Australia is on the brink of a dementia crisis, with the condition closing in on becoming our leading cause of death.
Families across the nation are already feeling the weight of its impact, often without realising the scale of the challenge.
The statistics are stark—and they are growing every year.
Just 200 to 250 deaths now separate dementia from coronary heart disease as Australia’s top killer, and experts warn dementia will overtake heart disease in the coming years.
In 2025, an estimated 433,300 Australians were living with dementia, while 1.7 million were involved in caring for someone with the condition, meaning roughly one in every 15 Australians was directly affected either as a patient or a carer.
'These figures highlight just how many families are impacted by dementia across Australia. Most of us know someone who is or has been impacted by dementia.'
Dementia has already become the leading cause of death among Australian women, accounting for 12 per cent of all female deaths in 2022, while heart disease deaths have dropped to their lowest levels since the 1960s.
Over the past 50 years, the death rate from dementia increased by a staggering 842 per cent, painting a sobering picture of our nation’s shifting health landscape.
Projections for the coming decades are equally confronting, with the number of Australians living with dementia expected to reach 812,500 by 2054, and some estimates suggesting more than one million by 2065.
Population growth and ageing largely drive this trend, but dementia also affects younger people, with an estimated 29,000 Australians living with younger onset dementia, including those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—a figure projected to rise to 41,000 by 2054.
Dementia across Australia: State by state impact in 2025
NSW: 141,800 people living with dementia
Victoria: 110,600 people
Queensland: 85,200 people
Western Australia: 42,000 people
South Australia: 35,000 people
Tasmania: 10,900 people
ACT: 6,100 people
Northern Territory: 1,800 people
The financial burden is immense, with nearly $3.7 billion of total health and aged care expenditure in 2020-2021 spent directly on dementia, excluding the hidden costs borne by families providing unpaid care.
Two in three people with dementia live in the community, placing much of the caregiving responsibility on families, while 54 per cent of those in permanent residential aged care already have dementia, meaning community care often continues until late in the disease.
Tanya Buchanan explained the social impact, saying, 'People affected by dementia often tell us that friends and family drift away after a diagnosis, because they are unsure of how to interact.'
While ageing is the primary risk factor, many contributors to dementia are modifiable.
A 2024 study by 27 leading experts, published in #The Lancet, identified 14 risk factors spanning early, mid, and later life, including limited education, hearing loss, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol, traumatic brain injury, air pollution, social isolation, high cholesterol, and untreated vision loss.
Modifiable risk factors for dementia prevention
- Early life: Limited education, hearing loss
- Midlife: High blood pressure, obesity, excessive alcohol, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity
- Later life: Smoking, depression, social isolation, diabetes, air pollution, high cholesterol, vision loss
Regular exercise, managing blood pressure and diabetes, staying socially connected, protecting hearing and vision, and avoiding smoking all play crucial roles in brain health.
Changes in death certification have also contributed to the apparent rise in dementia deaths, reflecting improved diagnosis and recognition rather than an entirely new surge.
Did you know?
Did you know? The median age at death for people with dementia was 88.7 years, compared to 82 years overall, indicating many lived for years with the condition.
Support is available for families navigating dementia, with the National Dementia Helpline (1800 100 500) operating 24/7 and offering expert advice and interpreter services.
Dementia Action Week ran from 15 to 21 September 2025, focusing on reconnecting with people affected by dementia to counter social isolation, which research shows can help maintain cognitive function and quality of life.
Planning for dementia involves early conversations about care preferences, financial readiness, and building strong support networks.
For those already providing care, it is important to remember that they are part of a 1.7 million-strong community across Australia, with services designed to help navigate this journey.
The path forward is about action—adopting lifestyle changes, supporting research, or reconnecting with someone affected by dementia.
Understanding the trends, strengthening support networks, and focusing on prevention can reduce future impact and improve care for those already affected.
What This Means For You
Dementia is poised to become Australia’s leading cause of death, closely following heart disease, and this reality affects families across the nation.
In 2025, over 430,000 Australians were living with dementia, while 1.7 million were providing care, highlighting just how widespread the impact is.
The good news is that many dementia risk factors are modifiable across all life stages, offering opportunities for prevention through lifestyle changes, medical management, and social engagement.
Support services and maintaining social connections also play a crucial role in improving quality of life for people living with dementia.
For those over 60, this means understanding the risks, taking proactive steps to protect your brain health, and reaching out for help when needed can make a real difference—for yourself and your loved ones.
Dementia is leading cause of death for Australians — Reports on dementia nearing the top spot as Australia’s leading cause of death, comparing numbers with heart disease.
https://www.9news.com.au/health/dem...tralians/96f72eba-08b8-488c-92e1-39f2ea70fe1b
Deaths in Australia, Leading causes of death—Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Provides official statistics on leading causes of death, highlighting the close numbers between coronary heart disease and dementia.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/lif...in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death
Dementia to become Australia’s biggest killer | InSight+ — Discusses dementia deaths approaching heart disease and outlines trends in mortality rates over recent years.
https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2024/41/dementia-to-become-australias-biggest-killer/
Dementia facts and figures | Dementia Australia — Provides data on the number of Australians living with dementia and those involved in caring for them.
https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/dementia-facts-and-figures
Dementia in Australia, Deaths due to dementia—Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Reports dementia as the leading cause of death among women and tracks mortality trends over decades.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dem...th-impacts-of-dementia/deaths-due-to-dementia
One million people: Australia's 'scary' new dementia projection — and the risk factors — Explores projections of dementia prevalence to 2065 and identifies key risk factors across life stages.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...ill-be-living-with-dementia-in-2065/wo0j6w62f
Is the Rise in Reported Dementia Mortality Real? Analysis of Multiple-Cause-of-Death Data for Australia and the United States—PMC — Analyses changes in death certification practices and their impact on dementia mortality statistics.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9247423/
Understanding the key risk factors for dementia is essential for taking proactive steps to protect brain health.
There are some newly identified factors that could surprise you and may influence your own prevention strategies.
Exploring these discoveries can provide practical tips and insights to better safeguard cognitive function over time.
Read more: Protect Your Brain: Uncover the 2 New Shocking Dementia Risk Factors You Need to Know!
Have you had conversations with your family about brain health and dementia prevention, or are you currently supporting someone living with dementia?
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