Dementia Cases Set to Double in Australia, Now the Leading Cause of Death

Sydney - The number of Australians living with dementia has risen to an estimated 446,500 in 2026, a figure set to more than double to over one million by 2065, data released by Dementia Australia on Thursday reveals.

The report highlights the condition's impact across all age groups, with around 29,000 people aged between 18-65 living with young onset dementia, projected to increase to 41,000 by 2054.

It also estimates 1,500 children are affected by childhood dementia.

In New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, an estimated 145,700 people are living with dementia this year, 2026, a number forecast to grow to 252,800 by 2054.

Dementia Australia Chief Executive Officer, Professor Tanya Buchanan, said the rapid increase in cases, coupled with dementia now being the leading cause of death in Australia, demanded immediate 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," Buchanan said.

She called for federal government investment in the National Dementia Action Plan, a 10-year framework released in late 2024 aimed at improving outcomes for those affected.

"Australia is recognised internationally for its strengths in dementia care, support and research, but the system still has areas that need improvement.

"Funding the delivery of the National Dementia Action Plan is essential for all Australians impacted by dementia," Buchanan said.

Dementia Australia advocate, Rebecca Scouller, who cares for her mother diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017, echoed the urgency.

"Dementia is likely to touch all our lives at some point in time," Scouller said, adding that "the National Dementia Action Plan needs to be costed and then incorporated into the budget. We need urgent investment now."

The organization is pushing for funding in three priority areas aligned with the plan, which include a comprehensive brain health campaign to raise awareness and promote prevention; a network of Dementia Care Navigators to facilitate access to post-diagnosis support; and enhanced workforce training for dementia care.