53 million
unpaid caregivers
In 2020, 53 million people in the United States provided unpaid support to an older adult or someone living with a chronic condition or disability.
Reference guide
U.S. Caregiving Statistics: 2026 Reference Guide
A practical collection of recent public data on unpaid caregiving, caregiver well-being, and dementia care in the United States.
Last updated September 9, 2026
A clear view of the care people provide
Family caregivers often coordinate daily routines, appointments, transportation, communication, and emotional support. These figures provide useful context for writers, educators, community organizations, and families who want to understand the scale of that work.
At a glance
Key caregiving statistics
1 in 5
U.S. adults provides care
The CDC reported that approximately one in five U.S. adults provided regular care or assistance to a friend or family member with a health condition or disability.
CDC, MMWR: Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers, 2021–2022
13 of 19
health indicators were less favorable
Compared with noncaregivers, caregivers had less favorable results on 13 of 19 health indicators measured by the CDC.
CDC, MMWR: Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers, 2021–2022
25.6%
of caregivers reported lifetime depression
The comparable figure for noncaregivers was 18.6%, illustrating the emotional load that can accompany sustained care.
CDC, MMWR: Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers, 2021–2022
11 million+
people provided unpaid dementia care
More than 11 million U.S. adults provided unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.
CDC, Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia, 2023
18.4 billion
hours of dementia care were provided
Unpaid dementia caregivers provided 18.4 billion hours of care in a single year.
CDC, Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia, 2023
80%
of adults with dementia receive care at home
Most adults living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias receive care in their homes, where family and friends often carry much of the daily work.
CDC, Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia, 2023
Sources and methodology
How this guide is maintained
Every figure on this page comes from a named public source and includes the year or reporting period used for that statistic. The guide is reviewed regularly and updated when a stronger or more recent source changes the picture.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Dementia Caregiving as a Public Health Strategy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers, United States, 2015–2016 to 2021–2022
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia
Cite this page
SEE Infinitely. “U.S. Caregiving Statistics: 2026 Reference Guide.” Updated September 9, 2026. https://seeinfinitely.com/caregiver-statistics
Link directly to any statistic above by using its heading in the page address.
Care deserves both attention and support.
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