The number of people with dementia or suspected dementia who were reported missing in 2020 rose to 17,565, continuing to post a record high figure every year since data became available in 2012, police said Thursday.
The National Police Agency data showed the figure was up 86 from 2019 and has increased about 1.8 times in eight years, showing the issue of dementia is becoming serious amid Japan's rapidly aging population.
Of the reported missing, 214 were not found by the end of the year, while 16,887 including those reported missing before 2020 were located, according to the police data.