President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described declining birth rates in Türkiye as a “disaster” and contraception as a “betrayal”, maintaining a long-running campaign for larger families.
“Why not have at least four children, or five?” Mr. Erdoğan said recently. More births, he said, would empower Türkiye to “proceed into the future in a stronger fashion.”
Türkiye’s fertility rate has fallen steadily for over a decade, reaching 1.48 in 2024, well below the 2.1 replacement level required for population stability. Demographers link the decline to urbanisation, higher female education levels, and sustained economic pressure, including high inflation and low wages.
This month, the government extended parental leave for mothers to 24 weeks from 16 and for fathers to 10 days from five. Other new policies grant parents a payment of about $110 on the birth of their first child.
Families can get monthly stipends if they have more than one child, $33 for the second and $110 for any others. Young couples can apply for interest-free loans to defray marriage costs.
Key developments
- Fertility rate in Türkiye fell to 1.48 in 2024, below replacement level
- Extended parental leave introduced: 24 weeks for mothers and 10 days for fathers
- Cash payments and monthly child support introduced for families
- High inflation and urbanisation continue to suppress birth rates
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