22.04.2026 17:54
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, addressing the decline in fertility rates, which President Erdoğan has frequently highlighted and described as a 'disaster,' stated, 'When examining all 81 provinces across Turkey, we see that by 2025, the elderly population ratio exceeds 10% in 62 of our provinces. This situation indicates that aging has now spread throughout the entire country.'
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, "According to TÜİK estimates, if the current structure in demographic indicators continues, the elderly ratio will reach 13.5% in 2030 and nearly one-third of our population by 2100. These data show that Turkey has a rapidly aging population structure and that we are on the threshold of a demographic transformation."
The '2nd Aging Council' meeting was organized by the Ministry of Family and Social Services under the auspices of the Presidency. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, as well as Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, attended the program. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated, "With our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declaring 2019 as the 'Year of the Elderly' and the subsequent 1st Aging Council, the issue of aging began to be addressed as a more distinct policy area in our country. In the ongoing process, steps taken within the scope of the Year of Retirees, the Year of the Family, and the '2026-2035 Family and Population Decade' have broadened this approach; the issue of aging has become a multidimensional policy area addressed together with family structure and demographic change. In our country, which is in the stage of 'demographic transformation' referred to as the global aging process, the proportion of child and young population is rapidly decreasing, while the proportion of elderly population is rapidly increasing."
"AGING HAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY"
Noting that besides the continuous and sharp decrease in fertility rate, mortality rate has decreased as a result of increased living standards and welfare levels and developments in the field of health, Yılmaz said, "Turkey ranks 75th among 194 countries according to the elderly population ratio in 2025. While the elderly population ratio in our country was 5.7% in 2000, it exceeded 10% for the first time in 2023, moving our country into the 'very aged countries' group. According to TÜİK estimates, if the current structure in demographic indicators continues, the elderly ratio will reach 13.5% in 2030 and nearly one-third of our population by 2100. These data show that Turkey has a rapidly aging population structure and that we are on the threshold of a demographic transformation. These data also indicate to all of us that we need to prepare much better as a country for aging and produce effective policies that address the problems with short, medium, and long-term perspectives. When examining all 81 provinces across Turkey, we see that in 2025, the elderly population ratio is above 10% in 62 of our provinces. This situation shows that aging has now spread throughout the country."
"LONELINESS IN OLD AGE, A GROWING SOCIAL PROBLEM"
Noting that of the over 7 million households with at least one elderly individual, approximately 2 million consist of elderly individuals living alone, Yılmaz said, "This picture shows us not only a demographic change but also that loneliness in old age is becoming an increasingly growing social problem. In order to determine how effectively the elderly population spends the aging process, the Active Aging Index (AAI) was developed with contributions from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). While the latest published AAI value for EU member countries for 2018 is 36.8; this value for Turkey in 2024 is 29.7. This situation shows that we have much to do regarding making the aging population active and productive."
Yılmaz stated that within the framework of the Medium-Term Program (MTP), adapting to Turkey's changing demographic structure and strengthening care services for the elderly population are among the priority goals, noting that they continue studies for the implementation of the 'Long-Term Care Insurance' system. Yılmaz said that multidimensional policies are being implemented to increase the quality of life of elderly individuals in the fields of care, health, social services, employment, accessibility, and social participation by enabling them to effectively use their rights.
"WE WILL EXPAND INFRASTRUCTURE WITH NEW NURSING HOMES"
Stating that they have significantly expanded the scope and quality of services provided to elderly individuals, Yılmaz said, "While we served approximately 5,000 elderly individuals in 63 official nursing homes in 2002, today we serve approximately 15,000 citizens in 178 official nursing homes. In addition, we provide this service to a total of approximately 30,000 citizens in our other public institutions and private nursing homes. Within 2026, we will continue to expand this infrastructure further by putting into service new nursing homes with 900 capacity in 8 provinces. We do not see these services as limited to accommodation; we offer health, psycho-social support, rehabilitation, and social, sports, and cultural activities to our elders with a holistic understanding. In line with the same approach, we are spreading service models close to a home environment with the Elderly Living Home Project we have implemented. Additionally, we support our families and elderly by providing guest care service for up to 45 days within a year during periods when families need it."
Yılmaz also stated that they carry out important projects to support the active participation of elderly individuals in social life.
GÖKTAŞ: WE SEE OUR ELDERLY AS A PRODUCTIVE VALUE
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş noted that with the 2nd Aging Council and workshops held in 81 provinces, they comprehensively evaluated the findings and solution proposals from the field, and they conducted the Aging Field Research with contributions from 24,697 people in 81 provinces.
Minister Göktaş said, "The ultimate goal we aim to achieve with the 2nd Aging Council is to make the services we provide more effective, more widespread, and of higher quality. It is to implement an 'elderly-friendly' Turkey model where elderly rights are strengthened and care services are financially and operationally secured. The prepared reports and decisions taken will be one of the fundamental reference sources for all strategic goals in this field. We act with the understanding of a 'social state that leaves no one behind'. We see our elderly as active and productive values who guide society with their experiences. In this direction; creating family-friendly cities and living spaces, spreading home care and day care services, strengthening health and social service integration, implementing policies supporting active aging, strengthening the family structure and increasing intergenerational solidarity are among our priority goals. Additionally, it is of great importance that we include the care insurance mentioned in the 12th Development Plan on the country's agenda."