The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) released its latest report on Türkiye's population and social statistics, shedding light on various gender-related trends and disparities in the country.

As of December 31, 2024, the population of Türkiye was almost equally divided between females and males, with females making up 49.98% and males 50.02%. The female population stood at 42 million 811 thousand 834, while the male population was slightly higher at 42 million 853 thousand 110. However, the balance shifts as age increases, with women making up a growing percentage of the population over 60. In the 60-74 age group, females represent 52.0%, and in the 90-and-over age group, they account for 69.1%, owing to women’s longer life expectancy.

Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Years

According to the Life Tables for 2021-2023, the overall life expectancy in Türkiye was 77.3 years, with females living to an average age of 80.0 years, compared to 74.7 years for males. On average, females live 5.3 years longer than their male counterparts. However, when it comes to healthy life years, females at birth are expected to live 56.3 healthy years, while males will live 59.0 healthy years, indicating a difference of 2.7 years.

Education and Workforce Participation

Türkiye has seen steady progress in education for both genders. In 2023, the mean years of schooling for females aged 25 and over increased to 8.6 years, up from 6.4 years in 2011. The gender gap in educational attainment has also narrowed, with 87.8% of females aged 25 and over having completed at least one level of education by 2023, compared to 96.8% of males.

However, the gender disparity remains in higher education, with the tertiary graduation rate for females at 22.7%, compared to 26.2% for males. Notably, individuals whose mothers had higher education were more likely to also graduate from university, with 84.6% of them earning a higher degree in 2023.

In the workforce, the labor force participation rate for females was 35.8%, significantly lower than the 71.2% participation rate for males. Education plays a key role in employment, as females with higher education had a participation rate of 68.9%, compared to just 13.8% for illiterate women.

Gender Disparities in Employment and Income

The employment rate for females was notably lower than that of males, with 31.3% of females employed, compared to 65.7% of males. Female employment rates varied widely by region, with the highest female employment rate in Antalya, Isparta, and Burdur (38.9%) and the lowest in the Southeast (Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, and Siirt) at 19.8%.

Furthermore, females were more likely to work part-time, with 16.1% of female employees working reduced hours, compared to just 7.3% of males. The gender pay gap remains a concern, especially among higher education graduates, where the gap reached 17.4%.

Political and Social Participation

In politics, the proportion of female deputies in Türkiye's parliament reached 19.9% by the end of 2024, up from 9.1% in 2007. The number of female ambassadors also saw an increase, with females now making up 26.9% of Türkiye's ambassadors, compared to just 11.9% in 2011.

Women’s representation in academia and corporate leadership continues to grow. The proportion of female professors in higher education increased to 34.6% in 2023/24, up from 27.6% in 2010/11. Additionally, the share of female board members in the top 50 listed companies on Borsa İstanbul grew to 19.4% in 2024.

Marriage, Family, and Security Concerns

The average age at first marriage for females was 25.8 years in 2024, while males married at an average age of 28.3 years. In 2023, 16.7% of women had higher levels of education than their spouses, marking a positive trend in educational equality within marriages.

Following divorce, the majority of children (74.4%) were placed under the custody of mothers. Moreover, issues of personal security remain a concern for women, with 35.9% of females reporting feeling insecure when walking alone at night in their own neighborhood, compared to just 15.2% of males.

Digital Divide and Poverty

Women also face challenges in the digital sphere, with 85.4% of females using the internet, compared to 92.2% of males. Additionally, the risk of poverty or social exclusion affects women more than men, with 31.5% of females at risk, compared to 27.1% of males.

Overall, while progress has been made in narrowing gender gaps in various areas such as education and political participation, significant disparities remain, particularly in employment, income, and social security. Gender equality continues to be a focal point in Türkiye’s ongoing development. (ILKHA)