Turkey's bank-debt ratio hits 52%; borrowing shifts to daily needs
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
By June 2026, 44.5 million people in Turkey — 52% of the population — owed money to banks. Total consumer loan and credit-card debt reached 6.93 trillion lira, or 156,000 lira per borrower, equivalent to 5.5 net minimum wages. Borrowing has shifted from investment and consumption toward daily needs, increasing repayment risk.
Key Facts
- In June 2026, 44.5 million people owed money to banks, equal to 52% of Turkey's population and up from 33% a decade earlier.
- Total individual loan and credit-card debt reached 6.93 trillion lira in June 2026, with average debt per borrower at 156,000 lira — 5.5 times the net minimum wage.
- Borrowers entering legal follow-up rose 15% year on year in June 2026 to 297,000, the highest level in 13 months.
- Active enforcement files in bailiff offices approached 25.9 million, and 4.4 million people were in legal follow-up with collection continuing.
- Among first-time bank users in June 2026, 210,000 opened overdraft accounts, 199,000 took a first credit card, 125,000 took a first consumer loan, and 13,000 took a first mortgage.
Borrowing Mix Shift
The share of housing loans in individual debt fell from 36% ten years ago to 12% in June 2026. Credit cards now account for 50% of the individual debt pool. Professor Davut Pehlivanlı said borrowing has shifted from investment and consumption toward covering daily needs. Total individual loan and credit-card debt reached 6.93 trillion lira, with average debt per borrower at 156,000 lira — 5.5 times the net minimum wage. Excluding the population under 25, 81% of adults able to enter the banking system were in debt.
Legal Follow-up
Borrowers entering legal follow-up rose 15% year on year in June 2026 to 297,000, the highest level in 13 months. The number of people in legal follow-up with collection ongoing reached 4.4 million. Active enforcement files in bailiff offices reached 25.9 million. Professor Pehlivanlı said the bank-debtor ratio will reach 70% by 2035 if current macroeconomic conditions and income inequality persist.
First-Time Bank Users
In June 2026, 210,000 people entering the banking system for the first time opened overdraft accounts. Another 199,000 first-time users took a credit card and 125,000 took a consumer loan. Only 13,000 first-time users took a housing loan, while housing loans' share of individual debt dropped from 36% a decade ago to 12%.
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Turkey's bank-debt ratio hits 52%; borrowing shifts to daily needs
