Erdogan Concerned About Declining Birth Rates in Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed concern about declining birth rates and the aging population in Turkey during a speech at the "Decade of Family and Population" program.

Erdoğan emphasized the need to strengthen the family and address demographic challenges, as the age of marriage is increasing, divorces are multiplying, and the fertility rate is decreasing. Specifically, the fertility rate fell below the population replacement level (2.1) in 2017 and reached 1.48 in 2024, with estimates for a further decline in 2025.

Erdoğan noted that similar trends are observed internationally, while the average age in Turkey is approaching 35 years, compared to about 45 in Europe. He also presented the main policy axes for protecting the family, strengthening marriage, increasing births, supporting young people and the elderly, and developing rural areas.

He also referred to his call in 2007 for three children per family, arguing that this position is justified by current demographic developments. Direction has been given to public bodies to implement policies aimed at increasing the population.

Source: ΚΥΠΕ