Objective To evaluate the fairness in nursing human resource allocation in Anhui province from 2009 to 2017, and to provide empirical evidence for optimization of allocation of nursing human resources in Anhui province, improvement in fairness of medical and health services, and for decision-making of authorities. Methods Descriptive analysis, Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient and Theil index were adopted to assess the fairness of nursing human resource allocation in Anhui province from 2009 to 2017 and its changing pattern. Results From 2009 to 2017, the number of registered nurses, registered nurses per 1 000 residents and the proportion of registered nurses in health technicians in Anhui province showed an upward trend. From 2009 to 2017, the Gini coefficient of registered nurses in Anhui province in terms of population distribution was below 0.30, The Gini coefficient calculated by geographical area ranged from 0.31 to 0.38. The total Thiel index was 0.014-0.058, the interregional Thiel index was 0.002-0.011, and the regional Thiel index was 0.011-0.048. Conclusion From 2009 to 2017, the capacity of nursing human resources in Anhui province increased, but the allocation level was seriously low, and the structure was not reasonable. Fairness in nursing human resources allocation gradually improved, and fairness indexes calculated by population was better than calculated by geograp-hical area. Regional difference was the main cause of unfair allocation of nursing human resources. Fairness in northern Anhui was lower than in center of and southern Anhui.