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Türkiye’s Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, has underlined the country’s rapidly changing demographics, warning that the ageing population will require urgent new policies. Speaking at the Elderly Workshop in Eskisehir, organized as part of preparations for the 2nd Elderly Council to be held in October, she noted that Türkiye’s elderly population currently accounts for over 10 percent of the total.
Projections suggest that by 2040 the proportion will rise to 16 percent, and without effective measures, the median age could reach 60 by the year 2100.
Goktas stressed that this demographic transformation is not just about numbers but about the need for a nationwide social policy mobilization. Falling birth rates and longer life expectancy are reshaping the country’s population structure, leading to new demands in areas ranging from healthcare and pension systems to housing, transport, and urban planning. She said this shift brings “important responsibilities for all of us” and requires expanding and diversifying services to address the varied needs of older people.
The minister highlighted research carried out jointly with Türkiye’s statistical authority in 2023, which found that nearly two-thirds of elderly people considered family to be their greatest source of happiness. At the same time, 1.6 million elderly individuals in Türkiye live alone, yet a large majority reported feeling safe even when on their own at home.
Based on these findings, Goktas said the government aims to strengthen services that allow the elderly to remain with their families and communities rather than in institutional care, including home care, day centers, geriatric health services, and improved housing arrangements.
Looking ahead, the ministry is developing policies that are inclusive, sustainable, evidence-based, and grounded in rights. Field studies on ageing, together with insights from workshops in 81 provinces, will guide the future roadmap.
Goktas emphasized that ensuring older generations live with dignity, security, and respect is a collective duty, adding that 2025 has been declared the “Year of the Family” in Türkiye. She stated, “If we want to strengthen the family, we must first take care of our elders and keep them at the heart of family life.”
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