Social protection benefits in Turkey are increasing: Half are retirees
As of 2024, 18.3 million people in Turkey are receiving social protection support, 12.9 million of whom are retirees. With the increase in pension payments, there has been a 98 percent total increase in state social benefits.
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The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has published social protection statistics for 2024. According to the data, a total of 18.3 million people across Turkey are receiving social protection benefits.
Of these individuals, 12.9 million are retirees. The total amount of social protection benefits has also seen a significant increase. In 2024, a total of 4.8 trillion liras was allocated to social protection benefits. This amount represents a 98 percent increase compared to the benefits provided last year.
According to TÜİK data, the number of people receiving pensions, survivor's benefits, and disability benefits reached 17.4 million in 2024, an increase of 3.5 percent compared to the previous year. The number of people receiving old-age pensions rose to 12.9 million in 2024, marking a 4 percent increase over the previous year.
RISE IN STATE SOCIAL PROTECTION EXPENDITURES
A large portion of the state's social protection benefits consists of payments made to retirees. In 2024, the total social protection benefits paid to retirees rose to 2.2 trillion liras, marking a significant increase compared to 2023. In 2023, the benefits paid to retirees were 1.1 trillion liras. The share of social protection benefits received by retirees out of the total also increased, rising to 46 percent. Last year, this rate was 44 percent.
While 62.5 percent of social protection benefits were provided in cash, the largest share, at 75 percent, consisted of benefits provided to retirees and the elderly. Benefits provided to widows and orphans accounted for 16.1 percent of total social benefits. Furthermore, while the amount of in-kind assistance in 2024 was recorded at 1.8 trillion liras, the amount of cash benefits reached 3 trillion liras. The largest portion of in-kind assistance, at 82 percent, was directed toward illness and healthcare.
WIDOW AND ORPHAN BENEFITS CONTINUE TO INCREASE
In 2024, the number of people receiving survivor's benefits rose to 4.2 million. This indicates that a significant portion of social protection benefits is being used, in particular, to support families. In addition to retirees, benefits provided to widows and orphans also hold a significant share.
11.3 percent of social protection benefits were provided conditionally. Conditional benefits cover assistance provided to individuals who meet specific criteria, and the rate of such benefits remained high in 2024 as well.
The total amount of social protection benefits once again highlights the scale of the support provided by the state in economic terms. In 2024, total social protection benefits increased by 98 percent compared to 2023, reaching 4.8 trillion liras. The expansion of the social security system to cover a wider population and the increase in payments made to retirees continue to reinforce public confidence in social security.