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Erdoğan puts an end to the debate: Our birth rate has fallen because we have been caught up in consumer culture

AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, much like his son Bilal Erdoğan in a recent statement, has pointed to the rise in the country's per capita income as the reason for Turkey's declining birth rate.

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In Turkey, where we have witnessed a significant decline in the birth rate over the last 12 years despite statements made at almost every meeting he attends about having 3 children, explanations regarding the cause are coming one after another.

While it is observed that citizens, crushed under the weight of the economic crisis and declining purchasing power over the years, are choosing to have fewer children, statements from the AKP government attribute the decline in the birth rate to economic prosperity.

Most recently, AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan put an end to the discussion on this decline with a statement on his social media account, attributing the decrease to Turkey's rising level of prosperity.

Here is that statement from Erdoğan:

I find it useful to clarify a fact that the opposition is practically stomping on.

The reason for the decline in the birth rate in our country is by no means the periodic problems experienced in the economy.

On the contrary, in periods when the per capita income was one-fifth of its current level, our country's fertility rate was nearly twice as high.

A similar situation exists not only in Turkey but also in other countries around the world.

The global fertility rate was 5 in 1950 and has fallen to 2.3 in 2024.

The average total fertility rate of European Union member countries is 1.38.

Malta, despite having a per capita income of 41 thousand dollars, is at the bottom of the list in Europe in terms of fertility rate with a ratio of 1.06.

Bulgaria, which has the highest fertility rate in Europe at 1.81, has a per capita income of approximately 16 thousand dollars.

Rather than economic difficulties, the suggestions of popular culture that exalt comfort, consumption, and carnal desires are the most important reasons for these problems.