08.03.2026 16:51
In Turkey, the number of retirees has reached approximately 17 million, with more than 35% of retirees living in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Zonguldak, Sinop, and Balıkesir stand out as provinces where the number of retirees exceeds the number of workers.
According to the Social Security Institution's (SGK) data for November 2025, there are 26 million 346 thousand 901 insured employees in Turkey, while the number of retirees has reached 16 million 997 thousand 274. Of the retirees, 11 million 520 thousand 51 are workers, 2 million 921 thousand 564 are tradesmen and farmers, and 2 million 555 thousand 659 receive pensions as civil servants.
THE MOST RETIREES ARE IN ISTANBUL
According to the data, the city with the highest number of retirees is Istanbul, with 3 million 460 thousand 810 people. Ankara, with 1 million 332 thousand 487 retirees, and Izmir, with 1 million 239 thousand 771 retirees, follow Istanbul. Thus, approximately 35.5% of retirees in Turkey live in these three major cities.
THE LEAST RETIREES ARE IN ARDAHAN, BAYBURT, AND TUNCELI
The provinces with the least number of retirees in Turkey are Ardahan, Bayburt, and Tunceli.
PROVINCES WHERE THE NUMBER OF RETIREES EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
It was observed that in Zonguldak, Sinop, and Balıkesir, the number of retirees exceeded the number of employees. Accordingly, there are 182 thousand 539 retirees compared to 152 thousand 193 employees in Zonguldak. In Sinop, there are 66 thousand 273 retirees compared to 57 thousand 5 employees, while in Balıkesir, there are 373 thousand 983 retirees compared to 371 thousand 76 employees.
1 IN 5 EMPLOYEES IS IN ISTANBUL
Istanbul also ranked first in the number of insured employees. With 6 million 30 thousand 615 employees, Istanbul houses 22.8% of the insured employees in Turkey. Ankara follows with 2 million 156 thousand 110 employees, and Izmir with 1 million 463 thousand 57 employees.
CALL FOR NEW POLICIES FOR RETIREES
Kazım Ergün, the President of the Turkish Association of Retirees (TÜED), stated that retirees are particularly concentrated in major cities and coastal provinces. Ergün expressed that access to healthcare services and social living opportunities are decisive in city preferences, stating that elderly and retiree-focused policies need to be implemented in regions where retirees are densely populated.