The number of older adults in South Korea suffering from Alzheimer’s disease has reached nearly one in 10, with projections indicating that the total number of dementia patients will exceed 1 million by next year, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Wednesday.
As of 2025, the country has 970,000 dementia patients, accounting for 9.17% of individuals aged 65 and older. The figure is expected to surpass 1 million in 2026 and could potentially exceed 2 million by 2044.
The ministry’s report highlights that, although the prevalence of dementia cases has increased, the proportion of older adults affected has decreased slightly from 9.5% in 2016. This reduction is attributed to improvements in education and overall health among the elderly population.
A ministry official noted, “The proportion of dementia cases among older individuals is expected to stabilize around 10% through 2045, with a projected rise to 12-13% by 2059.”
In response to the growing number of dementia patients, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced plans to implement additional support measures aimed at alleviating the financial and caregiving burdens faced by families of those with dementia.
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