Dementia is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Africa, with an estimated 1.9 million people currently living with the condition across the region. The number is expected to rise significantly as populations grow and life expectancy increases. Beyond its health impact, dementia places a heavy economic burden on families and societies, costing an estimated US$15.6 billion annually in the African Region. Much of this burden falls on unpaid caregivers, predominantly women and family members, who spend an average of 12.9 hours per day providing care, far exceeding the global average of 7.8 hours. Despite the growing burden, dementia remains underdiagnosed and receives limited attention within health systems. As of 2024, none of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region had a national dementia plan, and only five countries had conducted public awareness campaigns on dementia.
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