Nearly 1 out of 10 over-65s in South Korea suffer from dementia, with the number of dementia patients expected to surpass 1 million next year, data showed.

The number of dementia patients has reached 970,000 as of 2025, accounting for 9.17 percent of those aged 65 or older, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The figure is anticipated to surpass the 1 million mark next year and the 2 million mark in 2044.

The ministry said the proportion of dementia cases among older adults decreased from the corresponding tally of 9.5 percent in 2016, attributing the drop to improved education levels and health conditions of older adults. (Yonhap)