Which states have the most nurses, per capita?

The District of Columbia holds the highest ratio of nurses to population, to a significant degree, at 7.14 per 100 residents, while Utah has the lowest, at 1.38, according to a Becker’s analysis.

The analysis is based on U.S. Census Bureau state population estimates as of July 1, 2024, and active registered nurse and practical nurse license counts from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing database. The number of nurses per 100 residents was calculated by dividing the total number of active licenses in each state by its population and multiplying by 100. In California, the total reflects RN and vocational nurse licenses, rather than PN.

The list below is ranked lowest to highest in terms of nurses per 100 people and reflects the total number of active RN and PN (or vocational nurse) licenses in each state.

Utah — 1.38
Washington — 1.50
Idaho — 1.54
Georgia — 1.57
Wyoming — 1.61
Arizona — 1.66
Colorado — 1.68
Texas — 1.68
Virginia — 1.70
North Carolina — 1.71
Maryland — 1.72
New Mexico — 1.73
California — 1.75 (RN + VN)
Oklahoma — 1.77
New Jersey — 1.83
South Carolina — 1.85
Florida — 1.89
Michigan — 1.99
Kentucky — 2.01
Vermont — 2.02

Tennessee — 2.03
Arkansas — 2.04
Alabama — 2.08
Iowa — 2.09
Kansas — 2.12
Illinois — 2.15
Maine — 2.17
New Hampshire — 2.20
Missouri — 2.22
Nevada — 2.25
Oregon — 2.28
Indiana — 2.30
Mississippi — 2.31
Wisconsin — 2.39
Hawaii — 2.40
Delaware — 2.46
Pennsylvania — 2.46
Ohio — 2.46
Rhode Island — 2.16
South Dakota — 2.49
Montana — 2.50
North Dakota — 2.58
Connecticut — 2.60
Massachusetts — 2.64
Minnesota — 2.71
Alaska — 2.99
New York — 3.00
District of Columbia — 7.14

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