active midwives cannot be split at the moment.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: The source for all data submitted is the Institute of Public Health. Some additional information can be found in Health Statistical Yearbooks available at http://www.ijzcg.me/
Reference period: December 31st.
Coverage: Only data from the public sector.
Deviation from the definition: Midwives are excluded but only for 2010, Laboratory technicians are included from 2005 till 2011or 2010, but not for previous years. Physiotherapy technicians are included for 20110 and also for previous years. Data for practicing nurses and professionally active nurses cannot be split at the moment. The category associate professional nurses does not exist.

Netherlands

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Netherlands Institute for Research of Primary Health Care (NIVEL).
Reference period: 31 December.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Social Statistical Database of Statistics Netherlands, BIG register (official register of health care professionals) plus estimates (see coverage).
Reference period: The last Friday before Christmas.
Coverage:
- Practising nurses are estimated by calculating all registered nurses who are economically active in ISIC / NACE 86, 87, 88 or 7820 (working for temporary employment agencies) (85 and 7450 in ISIC 3 or NACE 1) multiplied by a factor (number of nurses in a function as nurse / number of employees with education as a nurse). That factor is derived from the Report Regiomarge on the labour market in Health Care, Social Care and Welfare by Prismant.
- The same report provides the shares of professional and associate professional nurses.

North Macedonia

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: Institute for Public Health –Skopje. Report for health staff in health sector (3-00-60)..
Reference period: 31st December.
Note: Starting from 2008, midwifery education becomes university-level education (instead of secondary school level).
Nurses metadata: Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Institute for Public Health –Skopje. Report for health staff in health sector (3-00-60).
Reference period: 31st December.

Norway

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Statistics Norway, Register-based statistics on employment of health-care personnel. See http://www.ssb.no/hesospers_en/.
Reference period: 3rd week of November.
Coverage: The figures provided give the number of practising midwives within HP1-HP3. There is no guarantee that these professionals actually work in patient care as data refer to the education the individuals have rather than the job they hold within HP 1-3. 2011 and onwards: Practising midwives include midwives providing services directly to patients.
Break in time series: 2011.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Statistics Norway, Statistics on health-care personnel. Administrative registers. See http://www.ssb.no/hesospers_en/.
Reference period: 3rd week of November.
Coverage: The figures provided give the number of practising nursing within HP1-HP3. There is no guarantee that these professionals actually work in patient care as data refer to the education the nurses have rather than the job they hold within HP 1-3. 2011 and onwards: Practising nurses include nurses providing services directly to patients.
Break in time series: 2011.

Poland

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Ministry of Health and from 2004 the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the Ministry of National Defence.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage: Data regarding midwives are based on head counts. Midwives are counted in the main workplace. The categories “Midwifery associate professionals” or “Nurses working as midwives” do not exist in Poland.
- Since 2004, data from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Interior and Administration.
- Since 2004, midwives working in private medical offices as a main workplace.
- Foreign midwives licensed to practice and actively practising in the country.
- Since 2004, teaching and administration staff is excluded.
Break in time series: 2004. Since 2004, midwives working primarily in education and administration are excluded, and midwives working in private medical offices as well as midwifes employed by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior and Administration are included. Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior and Administration, Ministry of National Defence and Central Statistical Office.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage: Data regarding nurses are based on head counts. Nurses are counted in the main workplace. Nurses working in nurseries include midwives. Nurses working in prisons are excluded.
Breaks in time series:
- Sine 2004: Nurses working in private medical offices as a main workplace are included, as well as nurses working in the Ministries of National Defence and Interior and Administration.
- Since 2005: Nurses working in facilities of stationary social welfare and in nurseries are included.
Note: The category “Associate Professional Nurse” does not exist in Poland.

Portugal

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: Statistics Portugal and the Council of Nurses.
Coverage:
- Data for midwives in Portugal refer to nurses specialised in Maternal Health and Obstetrics.
- Maternal Health and Obstetrics is currently a nursing specialty.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Statistics Portugal and the Council of Nurses.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Becoming legally permitted to nurse is dependent on getting a professional license from the Council of Nurses.
- All nurses are registered by place of activity. Non-practising nurses are excluded.
- The number of nurses excludes the number of midwives (nurses specialised in Maternal Health and Obstetrics).
- Data include all active nurses licensed to practice. They include nurses working in administration, management, research and in other posts that exclude direct contact with patients.
Deviation from the definition:
- Nurses who hold a post / job under which nursing education is not required are not excluded.

Republic of Moldova

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova, National Centre for Health Management, Annual statistical report N17 “On staff and cadres of health institutions”. http://cnms.md/areas/statistics/anyar/.
Reference period: Data as of December 31.
Coverage: Data exclude Transnistria.
Deviation from the definition: Foreign midwives are not included.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova, National Centre for Health Management, Annual statistical report N17 “On staff and cadres of health institutions”. http://cnms.md/areas/statistics/anyar/.
Reference period: Data as of December 31.
Coverage: Data exclude Transnistria.
Deviation from the definition: Foreign nurses are not included. Feldshers are included.

Romania

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives. Source of data: Ministry of Health for all by 2007 data National Institute of Statistics, Activity of Sanitary Units – annual survey performed by NIS.
Reference period: data as of 31st December.
Coverage:
- Only the Ministry of Health network, by 2007.
- All public and private sectors since 2007.
- Until 2007 midwives working in administration, research and in other posts that exclude direct contact with patients could not be totally excluded.
Break in the series: 2007. The number of midwives includes, also, practising nurses with specialized education (upper secondary ISCED level 3 and post-secondary non-tertiary ISCED level 4) working in obstetrics and gynecology departments and midwives with university degree (tertiary education, ISCED level 5) Nurses metadata:
Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: National Institute of Statistics, Activity of Sanitary Units – annual survey performed by NIS.
Reference period: data as of 31st December.
Coverage: The data cover public and private sector. Data from 2000 till 2009 refers to ancillary medical staff. Since 2010 the data refer only to nurses. The ancillary medical staff includes: medical assistants, pharmacy assistants, nurses, infant care personnel, sanitary technicians, laboratory assistants, registering clerks, masseur, autopsy assistant and statistician specialised in health statistics, medical physical trainer, ergo therapy trainer and other categories of medical staff with equivalent upper secondary level of education. The data include also associated nurses from dentists units and pharmaceutical units. It would be specified that for midwives and nurses the level of education is ISCED 3 or 4 and ISCO codes are 3231 and 3232.
Until 2007 ancillary medical staff working in administration, research and in other posts that exclude direct contact with patients could not be totally excluded.
Number of nurses decreased in 2010 because in the period 2000-2009 data refer to ancillary medical staff (see definition above).
Break in the series: 2010.

Russian Federation

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives. NA
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses. NA

San Marino

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Human Resources Office at the Social Security Institute.
Coverage: Data include only public sector’ health professionals.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Human Resources Office at the Social Security Institute.
Coverage: Data include only public sector’ health professionals.

Serbia

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: Institute of Public Health of Serbia, National register on health care human resources. http://www.batut.org.rs/
Reference period: 31st December
Coverage: Data for Kosovo-Metohija province are not included in the coverage of data for the Republic of Serbia. Data from health institutions under the other ministries (military services, prisons, social services) than the Ministry of Health are not included. Data from private health sector are not included. Nurses metadata: Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Institute of Public Health of Serbia, National register on health care human resources. http://www.batut.org.rs/
Reference period: 31st December
Coverage: Data for Kosovo-Metohija province are not included in the coverage of data for the Republic of Serbia. Data from health institutions under the other ministries (military services, prisons, social services) than the Ministry of Health are not included. Data from private health sector are not included.
Note: 17% decrease in 2005 is due to “rationalization” of the number of employees, which offered early retirement,

Slovakia

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: National Health Information Center.
- There is no register of nurses and midwives in the Slovak Republic. The data come from “The Annual report on structure and number of health professionals and health care workers in the Slovak Republic”, therefore, only data on professionally active midwives are provided.
Reference period: 31st December.
Break in time series: The increase in the number of professionally active midwives in 2002 is due to change in methodology of statistical finding in accordance with Act No 156 / 2002 (due to change of classification of midwife category).
Note: There is no distinction between professional and associate professional midwives in the Slovak Republic. All midwives are reported in the category professional midwives.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: National Health Information Center.
- There is no register of nurses and midwives in the Slovak Republic. The data come from “The Annual report on structure and number of health professionals and health care workers in the Slovak Republic”, therefore, only data on professionally active nurses are provided.
Reference period: 31st December.
Break in time series: Employees of denationalised establishments emerging during the process of privatisation have been included in the statistical databases since 1998.

Slovenia

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: The National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, National Health Care Providers Database.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Practising midwives are those working in the health-care sector (primary and secondary care) including public health institutes and the health insurance institute.
- The National Health Care Providers Database is a registry with total (100 %) coverage of health workers. Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: The National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, National Health Care Providers Database.
Reference period: 31st December.
Coverage:
- Practising nurses are those working in the health-care sector (primary and secondary care), including public health institutes and the health insurance institute.
- The National Health Care Providers Database is a registry with total (100 %) coverage of health workers.

Spain

Midwives metadata: Data refers to licensed midwives.
Source of data: National Statistics Institute (INE), from the Register of Nurses Council. http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=/t15/p416&file=inebase&L=0.
Reference period: Data as of December 31.
Coverage:
- In Spain, the midwifery educational programme is a specialty of nursing education.
- Data include midwives “licensed to practice” and who are registered in the Nurses Council. Therefore, in addition to practising midwives, data may include midwives who are not economically active in the country (non-practising, retired professionals).
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: National Statistics Institute (INE), based on the Economically Active Population Survey. http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=/t22/e308_mnu&file=inebase&N=&L=0.
Reference period: Annual average.
Coverage: A significant revision of the numbers of nurses in previous years has been made in 2010 due to a clarification of definitions. The Spanish Working Group for the adaptation of ISCO-08 to our own classifications (CNO-11) determined that Spanish health professionals fit as follows:
A) The category 'associate professional nurses' (ISCO-08 code 3221) does not exist in Spain, so these series have been completely corrected.
B) The nursing aides working in Spain correspond entirely to the group 5 of the ISCO classification (ISCO-08 codes 5321, 5322) based on the tasks and functions they perform. Therefore, based on these criteria, the series for practising nurses, professionally active nurses, associate professional nurses and caring personnel have been updated in 2010 for the period 1995-2008.
- The data exclusively include professional nurses ( midwives included) who are actively practising nursing in the health sector. The number of practising nurses was obtained by calculating the number of nurses employed in the health sector according to NACE rev.2 (chapter Q) since 2009, and similarly with NACE Rev.1 and NACE Rev.1.1 before 2009.
- Data analysis over time should be carried out with caution. Data are obtained from a survey and fluctuations in the data can occur for a number of reasons, one of them being the sampling errors. These variations can lead to false assumptions about trends. We advise users of time series data to carefully explore the relevant issues before drawing any conclusions about the reasons for year-on-year changes.
- Up to 2010, the data by occupation are classified according to the National Occupations Classification (CNO-94 Spain code 272), the Spanish equivalence of ISCO-88, code 2230.
- From 2011 onwards data are classified according to CNO-11 Spain, code 212. The CNO-11 code 212 is the Spanish equivalence of ISCO-08 code 222 (nursing and midwifery professionals).
- The figures of practising midwives are not available, and it is not possible to subtract them from the total number of practising professional nurses.
- A university degree of 3 years is required to qualify as a nurse. Deviation from the definition: Data include midwives.

Sweden

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: National Board of Health and Welfare, National Planning Support (NPS) register.
Reference period: 1st November.
Coverage:
In addition to the NACE-codes used to identify practicing midwives the NACE-codes:
75.1 - Public authorities
80.3 - Higher education establishments are used to identify professional active midwives
- 100 per cent coverage.
Nurses metadata: No data for any nurse category.

Switzerland

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: FSO Federal Statistical Office, Neuchatel, hospital statistics, yearly census.
Coverage: Midwives working in hospitals. The ambulatory health care sector is not yet covered.
Estimation method: Until 2009, estimations were made with data on professions from 75% of hospitals. Hospitals giving valid information on professions are reasonably assumed to be representative of the whole category (university hospitals, acute hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and other specialised hospitals).
Break in time series:
- 1980, 1990 and 2000: Population Census Data.
- Since 2005, practising midwives in hospitals are included.
- Since 2010, hospital statistics have been revised, no estimation needed.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: FSO Federal Statistical Office, Neuchatel, hospital statistics, statistics of medical-social institutions, community nursing statistics, yearly census.
Coverage: Annual full surveys on employment in hospitals, nursing homes and community nursing home services. The ambulatory health care sector is not yet covered.
Estimation method: Until 2009, estimations were made with data on professions from 75% of hospitals. Hospitals giving valid information on professions are reasonably assumed to be representative of the whole category (university hospitals, acute hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and other specialised hospitals).
Break in time series: Since 2010, hospital statistics have been revised, no estimation needed.

Tajikistan

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives. NA
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses. NA

Türkiye

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data:
- From 2000 onwards: General Directorate for Health Services, Ministry of Health.
- Up to 1999: Health Statistics Yearbook - Ministry of Health.
Coverage:
- Total number of midwives in the MoH, university, and private sectors. MOD-affiliated facilities are not included.
- Since 2010, data also include midwives in the Other Sector.
- Unemployed and retired midwives, midwives working abroad and students who have not yet graduated from school are not included.
- The small number of midwives working in administration is included.
- A quantitative increase was noted in the employment of midwives in 2006-2007 period.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data:
- From 2000 onwards: General Directorate for Health Services, Ministry of Health.
- Up to 1999: Health Statistics Yearbook - Ministry of Health.
Coverage:
- Total number of nurses in the MoH, university and private sectors. MOD-affiliated facilities are not included.
- Since 2010, data also include nurses in the “Other” Sector.
- Nurses who work abroad, who are retired/unemployed or who have not graduated from schools yet are not included.
- Nurses acting as managers are included.
- Midwives are excluded, even if some of them act as nurses in Turkey.

Turkmenistan

Midwives metadata: Data refers to professionally active midwives.
Source of data: Report from of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. ? 17 “Health employment”
Reference period: 31 December.
Coverage: Includes data from institutions under the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, data from other Ministries or sectors not included.
Note: a 58% decrease in numbers of professionally active midwives in 2004 is a consequence of the state programme Health on re-organization of the health institutions with the purpose of rational use of human resources for health in the country.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to professionally active nurses.
Source of data: Report form of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. ? 17 “Health employment”
Reference period: 31 December.
Coverage: Includes data from institutions under the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, data from other Ministries or sectors not included.
Note: a 34% decrease in numbers of professionally active nurses in 2004 is a consequence of the state programme Health on re-organization of the health institutions with the purpose of rational use of human resources for health in the country.

Ukraine

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source: Centre of Health Statistics, Ministry of Health.
Coverage: Since 2009, data includes public and private sector.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source: Centre of Health Statistics, Ministry of Health
Coverage: Since 2009, data includes public and private sector. Before 1996 included all 'mid-personnel' (all nursing, nursing auxiliaries and paramedical staff). From 1996 onwards, different definition is applied: Only nurses, feldschers and midwives are included.

United Kingdom

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data:
- England: Health & Social Care Information Centre: http://www.hscic.gov.uk.
- Wales: Welsh Assembly Government: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/theme/health/?lang=en.
- Scotland: Information Services Division, Scottish Workforce Information Standard System.
- Northern Ireland: Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research.
Reference period: As at 30th September.
Coverage:
- Does not include private sector.
- Scotland: Time series from 2000 re-submitted with revised methodology. It is now possible to differentiate between qualified and unqualified nurses using AfC bandings. Therefore, unqualified nurses have been removed from data.
- Northern Ireland: Data exclude bank, agency staff and staff on career breaks. Midwives are registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council after completing either a degree or Diploma in Midwifery or an 18 month pre-registration course if already a registered nurse.
- Wales: Data exclude bank staff.
Deviation from the definition:
- Scotland: Data will exclude some midwives with low level qualifications that may fall under the definition of associate midwives. Data include midwives with Agenda for Change bands 5-9. Therefore, the Scotland figure is likely to be an undercount compared to the definition. Estimation method:
- Wales: Data prior to 2008 are estimates. Between 2007 and 2008, there was a large reduction in headcount numbers for non-medical staff in Wales, as records with whole-time equivalent (WTE) equal to 0 had been revised. This decrease was due to improvements in data quality, not a reduction in staff numbers, and 2008 headcounts are more accurate than previous figures. Therefore, the ratio between headcounts and WTE numbers for the affected staff categories in 2008 were calculated. These ratios were then applied to WTE figures for years prior to 2008 to produce estimates for those years.
- Wales: 2012 - Welsh data were not available in time for this collection, so the previous year’s figure was used instead. This will be updated with the correct data in next year’s collection.
- Scotland: Data for 2006 has been estimated based on an average of the figures from 2005 and 2007.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data:
- England: Health & Social Care Information Centre: http://www.hscic.gov.uk.
- Wales: Welsh Assembly Government: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/theme/health/?lang=en.
- Scotland: Information Services Division, Scottish Workforce Information Standard System.
- Northern Ireland: Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research.
Coverage:
- Does not include private sector.
- Data for professional and associate professional nurses available for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland only.
- Due to Methodological changes in Scottish data which could not be resolved in the time available, the time series from before 2007 has been removed pending further investigation. The outcome of this investigation will determine whether the timeseries can be rebuilt in time for the next collection.
- Scotland: For 2007-2012, Professional nurses are categorised as those with Agenda for Change bands 5-9 and Associate professional nurses those with Agenda for Change bands 1-4.
- Northern Ireland: ‘Total nurses’ includes qualified and nurse support staff, ‘Professional nurses’ includes qualified nurses only and ‘Associate Professional nurses’ include nurse support staff (nursing auxiliary roles). Data in general exclude bank and agency staff as well as staff on career breaks. Nurses are qualified following either a 3 year programme leading to registration as a nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Council or a Diploma/Degree in Nursing Sciences in one of the following areas: adult, mental health, learning disability or children’s nursing. There are no n

Uzbekistan

Midwives metadata: Data refers to practising midwives.
Source of data: Institute of Health and Medical Statistics, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, reporting form 15-SSV “Report on Health personnel by categories”.
Reference period: 31 December.
Coverage: data include personnel working within the system of the Ministry of Health only.
Nurses metadata: Data refers to practising nurses.
Source of data: Institute of Health and Medical Statistics, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, reporting form 15-SSV “Report on Health personnel by categories”.
Reference period: 31 December.
Coverage: data include personnel working within the system of the Ministry of Health only.