Objective To analyze the current situation of nursing human resources allocation in China from 2012 to 2021, so as to provide decision-making reference for the optimal allocation of nursing human resources and the high-quality development of nur-sing career in China.Methods Utilizing relevant data from China Health Statistics Yearbook and China Statistical Yearbook from 2012-2021, the number of registered nurses, the ratio of registered nurses to health technicians, the ratio of medical care, the ratio of beds to nurses, and the number of registered nurses per 1,000 population were used as indicators.The clustering and rank-sum ratio methods were used to comprehensively evaluate the current situation of the allocation of nursing human resources in China.Results The number of registered nurses, the number of registered nurses per 1,000 population, the ratio of healthcare to nur-sing, the ratio of beds to nurses, and the ratio of nurses to healthcare technicians showed a positive growth trend in the country from 2012 to 2021.The HRAD/PAD values in the eastern region were all greater than 1 from 2012 to 2019, but less than 1 from 2020 to 2021. The HRAD/PAD value of the central region in ten years was less than 1. The HRAD/PAD value of the western region in 2012-2016 was less than 1, and greater than 1in 2017-2021. In 2021, China′s nursing human resources status was divi-ded into low, below medium, medium and high 4 grades according to the rank-sum ratio method.Conclusion The total amount of nursing human resources in China has been growing steadily, but there is still much room for development, and the internal structure needs to be optimized. The allocation of nursing human resources in the east, middle and west is in a reasonable state as a whole, but there are regional differences, and there is an urgent need for balance in the comprehensive level of nursing human resources in some provinces and regions.