Countries With the Most Alzheimer's Sufferers
Alzheimer’s is a serious, life-limiting condition that everyone should know the signs of. But every country has a different rate, and we’re betting that most people don’t know where their country ranks. Luckily, we’ve put together this list of 50 countries with the based on information from World Population Review.
#1. Japan
Japan has the oldest population in the world, with approximately 28% of its population aged 65 and over, and this likely contributes to its place at the top of the list. It has 2,637 Alzheimer’s cases per 100,000 people, and this number is predicted to increase.
#2. Italy
Like Japan, Italy also has a rapidly aging population, with over 1 million Italians estimated to be affected by the disease. That’s around 2,387 people per 100,000, with many of those Alzheimer’s cases massively increasing dementia diagnoses across the country.
#3. Germany
Unfortunately for the Germans, they’re the third-highest in the world when it comes to Alzheimer’s rates, barely behind Italy with just over 2,330 cases per 100,000 citizens. The German healthcare system is feeling the pressure of fighting Alzheimer’s.
#4. Greece
Greece’s dementia prevalence rate may only be approximately 5%, but around 75% of those cases are caused by Alzheimer’s. Currently, there are 2,088 Grecians living with Alzheimer’s per 100,000 of the population, and the problem is only growing.
#5. Monaco
In any other case, being in the top five would seem like an achievement, but for Monaco, having over 2,030 Alzheimer’s cases per 100,000 people is a very serious concern. Thankfully, the government is prioritizing fighting Alzheimer’s through medical research and innovations.
#6. Portugal
Of all the European countries, Portugal is probably the one with the most worrying future where Alzheimer’s is concerned. Currently, over 1,900 people per 100,000 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and the country’s dementia rate is expected to double by 2050.
#7. San Marino
San Marino is the fifth-smallest country in the world, and that makes it even more shocking that it’s seventh on our list. It has a population of approximately 33,000 and almost 1,850 Alzheimer’s cases. This rate calls for serious action to be taken, fast.
#8. Sweden
Sweden is the first of the beautiful Scandinavian countries on our list, for a very unfortunate reason. It has 1,787 Alzheimer’s cases per 100,000 residents, and over 100,000 cases altogether. The Swedish government now recognizes Alzheimer’s as a major public health concern.
#9. Belgium
In ninth place, we have Belgium, and concern is also growing on this side of the North Sea. With over 1,730 reported cases per 100,000 of the population, Alzheimer’s is currently accelerating dementia rates, which are now a leading cause of death in Belgium.
#10. Finland
Finland and Sweden are neighbors with something terrible in common: their high Alzheimer’s rates. Finland also has over 1,700 cases per 100,000, with those most affected aged between 45 and 64. However, many Finns over 30 are also at high risk.
#11. Latvia
Alzheimer’s disease has been a growing problem in Latvia for years, and the national rate is still rising. Currently, it stands at 1,688 affected individuals per 100,000 of the population, and the rate shows no sign of decreasing any time soon.
#12. Canada
Just a whisper behind Latvia is Canada, with 1,685 cases per 100,000. The Canadian healthcare system is good, but even its vast resources and facilities are struggling to keep up with the rising Alzheimer’s rate because there is so much demand for care.
#13. Malta
Malta is so small that many people often forget that it’s a country, which only makes its 13th-place position more concerning. Alzheimer’s disease has become more prevalent with the aging population, with around 1,650 cases per 100,000 residents.
#14. Lithuania
Lithuania’s high Alzheimer’s rates also seem to be here to stay because the country doesn’t have a concrete plan in place to combat the disease. Around 1,649 Lithuanians out of 100,000 suffer from Alzheimer’s, and many of them lack support.
#15. Netherlands
We associate the Netherlands with peace and serenity, but that is disrupted by its insidious Alzheimer’s problem. Approximately 1,620 people of every 100,000 are affected, with around 33 deaths from the disease each year. Luckily, the country is working to fight this.
#16. Estonia
Any Estonians reading this will likely not be surprised to see their country in the top 20. Estonia’s Alzheimer's rate, which is currently 1,617 cases per 100,000 people, has had massive social and economic impacts on the country as it works to address the issue.
#17. Slovenia
Slovenia may have a high Alzheimer’s rate, but the country has a plan in place for the next five years to combat the disease. Currently, the country has just over 1,600 Alzheimer’s cases per 100,000, but it hopes to lower that.
#18. Austria
Like several other countries, Austria is struggling to fight Alzheimer’s due to its aging population. Over 170,000 Austrians are estimated to live with some form of dementia, and around 1,600 out of every 100,000 have Alzheimer’s disease.
#19. Switzerland
Switzerland has also declared Alzheimer’s disease to be a public health concern, but is its rate going down? Unfortunately, it’s still high. Out of every 100,000 people, 1,587 are living with Alzheimer’s, and this will only get worse.
#20. Spain
Spain has a huge population, and that is reflected in its rate of Alzheimer’s disease. Over 800,000 Spaniards currently live with Alzheimer’s, which is over 1,560 people per 100,000! There is also concern that those numbers may double by 2050.
#21. Croatia
Croatia is gorgeous and underrated, but, sadly, its Alzheimer’s rate is just shy of being in the global top 20. Both Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are putting a huge strain on Croatian healthcare, with around 1,550 cases per 100,000 people.
#22. Puerto Rico
For contrast, Puerto Rico is smaller than Connecticut, so anyone can see that its high prevalence of Alzheimer’s is seriously worrying. There are 1,534 affected individuals for every 100,000 of the population, and the national Alzheimer’s mortality rate is also rising.
#23. United States
There are many diseases that weigh heavily on the American healthcare system, and Alzheimer’s is one of the worst. While 1,466 cases per 100,000 people may seem like nothing, there are actually millions of Americans currently affected by Alzheimer’s.
#24. Bulgaria
Bulgaria is another country with a high Alzheimer’s rate that is partially caused by inadequate management of the disease. For every 100,000 Bulgarians, there are 1,456 affected by Alzheimer’s, and they need better health and social support moving forward.
#25. Hungary
We’re not surprised that Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent form of dementia affecting the Hungarian population, considering there are over 1,450 cases per 100,000 people. There is a big problem with late diagnoses and a lack of care for those with advanced Alzheimer’s.
#26. Czech Republic
Whether you call it Czechia or the Czech Republic, you should be aware that the country is really struggling with its high rate of Alzheimer’s disease. Around 1,417 people per 100,000 have Alzheimer’s, and hundreds of thousands of households are affected.
#27. Romania
Romania has made some great strides in improving its process of diagnosing dementia and prescribing care, but more needs to be done for Alzheimer’s disease. Around 1,400 Romanians of every 100,000 currently have the disease, so there’s still work to do.
#28. France
France has a robust healthcare system, but can it handle the burden of dementia? At the moment, the French are struggling to bring their rate, which is almost 1,400 per 100,000 people, down, and over 1.2 million people currently live with Alzheimer’s.
#29. Bermuda
Bermuda comprises 181 islands, and each of them is affected by Alzheimer’s. Altogether, there are around 1,369 cases per 100,000 people, which is currently manageable. However, an almost 200% increase in dementia cases is predicted to happen by 2050.
#30. Norway
Just like Bermuda, Norway’s rates of Alzheimer’s and other dementias are expected to skyrocket over the next 25 years. The current Alzheimer’s rate is over 1,360 people per 100,000, but as the population continues to age, the risk of developing the disease increases.
#31. South Korea
South Korea has a great reputation when it comes to caring for its older population, but even top-notch care will struggle when faced with Alzheimer’s. The disease is becoming more prevalent in South Korea, with a current rate of 1,352 people per 100,000.
#32. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is doing plenty to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, but its cases remain worrying. Over 1,335 people per 100,000 report living with Alzheimer’s, which is around 900,000 people overall! Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are also leading causes of death in the UK.
#33. Poland
With the 33rd-highest rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the world, we’re not surprised that Poland is struggling to properly treat and support patients. There are more than 1,300 out of every 100,000 Poles living with Alzheimer’s at the current moment.
#34. Iceland
Iceland isn’t far behind Poland, with just under 1,300 reported Alzheimer’s cases per 100,000 of the population. Despite its high rate, Iceland has contributed great findings to Alzheimer’s research, and we hope to see these pay off soon.
#35. Andorra
Many people may not have heard of the tiny Andorra, but its Alzheimer’s rate is anything but small. For every 100,000 people, there are 1,268 currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, which Andorra is aware of and actively working to combat.
#36. Serbia
Serbia’s Alzheimer's cases are extremely hard on both the affected individuals and their loved ones because there simply isn’t enough support. With the Alzheimer’s rate, which is currently 1,252 cases per 100,000 people, rising, there will be even fewer resources to go around.
#37. Bosnia and Herzegovina
This is a two-for-one because Bosnia and Herzegovina are two regions that come as a package. The overall rate of Alzheimer’s is 1,245 affected individuals out of every 100,000, but there could be more because fewer than 3% of cases have been formally diagnosed.
#38. Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine has contributed to difficulties in providing proper medical care, which is likely why the country’s Alzheimer’s rate remains high. Over 1,220 out of 100,000 Ukrainians are affected by the disease, and they need far more specialized support.
#39. New Zealand
New Zealand is a paradise, but that doesn’t exempt it from strife. Alzheimer’s is a growing public health concern, especially as more than 70,000 residents currently live with dementia. For Alzheimer’s disease, that’s around 1,217 cases per 100,000 people.
#40. United States Virgin Islands
In case you’re confused, the United States Virgin Islands comprise 53 islands in the Caribbean. And though the Virgin Islands have a lower Alzheimer’s rate than the US, it’s still high, with an estimated 1,215 affected people per 100,000.
#41. Georgia
We think Georgia is extremely underrated, and we’re very sad to put it on this list. Sadly, it has the 41st-highest Alzheimer’s rate in the world, with just over 1,200 cases per 100,000 of the population. There are many disputes over access to proper care, too.
#42. China
China is massive, so we’re not too shocked to see it on our list. However, it’s still upsetting to discover that it has the largest population of people living with forms of dementia in the world. For Alzheimer’s, there are 1,194 cases per 100,000.
#43. Belarus
Around 3% of deaths in Belarus are currently caused by Alzheimer’s and dementia, with new cases diagnosed every day. Thus far, the number of reported cases is 1,186 out of every 100,000 people, with more specialized care needed.
#44. Australia
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia in Australia, and cases are only predicted to keep rising. Currently, the Australian Alzheimer’s rate is 1,165 per 100,000 people, but over 400,000 in total are affected in some way.
#45. Uruguay
Uruguay has been struggling to bring down its Alzheimer’s rate for a long time, but the situation is now reaching a critical point. Around 1,150 Uruguayans out of 100,000 are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s taking its toll on the healthcare system.
#46. Slovakia
In the next ten years, Slovakia’s Alzheimer’s rate is predicted to spike. This is extremely concerning because it’s already the 46th-highest in the world, with over 1,120 cases per 100,000 of the population. Slovakia’s healthcare system simply cannot keep up with this growth.
#47. Russia
Russia is another country with a large population and a corresponding high rate of Alzheimer’s disease. Over a million in total are estimated to be affected, with a known 1,109 cases per 100,000 people. There is also a lack of proper diagnoses and support.
#48. Denmark
Denmark’s aging population is also currently experiencing a nightmare situation with Alzheimer’s, although some younger Danes are affected, too. There are over 1,100 cases per 100,000 people, but not enough high-quality resources to go around, which leaves many without the appropriate care.
#49. Ireland
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia in Ireland, and that is showing no signs of changing anytime soon. With almost 1,100 cases per 100,000 and a predicted rise by 2045, this disease is continuing to challenge people, their families, and the Irish healthcare system.
#50. Moldova
The final country in our top 50 is Moldova, which has approximately 1,088 people affected by Alzheimer’s disease per 100,000 of the population. Unfortunately, the situation will only get worse due to the lack of resources and issues with diagnosing Alzheimer’s.
