SSI expert calculates one by one: A massive gap between retirement in Europe and Turkey!

In his article, SSI Expert Özgür Erdursun stated that pension salaries in Turkey are insufficient to meet living standards. Erdursun assessed, "Retirement is not just about giving up work; it also means security to sustain life without the ability to work."

Stating that while retirees continue to benefit from health services, their income is not enough to cover basic needs, Erdursun noted that salaries mostly remain below the hunger and poverty thresholds. He also emphasized that widow and orphan pensions are included in this picture.

The figures determined as of January 2025 are as follows:

Hunger threshold: 26,413 TL

Poverty threshold: 86,036 TL

Monthly cost of living for a single worker: 33,982 TL

Lowest pension salary: 16,881 TL

Lowest orphan pension: 2,521 TL – 6,256 TL

Lowest widow pension: 6,725 TL – 11,391 TL

This picture reveals that the financial hardship of retirees in Turkey is deepening.

RETIREMENT IS MORE SECURE IN EUROPE

According to Erdursun's assessments, retirees in European countries can maintain a life close to the middle-income level with their salaries. A retiree who has worked for 25 years with an average income can meet their needs for food, housing, energy, transportation, and social activities.

Stating that the average pension salary in Germany is between 1,300-1,500 Euros, Erdursun reported that additional support is provided to low-income retirees in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium as well. He noted that the lowest pension salary in Turkey corresponds to only 15-20 percent of average salaries in Europe.

HEALTH SERVICES ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH

Erdursun stated that the strongest aspect for retirees in Turkey is their access to health services. However, he expressed that as long as adequate housing, nutrition, and transportation opportunities are not provided, health insurance alone is not sufficient for well-being.

A PESSIMISTIC PICTURE FOR THE FUTURE

Issuing warnings regarding the coming years, Erdursun stated that considering the government's inflation targets and raise rates, no significant improvement should be expected in pension salaries in the short term. Erdursun summarized the situation with the words, "Purchasing power will fall even further in 2026."

News Source: 12punto