The number of Australians living with dementia has climbed to an estimated 446,500 in 2026 and is projected to more than double to over one million people by 2065, according to new data released by Dementia Australia.
The figures stress the growing national impact of dementia, now the leading cause of death in Australia. They also highlight that dementia affects people across the lifespan, not just older Australians.
An estimated 29,000 people are currently living with young-onset dementia, between the ages of 18 and 65, a number expected to rise to 41,000 by 2054. Around 1,500 children are living with childhood dementia in Australia.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the scale and pace of growth in dementia cases demands urgent and sustained action.
“There is a critical demand for a national program to promote brain health throughout our lives, as well as a pressing need to provide quality care and support services for people of all ages living with dementia, their families and carers.”
Professor Tanya Buchanan
Professor Buchanan renewed calls for Federal Government investment in implementing the National Dementia Action Plan, a ten-year framework released in late 2024 aimed at improving outcomes for people living with dementia and those who care for them.
“Australia is recognised internationally for its strengths in dementia care, support and research, but there are still areas that need improvement,” she said. “Funding the delivery of the National Dementia Action Plan is essential for all Australians impacted by dementia.”
Dementia advocate Rebecca Scouller, who cares for her mother Charlotte following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2017, said the condition is likely to affect most Australians in some way.
“Dementia is likely to touch all our lives at some point in time,” Ms Scouller said. “The National Dementia Action Plan needs to be costed and incorporated into the budget. We need urgent investment now.”
Dementia Australia is calling on the Federal Government to invest in three priority areas under the plan: a national brain health awareness campaign, a network of Dementia Care Navigators to improve access to post-diagnostic support, and workforce capability-building to ensure high-quality dementia care across settings.
