What dementia numbers tell us — and why they matter
Across Canada, more people are living with dementia each year. Understanding the scale helps us plan for the future and support those affected. The data below illustrates why dementia is a critical health and social issue in Canada.
Dementia in Canada: a growing reality
According to Landmark Study Report 1: Navigating the Path Forward for Dementia in Canada [PDF, 1.4MB], dementia prevalence is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades. In 2020, almost 600,000 people in Canada were living with dementia. By January 1, 2025, that number was estimated to be more than 770,000. By 2030, researchers project that nearly one million people in Canada will be living with dementia, and by 2050, that number is forecast to exceed 1.7 million.
What this means for British Columbia and the Yukon
The Provincial findings from the Landmark Study – Path report: British Columbia [PDF, 281 KB] estimate that 85,800 people in British Columbia were living with dementia in 2022. By 2050, that number is projected to reach 247,300. Currently, there is not enough data to model comparable projections for Yukon.
Women are affected more often
In 2020, an estimated 61.8 per cent of people living with dementia in Canada — about 352,000 people — were assigned female at birth. By 2050, that share is projected to rise slightly to 63.1 per cent meaning more than one million people assigned female at birth in Canada could be living with dementia.
This pattern is not unique to Canada. Around the world, people assigned female at birth experience dementia more often than people assigned male at birth. Longer life expectancy is one important factor, because age increases the risk of dementia. Researchers also continue to study other possible contributors, including hormones, brain structure, inflammation-related health conditions and genetics.
Different types of dementia are also increasing
Alzheimer’s disease is projected to remain the most common form of dementia, increasing from more than 368,000 diagnosed cases in 2022 to more than one million in 2050. Vascular dementia is also to be the second most common form of dementia, growing from 156,000 people in 2020 to more than 468,000 in 2050. Other types of dementia are projected to increase from more than 116,000 people in 2020 to more than 300,000 in 2050.
The impact extends to care partners
Behind every statistic are people — including the family members, friends and care partners who provide support every day. In 2022, more than 54,000 British Columbians provided care for someone living with dementia. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to more than 140,000.
Caregiving responsibilities can have a significant socioeconomic impact on Canada’s workforce and on people’s financial stability. The overwhelming majority of care partners are adult children and spouses, and 88 per cent are of working age.
The economic impact is significant, too
It is impossible to put a true dollar value on the personal cost of dementia. Still, research shows how dementia affects families, workplaces, health systems and the broader economy. According to Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society [PDF, 2.4 MB], the cumulative cost of dementia to Canadian society is projected to reach more than $872 billion over a 30-year period.
Some of these costs are easy to see, such as health-care and support services. Others are less visible, including unpaid caregiver time, opportunity costs for care partners, people affected by dementia leaving the workforce and informal care provided at home and in the community.
Why these numbers matter
These projections are not just numbers on a page. They are a reminder that planning, awareness, research, risk reduction and strong community supports matter. By understanding the scale of dementia both in Canada and in British Columbia, we can better advocate for services that help people living with dementia — and the people who care about them — live with dignity, connection and support.
As dementia affects more people across Canada, including British Columbia and the Yukon, the need for compassionate, practical and well-funded supports will only grow. The sooner we plan for that future, the better prepared we will be to meet it together.