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University graduates in Türkiye had the lowest annual net income in Europe in 2024, earning €7,542 ($8,800), according to Eurostat data. The European Union average was €29,490.
A report by T24, citing a graph prepared by financial analyst Inan Mutlu using Eurostat figures, shows that the annual equivalized median net income of university graduates in Türkiye is roughly one-fourth of the EU average. This means the median monthly income of a graduate in Türkiye is about €628, compared with €2,458 across the EU.
Luxembourg (€63,726) and Switzerland (€63,193) topped the list, while Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, and the Netherlands recorded annual incomes between €39,000 and €45,000. Germany stood at €37,497, and France at €33,065.
Countries below the EU average include Italy (€28,007), Spain (€25,212), and Portugal (€18,046). Türkiye ranks last, with Serbia (€8,598), Hungary (€11,580), Romania (€12,463), and Bulgaria (€12,569) immediately above.
The economic situation for families in Türkiye also shows widening disparities. The country’s hunger threshold—the minimum budget needed to meet basic food needs for a family of four—rose to ₺27,111 ($659.03) in August. This surpasses the minimum wage of ₺22,104 ($537.31) by ₺5,000 ($121.54) for the first time.
The poverty line, which includes additional essential expenses for a family of four, climbed to ₺88,309 ($2,146.66), nearly four times the minimum wage, according to the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Turk-Is).
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