Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed deep concern over Turkey's declining birth rate, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable economic growth through a larger and younger population. Despite his longstanding campaign urging Turkish women to have more children, the official birth rate dropped to 1.51 last year from 2.38 in 2001, falling below the population replacement rate of 2.1.
Erdogan, who has advocated for families to have a minimum of three to five children, implemented various measures to promote higher birth rates, including incentives for early marriage and procreation such as low-interest loans for newlyweds. The government also introduced policies like early retirement with tax benefits for mothers with three children, although criticism persists regarding women's workforce participation.
Acknowledging that the current demographic trend poses a severe threat to Turkey's future, Erdogan emphasized the importance of a robust population for national strength and economic development. While Turkey's decline in the working-age population and birth rates is less severe compared to many developed countries, it hampers Erdogan's goal of leveraging a youthful workforce for economic expansion.
Erdogan’s stance on gender-related issues, including restrictions on Cesarean sections and criticism of contraception, has drawn skepticism in the past. However, his concerns about ethnic demographics may also play a role, particularly in regions like the Kurdish southeast where birth rates exceed the national average. Additionally, the high birth rate among Syrian refugees in Turkey has raised concerns about potential demographic challenges.
As Erdogan doubles down on efforts to address the declining birth rate, the implications for Turkey’s future economic growth and demographic composition remain a critical issue for the country's development.