The number of people aged 65 and older has reached nearly 9.83 million, accounting for 11.4 percent of the population, while the share of children continues to decline.

Türkiye is undergoing a rapid demographic shift as falling fertility rates and rising life expectancy accelerate the aging of its population, raising concerns about the country's future workforce, economy and social security system.

According to TurkStat data, the population aged 65 and older reached 9,831,160 as of October 2026, accounting for approximately 11.4 percent of Türkiye's total population of 86,502,286.

The country's median age has also climbed to 34.9, compared with approximately 28 in 2007, reflecting a steady shift towards an older population. Although Türkiye's median age remains below the European Union average of 44.9, the gap is narrowing.

The decline in fertility is another key factor behind the demographic transformation. Türkiye's total fertility rate has fallen to 1.48 children per woman, significantly below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a population without migration.

Meanwhile, the number of children aged 0–14 has declined to 17,247,925, representing around 19.9 percent of the population.

The growing proportion of older people, alongside the shrinking share of younger generations, points to mounting demographic challenges for Türkiye. The trend could place increasing pressure on the labour market, pension system, healthcare services and public finances in the coming decades.

The figures highlight the scale of the country's demographic transition, with the balance between younger and older generations changing rapidly. (ILKHA)