09.02.2026 11:10
In Turkey, the median age, which was 34.4 in 2024, rose to 34.9 in 2025. When examined by gender, it was observed that the median age increased from 33.7 to 34.2 for men and from 35.2 to 35.7 for women. These figures justified President Erdoğan, who has repeatedly emphasized that the fertility rate has decreased and the average age of the population has increased.
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) announced the results of the Address-Based Population Registration System for the year 2025. Accordingly, the population residing in Turkey increased by 427,224 people compared to the previous year, reaching 86 million 92 thousand 168 as of December 31, 2025. The male population recorded was 43 million 59 thousand 434, while the female population was 43 million 32 thousand 734.
MEDIAN AGE RISES TO 34.9
According to TÜİK data, the median age of the population in Turkey rose to 34.9 in 2025. The median age refers to the age of the individual who is in the middle when the ages of the individuals constituting the population are arranged in order. The median age, which was 34.4 in 2024, increased from 33.7 to 34.2 for males and from 35.2 to 35.7 for females.
SINOP HAS THE HIGHEST MEDIAN AGE
When looking at the distribution of median age by provinces, it was observed that Sinop has the highest median age value at 44. Following Sinop, Giresun with 43.5 and Kastamonu with 43.3 were next. On the other hand, Şanlıurfa had the lowest median age at 21.8. Şanlıurfa was followed by Şırnak with 23.3 and Siirt with 25.
ERDOĞAN HAD ALSO DRAWN ATTENTION
President Erdoğan, who emphasized the decline in the fertility rate in Turkey and the increase in the average age of the population at every opportunity, stated, "Our population is increasing, but our population growth rate is decreasing. The total fertility rate is below the level needed for our population to renew itself. According to TÜİK's data, the total fertility rate last year was 1.48. We are currently experiencing a disaster. This rate is far below the renewal level of 2.10. Alarm bells are ringing very loudly for our future. Anyone who cares about the future of this country cannot remain indifferent to this."
WE HAVE ENTERED THE "VERY OLD COUNTRIES" CLASS
TÜİK Deputy President Furkan Metin also emphasized in his statement that Turkey has entered the "very old countries" class as of last year, noting that the elderly population rate could exceed 25% in the next 25 years. Pointing out that the average age is rapidly increasing in parallel with this decline, Metin stated, "Turkey was like a 20-year-old youth in the 1990s. If the decline in fertility continues this way, our median age could exceed 45 in about 40 years. The energy of a 45-year-old Turkey will not be the same as the energy of Turkey that was in its 20s and 25s in the 1990s."