TÜİK's 'imaginary' income figures: A presidential salary enters every home

At a time when the minimum wage in Turkey is 22 thousand 104 liras and a significant portion of workers are trying to get by on this wage, the figures announced by TÜİK have sparked controversy.

According to a report by Sözcü, CHP Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu evaluated TÜİK's periodic Gross Domestic Product data and stated that these figures do not reflect reality.

Bakırlıoğlu said, "According to TÜİK, every four-person family earns an income equal to the President's salary. While the President's salary in 2024 is 183 thousand liras, according to TÜİK's calculation, 169 thousand liras enter the home of a four-person family monthly."

THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL

Bakırlıoğlu stated, "Where are these families? Why can't we see them? The Diyanet says, 'fitra can be given to retirees and minimum wage earners.' According to the Diyanet, citizens have become in need of fitra, while according to TÜİK's data, they are obligated to pay zakat. A large portion of the country is trying to live on salaries below the hunger threshold." Furthermore, noting that TÜİK calculated the GDP per capita in 2024 at 507 thousand 615 TL in current prices and 15 thousand 463 in US dollars, Bakırlıoğlu added, "Either TÜİK's data does not show the real figures, or the income distribution in the country is deteriorating rapidly."