There is limited data published with regards to the prevalence of dementia in Africa as well as South Africa (De Jager et al., 2017; Meyer et al., 2016). Although prevalence is generally expected to be higher in urban areas, a rural community study in Amatole District (Kwazulu-Natal) found a higher than expected prevalence rate of 11%, where the World Alzheimer’s report (2016) estimated 4% (De Jager et al., 2017). Although no population-based dementia prevalence rates exist for the urban–rural geographical areas, national statistics indicate that the 65.1% of the country’s population over the age of 60 live in urban areas (StatsSA, 2015b). When disaggregated by population group, the dominance of the urban bias holds true for all population groups with the exception (although marginal) of the black African population, where most older persons (50.6%) for this group were found in rural areas in 2016 (StatsSA, 2015b).

References:

De Jager, CA, Msemburi, W., Pepper, K., & Combrinck, M. (2017). Dementia Prevalence in a Rural Region of South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Community Study. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 60(3), 1087–1096. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-170325

Meyer, J. C., Harirari, P., & Schellack, N. (2016). Overview of Alzheimer ’ s disease and its management. South African Pharmaceutical Journal, 83(9), 48–56.

StatsSA. (2015b). Vulnerable Groups Series I: The Social Profile of Youth, 2009–2014. In StatsSA (Vol. 03, Issue 03). Available from:  http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=6395%5Cnhttp://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=6135