Ontario’s RN-to-population ratio is dropping.

According to data obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, in 2016 Ontario had just 703 registered nurses (RN) per 100,000 people.

In fact, Ontario currently has its lowest RN-to-population ratio since 2004, and the lowest RN-to-population ratio in Canada. Ontario's steadily dropping RN-to-population ratio provides a direct measure of access to RN care. As the ratio falls, the number of people each RN must care for increases.

See the full backgrounder attached below for more information on the need for more RNs in Ontario, as well as the RN-to-population ratio.