In a move to address Türkiye’s demographic challenges, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz chaired the inaugural meeting of the newly established Population Policies Board at the Presidential Complex. The board, created by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on December 25, 2024, is tasked with tackling a wide range of population-related issues, including maternity leave, daycare support, birth assistance, and flexible working policies.
Strategic Approach to Population Issues
Yılmaz emphasized that population policies go beyond demographic objectives, stressing their strategic importance for the nation’s future. The board, composed of key ministers, officials, and experts, will coordinate efforts to strengthen the population structure, boost fertility rates, and ensure healthy generational preservation. Yılmaz outlined that inter-institutional coordination will be critical in implementing these policies. He also revealed that the board would meet at least every six months to monitor progress and adjust strategies.
“We will create our action plans and roadmap,” Yılmaz stated, emphasizing that the board would develop short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for a healthy and sustainable population structure.
Declining Fertility Rates and Demographic Shifts
One of the key topics discussed at the meeting was the concerning decline in fertility rates, which has had a profound impact on Türkiye’s demographic structure. Yılmaz noted that fertility rates have dropped significantly from 2.38 children per woman in 2001 to 1.51 in 2023, the lowest rate in the country’s history. The fertility rate has fallen below the critical replacement threshold of 2.1, with only 10 provinces exceeding this level and 51 provinces falling below 1.5.
Yılmaz also highlighted the broader demographic trends, including rising divorce rates, later marriages, delayed childbirth, and the increasing number of single-parent families. Additionally, the elderly population surpassed 10% of the total population for the first time in 2023, further complicating the nation’s demographic challenges.
Impact on Society and Economy
Yılmaz warned that if the declining fertility trend continues without intervention, it could lead to significant challenges in various sectors, including employment, social security, healthcare, and defense. He stressed that the decline in fertility is not just a demographic issue but a multifaceted problem with far-reaching consequences for the country’s future stability and prosperity.
“The decline in fertility rates goes beyond being a demographic problem. It can potentially cause serious issues in the short, medium, and long term,” Yılmaz explained.
Population Policies in Historical Context
Yılmaz provided historical context, noting that policies to increase fertility were introduced after the founding of the Turkish Republic but were abandoned following the 1960 and 1980 coups, which aimed to reduce population growth. He also referred to earlier government efforts, including the 10th and 12th Development Plans, which focused on fostering a dynamic population structure.
Projections and Future Outlook
Demographic projections indicate that Türkiye’s population will peak at 93.8 million in the 2050s before declining to 76.8 million by 2100. These trends, according to President Erdoğan, pose an “existential threat,” necessitating urgent action to reverse the fertility decline and ensure the nation’s future demographic strength.
Yılmaz also raised concerns about the high cesarean birth rate in Türkiye, which is negatively impacting fertility and emphasized the need for measures to encourage natural childbirth.
Policy Solutions and Support for Families
To address these challenges, Yılmaz outlined several policy measures, including financial support for young couples, encouraging early marriages, and promoting family-building initiatives. The board will also focus on balancing work and family life, offering enhanced childcare services, and supporting natural childbirth to reduce the cesarean birth rate.
Yılmaz further emphasized the importance of promoting Türkiye’s core values to counteract global trends that undermine traditional family structures.
A Strong Family for a Strong Future
Yılmaz concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Türkiye’s family and population structure. He reiterated that the family institution is sacred, and its preservation is crucial to building a prosperous and sustainable future for the country. The Population Policies Board will continue to monitor demographic trends and propose new policies to address fertility decline, family issues, and the changing social landscape.
“A family flourishing with children is a sacred institution, and only by preserving and uplifting the family structure and future generations together will we achieve our goal of strengthening Türkiye’s demographic potential,” Yılmaz said.