The elderly population in Turkiye increased by 21.4% in the last five years and reached 8 million 722 thousand 806 people as of last year. The proportion of the elderly population in the total population increased to 10.2% by 2023. Turkiye ranked 67th among 184 countries in the list of countries with the highest elderly population rate. The province with the highest proportion of elderly population was Sinop with 20%.
The population aged 65 and over in Turkiye increased by 21.4% in five years and reached 8 million 722 thousand 806 people last year. The proportion of the elderly population in the total population increased to 10.2% by 2023.
Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) announced the results of the “Elderly People with Statistics” study for 2023.
Accordingly, the population aged 65 and over, which was 7 million 186 thousand 204 people in 2018, increased by 21.4% in the last five years and reached 8 million 722 thousand 806 people in 2023. While the proportion of the elderly population in the total population was 8.8% in 2018, it increased to 10.2% in 2023.
In 2023, 44.5% of the elderly population will be men and 55.5% will be women. In population projections, it was predicted that the proportion of the elderly population would be 12.9% in 2030, 16.3% in 2040, 22.6% in 2060 and 25.6% in 2080.
When the elderly population is examined by age group, In 2018, 62.2% of this segment was in the 65-74 age group, 28.6% was in the 75-84 age group and 9.2% was in the 85 and over age group, It was determined that in 2023, 64% of the population will be in the 65-74 age group, 28.1% will be in the 75-84 age group and 7.9% will be in the 85 and over age group.
The number of elderly people aged 100 and over, who constitute 0.1% of the elderly population, will be 6 thousand 609 in 2023.
POPULATION STRUCTURE HAS CHANGED
The ratio of the elderly population in the total population exceeding 10% is considered an indicator of the aging of the population. The elderly population in Turkiye increased at a faster rate than the population in other age groups.
In Turkiye, which is in the process of “demographic transformation”, which is called the global aging process, the age structure of the population has changed with the decrease in fertility and mortality rates, the developments in the field of health, and the increase in the standard of living, welfare level and life expectancy at birth. While the proportion of children and young people in the total population decreased, the proportion of the elderly in the total population increased. Although Turkiye still has a young population structure compared to countries with a proportionally older population structure, the elderly population is numerically quite high.
The median age, which is one of the indicators that provides information about the aging of the population, was 32 in 2018 and became 34 in 2023. The median age was calculated as 33.2 for men and 34.7 for women in 2023.
In population projections, the median age was estimated to be 35.6 in 2030, 38.5 in 2040, 42.3 in 2060 and 45 in 2080.
The elderly dependency ratio, which expresses the number of elderly people per 100 people of working age, increased from 12.9% in 2018 to 15% in 2023.
RANKED 67TH AMONG 184 COUNTRIES
According to population projections, the elderly dependency ratio was predicted to be 19.6% in 2030, 25.3% in 2040, 37.5% in 2060 and 43.6% in 2080.
According to population estimates, in 2023, the world population will be 8 billion 45 million 311 thousand 448 people, and the elderly population will be 807 million 790 thousand 294 people. Accordingly, 10% of the world’s population constituted the elderly population.
The top three countries with the highest elderly population ratio were Japan with 30.1%, Italy with 24.5% and Finland with 23.6%. Turkiye ranked 67th among 184 countries in this respect.
The province with the highest proportion of elderly population was determined to be Sinop with 20% in 2023. This province was followed by Kastamonu with 19.5% and Giresun with 18.3%. The province with the lowest elderly population rate was Sirnak with 3.5%. This province was followed by Hakkari with 4% and Sanliurfa with 4.2%.
The number of provinces where the proportion of the elderly population in the total population is 10% or more will be 54 in 2023.
ONE IN FOUR HOUSEHOLDS HAS AT LEAST ONE ELDERLY
In Turkiye, it was determined that in 2023, out of a total of 26 million 309 thousand 332 households, 6 million 458 thousand 465 will have at least one member aged 65 and over, defined as the elderly population. In other words, it was observed that 24.5% of the households had at least one elderly person.
Of the 6 million 458 thousand 465 households with at least one elderly member, 1 million 669 thousand 270 have elderly members living alone. There are elderly women in 74.4% of these households, and elderly men in 25.6%.
Among households with at least one elderly member, the province with the highest rate of single-person elderly households was Balıkesir with 34.4% in 2023. This province was followed by Burdur with 34.3% and Canakkale with 34%. The province with the lowest rate was Hakkari with 7.8%. This province was followed by Batman with 13.5% and Van with 14.9%.
Source: NTV / Prepared by Irem Yildiz