Over 1 Million Dementia Patients Expected Next Year... Over 20% Among Those Aged 85 and Older

Over 1 Million Dementia Patients Expected in 2025, Surpassing 2 Million by 2044
Prevalence Higher Among Women Than Men, and in Rural Areas Compared to Urban Areas

The number of dementia patients in South Korea is expected to exceed 1 million next year. The prevalence of dementia begins to rise sharply from age 75 and surpasses 20% in those aged 85 and older. The annual cost required to manage one dementia patient in the community is 17.34 million KRW, while the cost of care in facilities or hospitals reaches 31.38 million KRW.

On the 12th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the results of the "2023 Dementia Epidemiological Survey." This dementia survey is the first legally mandated survey. It was conducted to identify dementia patients in connection with the dementia epidemiological survey, understand the caregiving status of patients and their families, and measure the disease burden.

According to the survey, the number of dementia patients and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) showed a steady increasing trend due to population aging. The number of dementia patients in 2025 is estimated to be 970,000 (prevalence rate 9.17%), with the number surpassing 1 million in 2026 and 2 million in 2044.

The number of individuals diagnosed with MCI, who are at high risk of dementia, is expected to increase rapidly. MCI refers to a state where memory, language ability, and orientation are objectively impaired as confirmed by tests, but the ability to perform daily activities is preserved, meaning it is not dementia. The number of MCI diagnoses is projected to reach 2.98 million (prevalence rate 28.12%) in 2025 and enter 4 million by 2033. Previously, the 2016 survey predicted 2.36 million MCI diagnoses in 2025 and 4.03 million in 2040.

Ministry of Health and Welfare

The prevalence of dementia slightly decreased, while the prevalence of MCI increased. According to the survey, the prevalence of dementia among elderly people aged 65 and older in 2023 was 9.25%, down 0.25 percentage points from 9.50% in 2016. Conversely, the prevalence of MCI was 28.42%, up 6.17 percentage points from 22.25% in 2016.

The change in dementia prevalence is attributed primarily to the aging of the first baby boom generation (1955?1963). Starting in 2020, those born in 1955, the first baby boom cohort, reached age 65, increasing the population aged 65 and older by about 2.68 million compared to the 2016 epidemiological survey. The Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates that this demographic shift contributed to the decrease in dementia prevalence.

The increase in MCI prevalence is influenced by the refinement of diagnostic criteria for dementia and MCI. Early diagnosis became possible at the MCI stage, and the activation of early dementia screening allowed diagnosis before progression to dementia. Improvements in the health status of the elderly and preventive management of dementia are also thought to have delayed progression to dementia, lowering dementia prevalence while raising MCI prevalence. Additionally, dementia prevalence was found to be higher with increasing age, among women compared to men, in rural areas compared to urban areas, in single-person households compared to family or cohabiting households, and among those with lower educational levels.

Age-specific dementia prevalence begins to rise sharply from age 75 and exceeds 20% in those aged 85 and older. Regional dementia prevalence was 5.5% in dong (urban neighborhoods) and 9.4% in eup/myeon (towns and townships), and 3.8% in metropolitan cities and 8.5% in provinces, showing higher prevalence in rural areas than urban areas. Dementia prevalence by household type was 10% in single-person households, significantly higher than 5.2% in households with a spouse and other cohabitants, and 4.9% in households with a spouse only. By education level, prevalence was highest among those with no formal education at 21.3%, followed by high school graduates at 2.6%, and university graduates or higher at 1.4%.

Ministry of Health and Welfare

The policy most needed by dementia patients and their caregiving families was economic cost reduction. The annual care cost per dementia patient was 17.34 million KRW in the community and 31.38 million KRW in facilities or hospitals. Notably, the proportion of caregiving costs was higher than healthcare costs themselves.

Based on the findings from this dementia epidemiological and status survey, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to establish the 5th Comprehensive Dementia Management Plan over five years starting in 2026.

First, to promote early detection and intensive initial management of dementia, the role of Dementia Safety Centers (public health centers) will be strengthened. Outreach dementia screening and prevention education services will continue to be provided mainly at frequently visited elderly facilities such as senior centers and welfare centers. Customized case management will also be implemented to provide support services necessary for continued community residence for dementia patients at risk of care blind spots, such as those living alone or couples with dementia.

To reduce the caregiving burden on dementia families, long-term care home services will be expanded. The monthly limit for home care benefits for severely dependent recipients (grades 1 and 2) will be gradually increased to the level of monthly limits for facility residents.

Im Eul-gi, Director of Elderly Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "Through this survey, we were able to understand dementia prevalence, caregiving status of patients and families, and analyze future trends and diverse needs related to dementia. The absolute number of dementia patients will steadily increase with aging, so we must continuously strengthen dementia response." He added, "The survey also showed that caregiving burden remains significant. We will identify and plan additional measures to alleviate this burden."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.