Global Dementia Statistics

It is important to note that these figures are based on the number of people with a diagnosis of dementia. Diagnosis remains inconsistent across the world with many people going without a recognised diagnosis of dementia. As such the figure below could possibly be higher.

  • It is estimated that 55 million people worldwide are experiencing dementia
  • 3.9 million people are diagnosed with young onset dementia (those aged under 65)
  • It is estimated that by 2050 the number of people with dementia will rise to 139 million
  • There are over 10 million new cases of dementia each year
  • That equates to approximately one new case every 3.2 seconds

  • The global cost of dementia is estimated to be 1.9 trillion dollars
  • That figure is to rise to 2.8 trillion by 2030

  • There are 89 billion hours of informal care delivered every year this includes supporting with a persons activities of daily living
  • There are 133 billion hours of informal care provided when supervision is factored in
  • All of these hours of informal care would require 67 million full time workers

Please click on the next lesson to explore Ireland’s dementia statistics