24.07.2025 15:57
Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, commenting on the decline in the fertility rate to 1.48, which President Erdoğan described as "not a sign of good," stated, "According to TÜİK's low-probability scenario, our population will decrease to 54 million by 2100, according to the UN's low-probability scenario, it will drop to 38 million, and according to the very low-probability scenario, it could fall to 25 million."
Evaluating the decline of the fertility rate to 1.48, President Erdoğan stated, "Currently, our Ministry of Family and Social Services is engaged in intense work and effort regarding this issue. Our fertility rate has now fallen slightly below 1.5. This is not a good sign. We came here from triple levels. However, our goal was very different. But as of now, we are not in a good place."
ALARMING SCENARIO FOR 2100 Following President Erdoğan's remarks, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş also provided an assessment on the matter. Speaking to Sabah newspaper, Minister Göktaş said, "The number of provinces in our country where the fertility rate has fallen below the 2.1 necessary for the population to renew itself was 52 in 2014, and today it has reached 71. When examining population projections, according to TÜİK's low probability scenario, our population will decline to 54 million by 2100, according to the UN's low probability scenario to 38 million, and according to the very low probability scenario to as low as 25 million."
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş "AGE OF MOTHERHOOD IS RISING" Continuing her remarks, Minister Göktaş stated, "The average age of motherhood is rising, and the fertility rate is decreasing." She added, "Young people are marrying later and having children later. The average age of motherhood has climbed to 29.3. The size of households has decreased from 4 to 3. The rate of single-person households is around 20%."
'NEIGHBOR MOTHER' APPLICATION IS STARTING Announcing that they are conducting a pilot study for the 'Neighbor Mother' project in collaboration with UNICEF as part of the Family Year activities, Göktaş said, "The Neighbor Mother Project will be implemented with a care model defined by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Women who receive child care training from the Ministry of National Education's Public Education Centers can become neighbor mothers. Women who will provide child care can offer paid and regular care services for a maximum of 5 children in their own homes. A written contract will be made between the parent and the neighbor mother, determining issues such as payment, hours, meals, and holidays. The new system, which will ensure that child care is carried out qualitatively in a home environment through caregivers, will be presented as an alternative."
ERDOĞAN SAID "IT IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT" In a statement made a few months ago regarding the issue, President Erdoğan said, "We are below the threshold of 2.1, which is the renewal level of the population. This, I openly say, is an existential threat for Turkey, a disaster. The current situation has become intolerable for our country. We have been continuously recommending 3 children because we saw this picture. We have faced criticism many times due to our recommendation. Unfortunately, time has proven us right in our predictions. The importance of our call for at least 3 children is now better understood. We need to realize one thing: the population is our greatest strength as a nation, and we must protect it."