Relative Poverty Rate Reaches 13.6% in 2024
Forex - Individuals with an income below a certain threshold, relative to the general level of society, are considered relatively poor. Based on the poverty line determined by 50% of the equivalent household disposable median income, the poverty rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 13.6% in 2024. The poverty rate calculated based on the poverty line determined by 60% of the median income, however, decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 21.2% over the past year.
According to the announcement made by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), based on the poverty line established at 40% of the equivalent household disposable median income, the poverty rate was 6.9%, showing a decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. The poverty rate calculated by considering 70% of the median income also decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 28.9% compared to the previous year.
The lowest poverty rate was recorded at 6.5% for single-person households. When examining the poverty rates calculated by considering 50% of the equivalent household disposable median income based on household type, the poverty rate for single-person households decreased by 0.8 percentage points to 6.5%, while the rate for households consisting of multiple persons without a nuclear family increased by 3.1 percentage points to 10.8%. The poverty rate for households consisting of at least one nuclear family and other individuals increased by 0.9 percentage points to 17.9%, while the poverty rate for households consisting of one nuclear family rose by 0.1 percentage points to 13.4%.
The highest poverty rate was observed among those who had not completed any school. According to the poverty rate calculated considering 50% of the equivalent household disposable median income, 24.7% of those who had not completed any school, 13.6% of those with less than a high school education, and 7.4% of high school graduates or equivalent were classified as poor. University graduates had the lowest poverty rate, at 2.7%.
The material and social deprivation rate was recorded at 13.3%. The calculation of the material and social deprivation rate includes variables at the household level, such as car ownership, ability to cover unexpected expenses, ability to afford a one-week holiday away from home, payment of rent, mortgage and interest debts, being able to eat meat, chicken, or fish every other day, meeting the heating needs of the home, and being able to replace worn-out furniture.
The individual-level variables for this rate include the ability to buy new clothes to replace worn-out ones, having two pairs of proper shoes, being able to gather with acquaintances at least once a month, participating in paid leisure activities, being able to spend some money to feel good, and owning internet access for personal use. The material and social deprivation rate, defined as the proportion of individuals unable to meet at least seven of the thirteen listed criteria, was estimated to be 13.3% in 2024, down from 14.4% in 2023.
The rate of persistent poverty was measured at 13.7%. The persistent poverty rate, calculated using four years of panel data, considers individuals who were classified as poor based on 60% of the equivalent household disposable median income in the last year and at least two of the previous three years. Accordingly, the results for 2024 indicated a 0.7 percentage point increase in the persistent poverty rate, which reached 13.7%.
The relative poverty rate was lowest in the TRC1 region (Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis). According to the poverty threshold calculated as 50% of the equivalent household disposable median income for each IBBS 2nd level region, the regions with the highest income-based relative poverty rates were TR71 (Kırıkkale, Aksaray, Niğde, Nevşehir, Kırşehir) at 14.6%, and TR82 (Kastamonu, Çankırı, Sinop) at 12.3%. The regions with the lowest relative poverty rates were TRC1 (Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis) at 4.7% and TRC2 (Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır) at 6.4%.
The proportion of individuals at risk of poverty or social exclusion was reported at 29.3%. Those at risk of poverty or social exclusion are individuals deprived in at least one of the following indicators: relative poverty, material and social deprivation, and low work intensity. According to the latest year’s results, 29.3% of individuals were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. When examined by age groups, this rate was estimated to be 38.9% for the 0-17 age group, 26.3% for the 18-64 age group, and 23.3% for individuals aged 65 and older.
Among the population, 4.3% remained in poverty for four years, while 74.8% were never poor. When analyzing the length of time in poverty based on the poverty threshold calculated at 50% of the median income over four years, 10.1% of individuals were poor for one year within four years, 6.5% for two years, 4.3% for three years, and 4.3% remained in poverty for the entire four years of the panel duration. Meanwhile, 74.8% of the population did not fall below the poverty line at any point during the four years.
Furthermore, 31.3% of the population experienced problems such as leaking roofs, damp walls, or rotten window frames. 31.3% of the non-institutional population faced issues such as leaking roofs and damp walls, whereas 30.2% reported heating problems due to a lack of insulation, and 21.7% experienced air pollution caused by traffic or industry, as well as other environmental issues.
The proportion of individuals with debt or installment payments was reported at 56.8%. Compared to the previous year, the rate of individuals with debt or installment payments, excluding home purchases and housing expenses, decreased by 1.2 points to 56.8%. For 5.2% of the population, these payments posed no burden, while for 39.1% they were a slight burden, and for 12.5% they represented a significant burden. The percentage of households stating that housing expenses were a significant burden decreased by 3.9 points to 13.6%, while those for whom housing expenses were a slight burden increased by 4.7 points to 71.2%. The percentage of households stating that housing expenses were not a burden decreased by 0.7 points compared to the previous year, reaching 15.2%.
Regarding selected living conditions indicators, 57.5% of individuals reported being unable to afford the costs of a one-week holiday away from home, 39.3% indicated that they could not afford meals including meat, chicken, or fish every other day, 26.8% struggled with unexpected expenses, 15.1% had difficulties meeting their home heating needs, and 59.6% could not afford to renew their worn-out furniture.
The proportion of individuals living in owned accommodations was 56.1%. The percentage of individuals owning their homes decreased by 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous year, calculating to 56.1% in 2024. At the same time, 28.0% were renting, 0.9% lived in state housing, and 15.0% were living in accommodations without paying rent.
The poverty and living conditions statistics outlined above were derived from the Income and Living Conditions Survey, with 2024 results referencing the previous calendar year, 2023. In calculating income and poverty, household incomes are converted to equivalent household disposable per capita income, considering household size and composition.