Society in Turkey
An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.
Explore Social Domains
Demographics
Public Health
Education & Human Capital
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Current Social Overview of Turkey
A summary based on key social and demographic indicators.
- Turkey has an estimated population of 85.3M2023, with a modest annual growth rate of 0.4%2023, suggesting a mature demographic transition with stable, but limitated, population increase. A below-replacement fertility rate of 1.5 births per woman2023suggests gradual population aging and potential future workforce shortages. Net emigration of approximately 276K individuals annually (or 3.2 per 1,000 inhabitants)2024adds pressure to demographic transitions and workforce sustainability.
- Regarding public health, the country maintains a reasonable health standard with a life expectancy of 77.2 years2023, though there is scope for further improvements to achieve higher global benchmarks. Concurrently, maternal and child health indicators show solid progress, with child mortality (under 5 years) at 12.8 per 1,000 live births2023and maternal mortality at 15 per 100,000 live births2023, indicating improving but still developing services. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 3.7% of GDP2022, which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
- Strong educational foundations are evident in the high adult literacy rate of 97%2019, which significantly contributes to human capital development. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 88% primary enrollment2017and 116% secondary participation rates2022. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.6% of GDP2022, which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
- In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, the predominantly urban character, with 77% urban population2023, supports modern economic structures while maintaining important rural-urban linkages. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 100% electricity access2023and 87% internet penetration2024, supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.
Key Development Insights
Population Dynamics
The combination of low fertility and net emigration poses significant long-term risks to workforce sustainability and economic vitality.
Public Health System
Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.
Human Capital Formation
A highly educated populace positions the nation for success in the global knowledge economy. Keeping talent is a vital strength.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
A highly urbanized, digitally connected society creates a strong foundation for service-based industries and global market access.
Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.