Erdogan Urges Turkish Families to Have 'At Least Four or Five Children' Amid Declining Birth Rate

President's Renewed Call for Larger Families

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has intensified his appeal for increased family sizes, urging citizens to have 'at least four or five children.' Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Azerbaijan over the weekend, President Erdogan characterized Turkey's current fertility rate as 'suicide' for a nation with global aspirations. He stated, 'Our population growth rate is unfortunately 1.7. This is suicide. We must absolutely solve this.' This marks an increase from his previous recommendation of 'at least three children,' a stance he has maintained for years.

President Erdogan, a 71-year-old father of four, frequently emphasizes the family as the cornerstone of Turkish society and views demographic decline as an existential threat. He often uses public platforms, including wedding ceremonies, to encourage newlyweds to have multiple children, framing it as a patriotic duty.

Turkey's Alarming Demographic Trends

Official data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) highlights a significant and concerning decline in the nation's fertility rate. The total fertility rate dropped to 1.48 children per woman in 2024, a stark decrease from 2.38 in 2001. This figure is well below the population replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, which is necessary to maintain a stable population without migration. The fertility rate has remained below this critical threshold since 2016, reaching its lowest level in modern history.

The decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including:

• Economic hardship, persistent inflation, and rising housing costs
• Job insecurity and declining real incomes
• Delayed marriage and career prioritization among young couples
• Changing cultural values, such as increased individualism and consumerism

Government Initiatives to Boost Birth Rates

In response to these demographic challenges, the Turkish government has implemented several measures and initiatives:

• Designation of 2025 as the 'Year of the Family' and the decade from 2026 to 2035 as the 'Decade of Family and Population.'
• Establishment of the Family Institute and a Population Policies Board in December 2024, aimed at formulating and implementing population policies.
• Introduction of financial incentives for new parents in January 2025, including a one-time payment of 5,000 Turkish Lira for the first child, a monthly allowance of 1,500 Lira for the second, and up to 11,500 Lira per month for third and subsequent children.

President Erdogan has also previously urged Turks living in Europe to have 'five children,' stating in 2017 that they were 'Europe's future' and that this would be 'the best response to the injustices against you.'

Future Implications and Policy Direction

The government's focus on increasing birth rates underscores its concern over an aging population and potential labor shortages, which could impact Turkey's long-term economic development. The initiatives aim to promote a 'traditional family model' and reinforce conservative gender roles, with President Erdogan linking declining birth rates to 'new generation attacks' and the LGBT+ movement. Experts, however, suggest that comprehensive policies addressing economic stability, affordable housing, work-life balance, and accessible childcare are crucial for effectively reversing the demographic trend.