Turkey's 5.1 million retirees receive pensions below hunger threshold

September 27, 2026 at 06:00 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

More than 5.1 million Turkish retirees receive the minimum pension of 23,552 lira, below the hunger threshold of 37,388 lira set by Türk-İş for August. Even the average civil servant pension of 37,029 lira falls below this threshold. The government has not implemented comprehensive pension reform, relying instead on periodic minimum pension increases.

Key Facts

Türk-İş calculated the hunger threshold for a family of four at 37,388 lira as of August.
The lowest worker pension is 24,325 lira, below the hunger threshold, according to the Strategy and Budget Directorate.
5.1 million of Turkey's more than 17 million retirees receive the minimum pension of 23,552 lira.
The average civil servant pension is 37,029 lira, below the hunger threshold, according to the Strategy and Budget Directorate.
In major cities, rent for a middle-class home starts at 30,000 lira, exceeding many retirees' monthly pensions.

Pension Levels

Turkey has more than 17 million retirees. The lowest worker pension is 24,325 lira, below the hunger threshold of 37,388 lira. The minimum pension for all retirees is 23,552 lira. 5.1 million retirees receive this minimum amount. The lowest pensions go to Bağ-Kur agricultural and tradesmen retirees.

Civil Servant Pensions

Even civil servant pensions have fallen below the hunger threshold. The lowest civil servant pension is 30,403 lira. The average civil servant pension is 37,029 lira, below the hunger threshold, according to the Strategy and Budget Directorate.

Housing Costs and Policy

In major cities, rent for a middle-class home starts at 30,000 lira. Many retirees' pensions do not cover rent. The government has not implemented comprehensive pension reform, relying instead on periodic minimum pension increases. The minimum pension is increased every six months. The minimum pension policy equalizes millions of retirees regardless of contribution history.