Dementia Statistics: Australia vs Singapore vs New Zealand (2026 Data)
Australia has an estimated 425,000 people living with dementia, projected to roughly 1.1 million by 2065 (AIHW, 2024). Singapore counts around 74,000 today and projects ~152,000 by 2030, while New Zealand's modelled baseline of 69,713 is projected to reach 167,483 by 2050. Each country uses a different denominator and projection year, so the figures are best read side by side rather than as one identical metric.
Last updated: June 2026
Overview: dementia across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand
Dementia is one of the defining health challenges of ageing populations, and all three countries in this comparison are seeing the numbers climb. Australia has an estimated 425,000 people living with dementia today, projected to roughly 1.1 million by 2065 (AIHW Dementia in Australia, 2024). Singapore counts around 74,000 people with dementia and projects approximately 152,000 by 2030 (Ministry of Health, citing IMH WiSE 2, 2023; MOH projection). New Zealand's Tier-1 modelled baseline is 69,713 people, or 1.4% of the population, projected to reach 167,483 by 2050 (University of Auckland Dementia Economic Impact Report 2020). The current counts are broadly comparable, but the projections use different horizon years (2065, 2030 and 2050) and the prevalence rates use different denominators, so each figure is shown with its own basis. What is consistent across all three is the direction of travel: as the share of people aged 65 and over rises, the number living with dementia grows. In Australia, where the figure is published, most people with dementia (66%) live in the community rather than in residential care (AIHW, 2022).
Key statistics
These figures are drawn from each country's Tier-1 primary source: the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Singapore's Ministry of Health citing the Institute of Mental Health WiSE 2 study, and the University of Auckland's Dementia Economic Impact Report (DEIR) 2020. The headline is consistent: dementia counts are substantial today and projected to grow sharply over the coming decades in every country measured.
Dementia prevalence and projections, by country (flagship table)
This flagship table lines up the three countries on the same two rows that are cleanly comparable across all of them: the current count of people living with dementia, and the long-range projection. The three projections use different horizon years (Australia to 2065, Singapore to 2030, New Zealand to 2050) and the underlying prevalence rates use different denominators, so the table keeps each country's source and projection year explicit rather than forcing them onto a single year. New Zealand's Tier-1 anchor is the DEIR 2020 modelled baseline of 69,713; a separate Alzheimers NZ advocacy estimate of roughly 83,000 (2025) is a Tier-2 figure shown for context, not as the primary count. Every value below appears in its named primary source.
Dementia: current count and projection — Australia, Singapore, New Zealand
| Metric | Australia | Singapore | New Zealand | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People living with dementia (current) | 425,000 (266k women / 159k men) | ~74,000 | 69,713 (1.4% of population) | AU: AIHW 2024 · SG: MOH/IMH WiSE 2, 2023 · NZ: DEIR 2020 |
| Projection | ~1.1 million by 2065 | ~152,000 by 2030 | 167,483 by 2050 (2.7% of pop; 10.8% of 65+) | AU: AIHW · SG: MOH · NZ: DEIR 2020 |
| Tier-2 context estimate | — | — | ~83,000 (2025 advocacy estimate) | Alzheimers NZ, 2025 |
Projection years differ by country: Australia projects to 2065, Singapore to 2030, New Zealand to 2050 — they are not a single common year. Prevalence denominators also differ (see the next section). New Zealand's Tier-1 anchor is the DEIR 2020 modelled baseline (69,713); the ~83,000 figure is a separate Alzheimers NZ advocacy estimate (2025) and is shown for context only. Each currency, count and rate is kept on its own national basis.
How many people have dementia in Australia
Australia has the largest dementia count of the three countries, at an estimated 425,000 people living with dementia, of whom 266,000 are women and 159,000 are men (AIHW Dementia in Australia, 2024). That works out to about 16 people per 1,000 across the whole population. Prevalence rises steeply with age: AIHW puts it at 84 per 1,000 among people aged 65 and over, climbing to 292 per 1,000 — close to one in three — among those aged 85 and over (AIHW, 2024). The female skew in the headline count (266,000 women versus 159,000 men) reflects both that women live longer and that dementia prevalence is highest in the oldest age bands, which are disproportionately female. Australia's projection is the longest-horizon of the three: AIHW estimates the number could reach roughly 1.1 million by 2065 if current age-specific rates hold and the population ages as projected.
How many people have dementia in Singapore
Singapore counts around 74,000 people living with dementia (Ministry of Health, citing the Institute of Mental Health WiSE 2 study, 2023). Expressed as a prevalence rate, that is 8.8% — roughly one in eleven — of Singapore residents aged 60 and over, which is actually down from about 10% recorded in the earlier 2013 WiSE study (IMH WiSE 2, 2023). As in Australia, the rate rises sharply with age: around one in two Singaporeans aged 85 and over is affected (IMH WiSE 2, 2023). Singapore's projection horizon is the nearest-term of the three countries here: MOH projects approximately 152,000 people with dementia by 2030, roughly double the current figure. Because Singapore's prevalence rate is measured against the 60-and-over population while Australia's headline rate is per 1,000 of the whole population, the two rates are not directly interchangeable, but the count and projection rows line up cleanly for comparison.
How many people have dementia in New Zealand
New Zealand's Tier-1 anchor is the University of Auckland's Dementia Economic Impact Report (DEIR) 2020, which modelled a baseline of 69,713 people living with dementia, equal to about 1.4% of the total population (DEIR 2020). The DEIR projection has the number reaching 167,483 by 2050 — about 2.7% of the projected population, or 10.8% of those aged 65 and over (DEIR 2020). New Zealand also has a more recent, higher current figure: Alzheimers NZ cites roughly 83,000 people with dementia as of 2025, but that is an advocacy estimate (Tier-2) rather than a Tier-1 modelled count, so this page uses the DEIR 69,713 as the verified anchor and notes the 83,000 separately. A detailed prevalence-by-age breakdown for New Zealand exists inside the DEIR 2020 report but is not extracted here, so no per-age-band rate is asserted for New Zealand to avoid quoting a figure that is not confirmed in our verified set.
Prevalence by age: dementia climbs steeply in the oldest bands
Where comparable age-specific rates are published, they tell the same story in both Australia and Singapore: dementia is uncommon in the early-old ages and becomes far more common in the oldest bands. Australia's rate roughly triples from 84 per 1,000 at 65+ to 292 per 1,000 at 85+ (AIHW, 2024), while Singapore reports around one in two residents aged 85 and over affected (IMH WiSE 2, 2023). This age gradient matters for families because the population aged 85 and over is the fastest-growing slice in all three countries, which is the main mechanism behind every projection on this page. New Zealand's per-age breakdown is not extracted in our verified set, so it is left out of the table rather than estimated.
Dementia prevalence by age (where published)
| Country | Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Aged 65+ | 84 per 1,000 | AIHW Dementia in Australia, 2024 |
| Australia | Aged 85+ | 292 per 1,000 (~1 in 3) | AIHW Dementia in Australia, 2024 |
| Singapore | Aged 60+ | 8.8% (~1 in 11) | IMH WiSE 2, 2023 |
| Singapore | Aged 85+ | ~1 in 2 | IMH WiSE 2, 2023 |
Denominators differ: Australia's rates are per 1,000 of the relevant age band; Singapore's 8.8% is the share of residents aged 60 and over (down from ~10% in 2013). New Zealand's per-age prevalence is published inside the DEIR 2020 report but is not extracted in our verified set, so no New Zealand age-band rate is shown rather than estimated.
Where people with dementia live, and what it costs
In Australia, most people with dementia live in the community, not in residential care — and that is the single most important fact for families thinking about safety. AIHW reports that 66% of people with dementia live in the community, while among people in residential aged care, 54% have dementia (AIHW, 2022). On the cost side, New Zealand's DEIR 2020 put the economic burden of dementia at NZ$2.46 billion per year on an opportunity-cost basis, or NZ$3.62 billion on a replacement-cost basis, which works out to roughly NZ$35,360 to NZ$51,930 per person with dementia per year (DEIR 2020). These New Zealand costs are in NZD and are not converted to any other currency. Singapore's community-dwelling share and a comparable national dementia cost figure are not published in the sources reviewed, so no Singapore figure is asserted for those rows.
Living arrangements and cost (where published)
| Metric | Australia | New Zealand | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share living in the community | 66% | Not extracted in our verified set | AU: AIHW, 2022 |
| Dementia in residential aged care | 54% of residents have dementia | — | AU: AIHW, 2022 |
| Annual economic cost | — | NZ$2.46bn (opportunity) / NZ$3.62bn (replacement) | NZ: DEIR 2020 |
| Cost per person, per year | — | ~NZ$35,360–NZ$51,930 | NZ: DEIR 2020 |
All New Zealand costs are in NZD and are not FX-converted. Singapore's community-dwelling share and national dementia cost are not published in the sources reviewed, so no Singapore value is shown for these rows rather than an estimate. Australia's 66% community share is from AIHW (2022). New Zealand's community-dwelling share is not extracted in our verified set, so no figure is shown.
Comparing the three countries: same direction, different scale and timeline
Read together, the three countries share one clear pattern — dementia counts are large today and projected to grow steeply — but they differ in scale, timing and how the numbers are framed. Australia carries the largest absolute count (425,000) and the longest projection horizon (~1.1 million by 2065). Singapore's projection is the nearest-term, with ~74,000 today rising to ~152,000 by 2030, a roughly twofold increase in just a few years. New Zealand's DEIR-anchored count (69,713) is the smallest of the three but its 2050 projection (167,483) represents the steepest proportional rise, more than doubling. The honest caveat is that these are not measured on a single shared year or denominator: Australia uses per-1,000 population rates, Singapore a share of the 60-plus population, and New Zealand a share of total population, with projection years of 2065, 2030 and 2050 respectively. They are best treated as three independent national pictures pointing the same way, not as one apples-to-apples series.
The trend is upward in all three countries
Every projection on this page points the same direction: more people living with dementia, driven by population ageing and especially the growth of the 85-and-over band where prevalence is highest. Australia's count is projected to grow from 425,000 to roughly 1.1 million by 2065 — more than a doubling (AIHW, 2024). Singapore's is projected to roughly double from ~74,000 to ~152,000 by 2030 (MOH). New Zealand's modelled baseline of 69,713 is projected to reach 167,483 by 2050, also more than a doubling, lifting dementia from 1.4% to 2.7% of the population (DEIR 2020). In Australia, where the figure is published, most people with dementia live at home rather than in care (66%, AIHW 2022), so the growth translates directly into more families supporting a relative with dementia in the community — and into a larger group of older adults who would benefit from a simple, reliable way for someone to notice if something is wrong.
Why a daily check-in helps
One reassuring fact stands out from the Australian data: most people living with dementia live in the community, with 66% in Australia (AIHW, 2022), and that independence is worth protecting. What a daily check-in adds is not surveillance but a quiet, low-burden safety layer for the people who care. A simple routine — one tap to confirm all is well, and a missed check-in that gently notifies a chosen family member — means a distant son or daughter can have peace of mind without hovering, and an older adult living alone keeps their independence. ImAlive is free to start with no monthly monitoring fee, so it is a low-cost way for a family spread across Australia, Singapore or New Zealand to make sure someone would notice, the same day, if a parent didn't check in. It does not track location and makes no fall-detection claims; it simply closes the gap between something going wrong and someone finding out.
Sources
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Dementia in Australia: Summary (2024)
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Prevalence of Dementia (2024)
- Singapore Ministry of Health — Number of Dementia-Afflicted Patients & Future Projections (citing IMH WiSE 2, 2023)
- Dementia Hub SG — Dementia in Numbers: Local and Global Statistics (IMH WiSE 2)
- University of Auckland — Dementia Economic Impact Report 2020 (DEIR)
- Alzheimers NZ — Facts and Figures (2025 advocacy estimate, Tier-2)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have dementia in Australia?
An estimated 425,000 people live with dementia in Australia — 266,000 women and 159,000 men, or about 16 per 1,000 population (AIHW Dementia in Australia, 2024). This is the largest dementia count of Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.
How many people have dementia in Singapore?
Around 74,000 people in Singapore live with dementia, which is 8.8% — roughly one in eleven — of residents aged 60 and over (Singapore Ministry of Health, citing IMH WiSE 2, 2023). That prevalence rate is actually down from about 10% in the earlier 2013 study.
How many people have dementia in New Zealand?
New Zealand's Tier-1 modelled baseline is 69,713 people, or about 1.4% of the population (University of Auckland Dementia Economic Impact Report 2020). A separate, more recent Alzheimers NZ advocacy estimate puts the figure at roughly 83,000 (2025), but that is a Tier-2 advocacy estimate rather than a modelled count.
What is the projected number of people with dementia in Australia by 2065?
AIHW projects the number of Australians living with dementia could reach roughly 1.1 million by 2065, up from 425,000 today — more than a doubling (AIHW Dementia in Australia, 2024).
How many people will have dementia in Singapore by 2030?
Singapore's Ministry of Health projects approximately 152,000 people with dementia by 2030, roughly double the current figure of around 74,000 (MOH, 2030 projection). It is the nearest-term projection of the three countries compared here.
How many people will have dementia in New Zealand by 2050?
New Zealand's modelled baseline of 69,713 is projected to reach 167,483 by 2050 — about 2.7% of the projected population, or 10.8% of those aged 65 and over (University of Auckland DEIR 2020). That is more than a doubling from the 2020 baseline.
Which country has the most people living with dementia — Australia, Singapore or New Zealand?
Australia, by a clear margin: 425,000 people (AIHW, 2024), compared with around 74,000 in Singapore (MOH/IMH WiSE 2, 2023) and a modelled 69,713 in New Zealand (DEIR 2020). Australia also has the largest projected total, at roughly 1.1 million by 2065.
How does dementia prevalence change with age?
It rises steeply in the oldest age bands. In Australia the rate climbs from 84 per 1,000 at age 65+ to 292 per 1,000 — close to one in three — at age 85+ (AIHW, 2024). In Singapore, around one in two residents aged 85 and over is affected (IMH WiSE 2, 2023).
Are these dementia figures directly comparable across the three countries?
The current counts and the projections line up well, but the prevalence denominators and projection years differ. Australia uses per-1,000 population rates projecting to 2065, Singapore a share of the 60-and-over population projecting to 2030, and New Zealand a share of total population projecting to 2050 (AIHW 2024; MOH/IMH WiSE 2, 2023; DEIR 2020). Treat them as three national pictures pointing the same direction rather than one identical series.
Do most people with dementia live at home or in care?
In Australia, where the figure is published, most live in the community: 66% of people with dementia live in the community, while 54% of people in residential aged care have dementia (AIHW, 2022). Comparable community-dwelling shares for Singapore and New Zealand are not published in the sources reviewed.
What does dementia cost New Zealand each year?
The University of Auckland's DEIR 2020 estimated the annual economic cost at NZ$2.46 billion on an opportunity-cost basis, or NZ$3.62 billion on a replacement-cost basis — roughly NZ$35,360 to NZ$51,930 per person with dementia per year (DEIR 2020). These figures are in NZD and are not converted to other currencies.
Why is the female dementia count higher than the male count in Australia?
Australia records 266,000 women versus 159,000 men with dementia (AIHW, 2024). The skew reflects that women live longer on average and that dementia prevalence is highest in the oldest age bands, which are disproportionately female.
Is dementia getting more common in these countries?
The counts are projected to grow steeply in all three: Australia from 425,000 to roughly 1.1 million by 2065, Singapore from ~74,000 to ~152,000 by 2030, and New Zealand from 69,713 to 167,483 by 2050 (AIHW 2024; MOH; DEIR 2020). The driver is population ageing, especially growth in the 85-and-over band where prevalence is highest. Note that Singapore's age-specific prevalence rate of the 60+ group has fallen (from ~10% to 8.8%), even as the absolute count rises.
Why does a daily check-in matter for a family member with dementia?
Because most people with dementia live in the community — 66% in Australia (AIHW, 2022) — and a simple daily check-in is a low-burden way for family to notice if something is wrong without taking away independence. ImAlive is free to start with no monthly monitoring fee, does not track location, and makes no fall-detection claims; it simply closes the gap between something going wrong and someone finding out.
Take Action
Related Topics
Get Started in 2 Minutes
Download I'm Alive today and give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. It's completely free.
Free forever • No credit card required • iOS & Android