The consequences of population ageing in Turkey: a country at the onset of population ageing

Sebnem Canpolat, Hacettepe University

Turkey is undergoing this demographic transformation like many parts of the world. It is projected that the population over age 65 will be 4.8 million in 2010, 7.9 million in 2025, and 17 million in 2050 in Turkey (TURKSTAT, 2006). Old-dependency ratio will probably triple between 2000 and 2050, from about 9% in 2000 to about 28% in 2050. This means that at the end of this period each working-age adult will have three times as many older adults to support as is the case in year 2000. In this study, firstly some social, demographic and economic characteristics of elderly population are described by using data of the latest nationwide 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) and the last population census. Primary objective of this study is to determine co-residence pattern of the elderly from 2003 DHS data (for family typologies Household lists and Leslett family typology will be employed). The changes in the share of the older population and its size have profound implications for families. In Turkey, it is often assumed that the family will automatically take on the responsibility of caring for the elderly.