Turkey is aging
The number of individuals aged 65 and over in Turkey has increased by more than 20 percent in the last five years, exceeding 9.5 million in 2025. As the demographic transition continues, the share of the elderly population in the total is rising every year.
12punto
Turkey is solidifying its place among aging societies. According to the latest data, the population aged 65 and over reached 9 million 583 thousand 59 in 2025. This group represents an increase of approximately 20.5 percent compared to the 7 million 953 thousand 555 people in 2020. The proportion of the elderly in the total population rose from 9.5 percent five years ago to 11.1 percent in 2025.
Looking at the gender distribution of the elderly population, it is observed that 44.7 percent are men and 55.3 percent are women.
Assuming current trends continue in demographic projections, the ratio of the elderly to the total population will rise to 13.5 percent in 2030, 17.9 percent in 2040, 27 percent in 2060, and 33.4 percent in 2080. In a low-fertility scenario, this rate could reach 42.8 percent by 2100, while it is projected to remain at 28.2 percent if fertility-enhancing measures are effective. In short, a radical change is expected in Turkey's age structure.
In the distribution of the population by age groups, as of 2025, 62.9 percent of the elderly are between 65-74 years old, 29.3 percent are between 75-84 years old, and 7.8 percent are 85 years and older. The number of individuals aged 100 and over reached 8 thousand 290 in 2025.
RAPID RISE IN ELDERLY POPULATION GROWTH
The aging of society is becoming even more pronounced as the ratio of the elderly to the total population exceeds 10 percent. The growth rate observed in the elderly population compared to other age groups has become one of the most striking indicators of the demographic transition the country is facing. It is predicted that the weight of the elderly in society will gradually increase in the coming years.
At a time when the various social and economic effects of an aging population are being discussed globally, the share of the elderly population in Turkey is rising rapidly due to increasing life expectancy, developments in the health sector, and declining fertility rates, while the proportion of children and the young population in the total is gradually falling. Although Turkey still has a relatively young population in proportional terms, it is on a serious upward trend in terms of the total number of elderly individuals.
The data shows that the province with the highest proportion of the elderly population is Sinop.