Alzheimers Cases Surge in South Korea; 1 in 10 Elderly Affected

Nearly one in ten South Koreans aged 65 or older are grappling with Alzheimer’s disease, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Wednesday.

As of 2025, the country has 970,000 dementia patients, representing 9.17% of its elderly population. This figure is projected to exceed 1 million in 2026 and double to 2 million by 2044, signaling a growing public health challenge.

The ministry noted a slight decline in the dementia rate among seniors, down from 9.5% in 2016, crediting improved education and health conditions. “We expect the proportion of dementia cases to hover around 10% until 2045, rising to 12-13% by 2059,” a ministry official stated. To address this, plans are underway to bolster support for patients and ease the financial and caregiving strain on families.

Meanwhile, a separate survey by the Korea Institute of Public Administration revealed rising mental health concerns. Conducted from August to September 2024 with 8,251 adults, it found anxiety levels climbed to 4.1 out of 10 last year, up from 3.4 in 2023, while depression rose from 2.8 to 3.5 points. The survey, aimed at gauging social integration, highlighted a growing emotional toll on the population.

Despite this, overall happiness edged up slightly, averaging 6.8 points in 2024—a 0.1-point increase from the prior year. However, disparities emerged across income levels. The lowest earners (under 1 million won, or $693 monthly) reported a dip in happiness to 6.0 points, down 0.1 from 2023, while the highest earners (over 6 million won) saw happiness rise from 6.8 to 7.0 points.

As South Korea confronts an aging population and mental health challenges, these findings underscore the need for targeted support across all strata of society.