Turkey's population has aged: It has exceeded 8 million

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has announced the elderly population rate. According to the data, the elderly population has reached 8 million 722 thousand 806 people.

INCREASED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

The population aged 65 and over, which is considered the elderly population, was 7 million 186 thousand 204 people in 2018, and it increased by 21.4% over the last five years to reach 8 million 722 thousand 806 people in 2023. The proportion of the elderly population within the total population rose from 8.8% in 2018 to 10.2% in 2023. In 2023, 44.5% of the elderly population consisted of men, while 55.5% consisted of women.

IT WILL BE 12.9 PERCENT IN 2030

According to population projections, the elderly population rate is expected to be 12.9% in 2030, 16.3% in 2040, 22.6% in 2060, and 25.6% in 2080. 

When the elderly population is examined by age group, it is observed that in 2018, 62.2% of the elderly population was in the 65-74 age group, 28.6% was in the 75-84 age group, and 9.2% was in the 85 and over age group, while in 2023, 64.0% was in the 65-74 age group, 28.1% was in the 75-84 age group, and 7.9% was in the 85 and over age group.

THE POPULATION HAS AGED

 The fact that the proportion of the elderly population within the total population exceeds 10.0% is an indicator of the aging of the population. In Turkey, the elderly population has shown a higher rate of increase compared to the population in other age groups.

 In Turkey, which is in the process of "demographic transition"—also known as the global aging process—the age structure of the population has changed due to the decrease in fertility and mortality rates, as well as developments in the field of health, and increases in living standards, welfare levels, and life expectancy at birth. While the proportion of children and young people in the total population has decreased, the proportion of the elderly in the total population has increased. 

MEDIAN AGE HAS INCREASED

The median age is the age of the person in the middle when the people forming the population are ranked from youngest to oldest, from newborn babies to the oldest. The median age, which is one of the indicators providing information about the aging of the population, was 32.0 in 2018 and became 34.0 in 2023. In 2023, the median age was 33.2 for men and 34.7 for women.

According to population projections, it is expected to be 35.6 in 2030, 38.5 in 2040, 42.3 in 2060, and 45.0 in 2080.