Average Household Disposable Income Reaches 374,899 TL in 2024
According to the latest research findings, the share of the highest equivalent household disposable income group, which accounts for 20% of the population, decreased by 0.6 points compared to the previous year, reaching 48.1%. In contrast, the share of the lowest income group, consisting of 20% of the population, increased by 0.2 points to 6.3%.
According to a statement made by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the Gini coefficient was estimated at 0.413. The Gini coefficient, which measures income distribution inequality, indicates equality in income distribution as it approaches zero, and indicates distortion in income distribution as it approaches one. The household disposable income used in the Gini coefficient calculation is obtained after deducting taxes paid and regular transfers to other households or individuals from the total annual incomes of households and individuals.
In previous years, the Gini coefficient was calculated solely based on equivalent household disposable income. However, it was also calculated using two different methods, excluding all social transfers and excluding other social transfers, including pensions and widow-orphan benefits, to observe the impact of social transfers on income distribution.
Recent research findings indicate that the Gini coefficient decreased by 0.007 points from the previous year to an estimated 0.413. When all social transfers are excluded, the Gini coefficient is estimated at 0.476, while when pension and widow-orphan benefit incomes are also excluded, it is estimated at 0.423.
The P80/P20 ratio, which is calculated as the share of the highest earning 20% of the population to the share of the lowest earning 20%, decreased by 0.2 points compared to the previous year to reach 7.7. The P90/P10 ratio, which represents the income of the top 10% compared to the income of the lowest 10%, decreased by 0.5 points to 13.3.
The average annual household disposable income reached 374,899 TL, marking an increase of 106.9% compared to the previous year. The average annual equivalent household disposable income rose by 108.3% to 187,728 TL from 90,116 TL in the previous year.
In single-person households, the average annual equivalent household disposable income was 223,859 TL. The highest income for larger households, which consist of more than one person without a nuclear family, increased by 124,506 TL compared to last year, reaching 231,206 TL. The average income for single-person households was 223,859 TL, while for nuclear families, it was recorded at 192,110 TL. The lowest average annual equivalent disposable income was found in households with at least one nuclear family and other individuals, amounting to 146,828 TL.
The share of salary and wage income accounted for the highest percentage of total income at 48.8%, which increased by 0.3 points compared to the previous year. The second highest share was entrepreneurial income at 20.8%, decreasing by 1.3 points, followed by social transfer income, which accounted for 17.8% with a 0.2 point increase.
Agricultural income represented 17.5% of entrepreneurial income, while the share of pensions and widow-orphan benefits in social transfers was recorded at 87.6%.
The highest annual average earnings from primary employment were noted for higher education graduates at 309,721 TL. Primary employment incomes were calculated at 309,721 TL for higher education graduates, 240,470 TL for high school graduates, 168,407 TL for those with lower than high school education, and 106,478 TL for those without any school completion. The highest increase in primary employment income compared to the previous year was noted in high school graduates at 110.2%, while the lowest increase was observed in those without school completion at 88.2%.
The construction sector recorded the highest increase in primary employment income at 115.4%. When examined by sector, the service sector had the highest average annual income at 242,299 TL, while the agricultural sector had the lowest average annual income at 153,773 TL. The highest increase in primary employment income was seen in the construction sector at 115.4%, followed by the industrial sector at 102.0%. The service sector experienced an increase of 100.2%, while the agricultural sector saw a 66.0% increase.
Employers had the highest annual average primary employment income at 804,882 TL, followed by self-employed individuals at 210,679 TL, salaried individuals at 209,764 TL, and daily wage earners at 105,712 TL. The most significant increase compared to the previous year was observed in salaried and wage earners at 104.0%, while the lowest increase occurred among self-employed individuals at 82.2%.
The lowest income was recorded in the TRB2 region (Van, Muş, Bitlis, Hakkari). Research results indicated that Turkey's annual average equivalent household disposable income stood at 187,728 TL in 2024, while the highest income was found in the TR10 region (Istanbul) at 257,891 TL, followed by TR51 (Ankara) at 248,285 TL and TR21 (Tekirdağ, Edirne, Kırklareli) at 225,758 TL. The lowest annual average equivalent household disposable income was recorded at 91,818 TL in the TRB2 region.
Income inequality was greatest in the TR10 region (Istanbul), where the P80/P20 ratio was 7.7. The regions with the lowest ratios were TR42 (Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) and TRB1 (Malatya, Elazığ, Bingöl, Tunceli) at 4.9, followed by TRB2 (Van, Muş, Bitlis, Hakkari) and TR32 (Aydın, Denizli, Muğla) at 5.0. The regions with the highest P80/P20 ratios were TR10 (Istanbul) at 7.7, TR51 (Ankara) at 7.6, and TR61 (Antalya, Isparta, Burdur).
Among individuals in the last 10% income group, 66.5% remained in the same income group compared to the previous year. Transition rates among sequential 10% income groups showed that 56.2% of individuals in the top 10% income group in the previous year remained in that group in 2023, while 66.5% of those in the last 10% group stayed in the same group. Additionally, in 2023, 22% of individuals in the top 10% group moved up multiple income groups in 2024, whereas 13.2% of those in the last 10% group fell down multiple income groups.
According to the panel data from the Income and Living Conditions Survey, 40.8% of individuals who were unemployed in 2023 started working in 2024. Among those identified as employed in 2023, 90.6% continued in the workforce in 2024. Furthermore, 10.0% of those who were not part of the labor force in the previous year joined the labor force (employed + unemployed).
The income distribution statistics from the Income and Living Conditions Survey are based on reference income data from the previous calendar year, 2023. In the income calculations, household incomes are converted into equivalent household disposable income while considering household size and composition.