The countries with the highest rates of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, tend to be those with older populations and advanced healthcare systems that enable better diagnosis and reporting. Japan leads globally with the highest rate of Alzheimer’s disease, having approximately 3,079 cases per 100,000 people. This high prevalence is largely due to Japan’s aging population, as the risk of dementia increases significantly with age. Women in Japan are disproportionately affected, with about 574,000 females receiving treatment compared to 220,000 males, a disparity attributed mainly to women’s longer life expectancy[1].
Italy ranks second worldwide, with 2,270 Alzheimer’s cases per 100,000 people. Italy’s high rate is linked to its aging demographic, improved medical testing, dietary changes including increased processed food consumption, and environmental factors such as pollution. Other European countries with high dementia rates include Slovenia and Monaco, with nearly 1,963 and 1,962 cases per 100,000 people respectively. Monaco’s high rate is also associated with its population’s longevity, despite excellent healthcare services[1].
China, Germany, and Lebanon have been identified as countries with some of the highest age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (ADOD). China, in particular, has seen a rapid increase in dementia prevalence, rising from 17.37 million cases in 2019 to 19.12 million in 2021, with projections estimating nearly a 25% increase by 2050. This trend is driven by China’s rapidly aging population, with 14.9% of its population over 65 years old as of 2022. The burden of dementia in these countries is influenced by demographic shifts, lifestyle factors, and healthcare infrastructure[2].
In North America, the United States and Canada report some of the highest dementia mortality rates. This is attributed to their advanced healthcare systems that facilitate diagnosis and reporting, high life expectancy, and environmental factors such as urbanization and air pollution, which may increase dementia risk and mortality. Conversely, countries in South America like Colombia, Paraguay, and Venezuela show lower dementia mortality rates, likely due to underdiagnosis, underreporting, limited healthcare infrastructure, socioeconomic disparities, and cultural perceptions that may normalize dementia as a natural part of aging rather than a medical condition[3].
Globally, disparities in dementia burden and care quality persist. High and high-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) regions tend to have higher incidence and prevalence rates, while low-SDI regions experience rising mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to dementia. African and South-East Asian regions, often with lower SDI, face increasing dementia burdens alongside declining care quality. These inequalities reflect differences in healthcare access, diagnostic capabilities, and demographic profiles[4].
The World Alzheimer Report 2025 highlights that most of the global costs and burden of dementia occur in higher-income countries, where aging populations are larger and healthcare systems more capable of identifying and managing dementia cases. However, the report also emphasizes the need for improved dementia rehabilitation and care strategies worldwide, especially in lower-income regions where the disease burden is growing rapidly[5][6].
Recent research published in The Lancet E-BioMedicine suggests that up to 65% of dementia cases may be preventable by addressing modifiable risk factors. This finding underscores the importance of public health interventions targeting lifestyle, environmental, and social determinants to reduce dementia incidence globally[7].
Sources:
[1] World Population Review, Alzheimer’s Rates by Country 2025
[2] Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Global burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (1990-2021)
[3] PMC, Sex disparities in dementia mortality across the American continent
[4] Journal of Global Health, Global burden, quality of care, and cross-country inequalities in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
[5] World Alzheimer Report 2025 (Alzheimer’s Disease International)
[6] Alzheimer’s Disease International, World Alzheimer Report 2025 resource
[7] The Lancet E-BioMedicine, Study on dementia risk factors and preventability
