A significant decrease in life satisfaction in Türkiye

According to the report of the International Group Tasnim News, the song of economic development and prosperity in Turkey between 2002 AD and 2017 AD, had attracted the attention of many economists. But after that, Turkey practically entered stagnation and increasing poverty, we can safely say; The economic conditions of this country have been critical since the end of 2021 and have worsened year by year.

The official statistics of the Central Bank of Turkey show that the value of the country’s national currency, the lira, has experienced a historic and unprecedented fall since 2013. In such a way that the dollar did not even reach 2 lira in 2013. But now, every dollar is worth 31 liras in Turkey, and even though the Erdogan government in 2023, contrary to the tradition of all previous eras, increased the monthly salaries of workers with salary floors three times, but in a short period of time, the inflation rate He was able to pass the new salary rate. As a result, the level of satisfaction of the citizens of this country has decreased year by year.

Economists say; It is becoming more and more difficult to live happily in Türkiye. Because increasing inflation, high living costs and unemployment are the main daily concerns of people.

Decrease in satisfaction with life in Turkey

National Statistics Center of Turkey (TÜİK) published the latest statistics on life satisfaction. These statistics have been published in a situation where economists and independent research institutes in Turkey believe that these statistics, ordered by Erdogan’s party, were given to the media with censorship and changes, and do not include the living reality of the people.

According to the latest field survey of Turkish National Statistics Center among elderly citizens 18 years in this country, only 52.7% have declared that they are satisfied with life. In other words, nearly half of Turkey’s 85 million people are complaining about their living conditions. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction rate is higher among men and women are more satisfied than men.

The aforementioned field research has shown that married citizens are more satisfied and happy than single. In such a way that the rate of married people who expressed happiness with life reached 56.4 percent in 2023, but this rate for single people was 45.8 percent.

When the level of happiness was examined according to age groups in Turkish society, the level of happiness in the age group of 18-24 years reached 54.0% in 2023. But at the same time, it was observed that the level of happiness decreased in people over 55 years old. The level of happiness in the age group of 55 to 64 years was estimated at 49.7%, which has decreased by 2.8 points compared to the previous year. For those 65 and older, it will decrease by 1.7 percentage points to 56.0 percent in 2023.

Prioritization of Turkey’s problems from the language of citizens

In the field research, Turkish citizens were asked what are the most important problems of the country in your opinion?

Evaluation of answers showed that in 2020 The number one problem of the Turkish people is the issue of unemployment, which is stated in the first place with 18.5%.

The second rank with 17.3 percent was related to the scarcity of livelihood and difficulties in meeting the cost of living.

In the third place, the issue of the high cost of the education sector is placed, which was a vital priority for 17.2% of the people.

The new evaluation showed that only within 3 year, some priorities of the Turkish people have changed and now we see this prioritization:

1. The most important problem in 2023 is the cost of living with 33.8%.

2. Education ranks second with 16.5 percent.

3. Poverty ranked third with 13.4 percent.

Statistics show that out of every 3 citizens of Turkey, in 2023, 2 people hope for the future and 1 person despairs.

People’s level of satisfaction with life according The score from 0 to 10 is as follows: the average level of life satisfaction of people in 2023 reached 5.7. The average level of life satisfaction for men is 5.6 and for women is 5.8.

Two major problem areas: food and housing

Turkish people from 2021 onwards, in important sectors such as energy (fuel, electricity and gas), food supply, transportation, as well as buying and renting housing, They have experienced unprecedented critical conditions. The price of gas and electricity has increased by 5 times within 2 years and inflation in the field of food products has exceeded 85% in just one year. But in the meantime, the crisis in the housing sector has been more annoying than other fields. Statistics show that in 2023, the amount of housing sales in Turkey reached the lowest level in recent years.

Housing sales across Turkey in January reached 80 thousand 308 with a 17.8 percent decrease compared to the same month last year. According to the information announced by TUIK, the lowest number of real estate purchases and sales was recorded last year. Istanbul had the largest share in housing sales with 13,423 housing sales and 16.7%. The number of buying and selling of newly built houses across Turkey in January decreased by 8.2% compared to the same month last year and reached 25,263 units. Also, the sale of old houses throughout Turkey in January decreased by 21.6% compared to the same month of the previous year and reached 55 thousand 45. The so-called hunger line for a family of four increased to 15 thousand 33 liras in Turkey last month. Also, the poverty line is 51,998 liras. Meanwhile, the monthly salary floor for millions of Turkish citizens in 2024 is only 17 thousand lira.

In the end, it should be pointed out that according to many political and economic analysts of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party in the presidential and national elections of the year In 2023, despite the spread of the economic crisis, they still lost power. But the reason for their victory was not because of having a clear road map for the transition from the current crisis, but because of the weakness and lack of coherence of the opposition front and also the policy of securing the electoral environment. Now we have to see how much the Turkish municipal elections will be affected by the living conditions of the people of this country.

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