Türkiye’de Yaşlı Yoksulluğu: Kimler Daha Kırılgan?

Abstract

Sosyal politikanın en önemli sorun alanlarından birisi olan yoksulluk, kimi kesimler için daha ağır sonuçlar doğurabilir. Örneğin yoksulluğa maruz kalan yaşlı bir fert, gençlere veya kendi gençlik dönemine nazaran bireysel çabayla yoksulluktan daha güç şekilde kurtulabilir. Çünkü bilişsel ve fiziksel kapasitesi duraklamış veya gerilemiş olan fert, genellikle ya daha düşük kazanç elde edebilecek ya da hiç çalışamayacak durumdadır. Öte yandan yaşlılık dönemindeki çeşitli farklılıklar yoksulluk riskini bazı yaşlılarda artırabilir. Bu kesimlerin tespiti, önleyici ve telafi edici politikalar geliştirilmesi açısından önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada Türkiye’de göreli gelir yoksulluğunun hangi yaşlılarda daha belirgin olarak gözlemlendiği, Türkiye İstatistik Kurumunun 2006-2023 Gelir ve Yaşam Koşulları Araştırması mikro veri setleriyle tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. OECD eşdeğerlik ölçeğine göre hesaplanan kişi başı ortanca gelirin %60’ı yoksulluk eşiği olarak kabul edilmiş ve 65 yaş üstü fertlere ait sonuçlar birleştirilerek trend analizleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın bulguları kadınların, daha ileri yaşlıların, eğitim düzeyi daha düşük olanların, sigortasız bir şekilde çalışanların, erken yaşta işe başlayanların belirgin şekilde yüksek yoksulluk oranlarına sahip olduğu yönündedir. Yine ikamet edilen bölgeye ve kır-kent yerleşimine göre yaşlı yoksulluğu önemli ölçüde farklılaşmaktadır. Kirada oturanlar ile kendi evinde oturanlar arasında yıllara göre dalgalanmalar söz konusu olup başka birisinin evinde kira ödemeden kalan yaşlılar, barınma bakımından en yoksul kesimi oluşturmaktadır.

Keywords

• Yoksulluk
• Yaşlı
• Yaşlı yoksulluğu
• Türkiye
• Göreli yoksulluk

Elderly Poverty in Türkiye: Identifying Vulnerable Groups

Abstract

Poverty is a critical social policy issue that can have particularly severe consequences for certain groups, especially the elderly. Older individuals facing poverty are less able to overcome it through personal effort compared to younger people, due to cognitive and physical decline that limits their earning potential or ability to work. Various characteristics associated with old age further increase the risk of poverty for some individuals. Identifying these vulnerable groups is crucial for designing preventive and compensatory policies. This study examines which elderly populations in Türkiye are most affected by relative income poverty, using microdata from the Turkish Statistical Institute’s Income and Living Conditions Surveys (2006–2023). The poverty threshold was set at 60% of the median per capita income, calculated using the OECD equivalence scale, and the results for individuals aged 65 and above were analyzed to identify trends. Findings indicate that women, the oldest-old, the less educated, informal workers, and those entering the labor market early face significantly higher poverty rates. Elderly poverty also varies by region and rural–urban residence. Housing status further affects deprivation: while tenants and homeowners experience fluctuations, elderly individuals living rent-free in another person’s home consistently represent the most disadvantaged group.

Keywords

• Poverty
• Elderly
• Elderly poverty
• Old-age poverty
• Türkiye
• Relative poverty

References

1. Alcock, P. (1997). Understanding poverty. J. Campling (Ed.), (2nd Ed.). London: Palgrave. google scholar
2. Brenes Camacho, G. (2005). Left behind in the economic crisis: Poverty among the elderly in Costa google scholar
3. Rica (Translation of Spanish version). The Third International Population Conference of the google scholar
4. Central American Isthmus, 2003. California Center for Population Research On-Line Conference Paper Series, 36(10), CCPR-CP-003-05, https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93p5q65p google scholar
5. Cribb, J., Henry, A. & Karjalainen, H. (2024). How have pensioner incomes and poverty changed in recent years? (IFS Report R327). Institute for Fiscal Studies. https://ifs.org.uk/publications/ how-have-pensioner-incomes-and-poverty-changed-recent-years google scholar
6. Cui, J., Yin, X. & Zhou, R. (2024). Family endowments and multidimensional poverty among urban older adults living alone [Preprint]. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4273183/v1 google scholar
7. Çalışkan, Ş. ve Meçik, O. (2011). Sosyal ve beşeri sermayenin bireysel ekonomik getirisi üzerine uygulamalı bir analiz: “Eskişehir ili örneği”. Paradoks Ekonomi, Sosyoloji ve Politika Dergisi, 7(2), 7–26. google scholar
8. Çelik, K. (2020). Türkiye’de yaşlı yoksulluğu ve belirleyici dinamikler. S. Ayata (Ed.), Türkiye’de yoksulluk ve eşitsizlik nedenler, süreçler, çözümler kitabı içinde (s. 191–206). Ankara: SODAR. google scholar

9. Dethier, J. (2007). Social security: What can developing countries learn from developed countries? 2020 Vision Focus Brief. Special Edition. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160107 google scholar
10. Dobarrio-Sanz, I., Chica-Perez, A., Martínez-Linares, J. M., López-Entrambasaguas, O. M., Fernández-Sola, C. & Hernández-Padilla, J. M. (2023). Experiences of poverty amongst low-income older adults living in a high-income country: A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(11), 4304-4317. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15750 google scholar
11. EIGE. (2015). Gender gap in pensions in the EU: Research note to the Latvian presidency. European Institute for Gender Equality, Vilnius. https://eige.europa.eu/publications-resources/publications/ gender-gap-pensions-eu-research-note-latvian-presidency?language_content_entity=en google scholar
12. European Parliament. (2016). The gender pension gap: Differences between mothers and women without children (PE 571.363). European Union Directorate-General For Internal Policies: Policy Department C: Citizens’ Rights And Constitutional Affairs. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/ RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571363/IPOL_STU(2016)571363_EN.pdf google scholar
13. Frericks, P. R. H. & Maier, R. M. (2008). Pension norms and pension reforms in Europe - The effects on gender pension gaps. Community, Work and Family, 11(3), 253–271. https://doi. org/10.1080/13668800802133651 google scholar
14. Ghosh, D. (2023). Social support system and old age vulnerability: An investigation in India. Studies in Microeconomics, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/23210222231171495 google scholar
15. Gong, J., Wang, G., Wang, Y. & Zhao, Y. (2022). Consumption and poverty of older Chinese: 20112020. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2022.100410 google scholar
16. Grages, C., Och, R. & Papenhagen, M. (2023). Strategies for coping with old-age poverty: Evidence from life-course interviews in seven European welfare states (EUROSHIP Working Paper No. 25). Oslo: Oslo Metropolitan University. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.22548619. google scholar
17. Haron, S. A., Foh, F. H., Hamid, T. A., Abdullah, S. F. Z. & Tyng, C. Sen. (2022). Old-Age poverty in the ASEAN Member States: A scoping review of the literature. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(12), 1941–1968. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/ IJARBSS/v12-i12/16005 google scholar
18. Härtull, C. & Nygård, M. (2024). A problem of gendered injustice? Objective and subjective poverty among older women and men across European welfare regimes. European Journal of Ageing, 21(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-023-00796-5 google scholar
19. Hick, R. (2009). The social welfare pensions in Ireland: Pensioner poverty and gender (Paper No. Geary WP/2/2009). UCD Geary Institute Discussion Paper Series. https://www.ucd.ie/geary/ static/publications/workingpapers/gearywp200902.pdf google scholar
20. Kalkınma Bakanlığı. (2014). Onuncu kalkınma planı yaşlanma özel ihtisas komisyonu raporu (20142018). Ankara. https://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Onuncu-Kalkinma-Plani-Yaslanma-Ozel-Ihtisas-Komisyonu-Raporu.pdf google scholar
21. Karadenı̇z, O. (2011). Türkiye’de atipik çalışan kadınlar ve yaygın sosyal güvencesizlik. Çalışma ve Toplum, (2), 83–127. google scholar
22. Karadenı̇z, O. (2021). Türkiye’de sosyal transferlerin kadın yoksulluğu üzerine etkisi. S. Güneş ve N. Durusoy Öztepe (Ed.), Kadın ve yoksulluk: Nedenleri, görünüm biçimleri ve mücadele yöntemleri bağlamında bütüncül bir yaklaşım kitabı içinde (s. 501-521). Ankara: Ekin Basım Yayın. google scholar
23. Karadenı̇z, O. ve Durusoy Öztepe, N. (2013). Türkiye’de yaşlı yoksulluğu. Çalışma ve Toplum, (3), 77–102. google scholar
24. Kidd, S. & Whitehouse, E. (2009). Pensions and old-age poverty. In R. Holzmann, D. A. Robalino & N. Takayama (Eds.), Closing the coverage gap: The role of social pensions and other retirement income transfers (pp. 41-56). Washington: The World Bank. google scholar
25. Kitiashvili, A. & Makharadze, T. (2021). Financial and social challanges facing pensioners living alone below the poverty line during the Covid-19 period: The case of Georgia. Problems Of Psychology In The 21st Century, 15(2), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.33225/ppc/21.15.61 google scholar
26. Kuitto, K., Madia, J. E. & Podestà, F. (2023). Public pension generosity and old-age poverty in OECD countries. Journal of Social Policy, 52(2), 256–275. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0047279421000544 google scholar
27. Kuitto, K., Salonen, J. & Helmdag, J. (2019). Gender inequalities in early career trajectories and parental leaves : Evidence from a Nordic welfare state. Social Sciences, 8(253), 1–16. https:// doi.org/10.3390/socsci8090253 google scholar
28. Lewin, A. C. & Stier, H. (2023). When marriage ends: Differences in affluence and poverty among older adults in Israel. European Journal of Population, 39(28), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s10680-023-09676-1 google scholar
29. Li, N. & He, M. (2024). Feminization of poverty: An analysis of multidimensional poverty among rural women in China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11. https://doi. org/10.1057/s41599-024-03006-4 google scholar
30. Long, G. T. & Pfau, W. D. (2008). The vulnerability of the elderly households to poverty: Determinants and policy implications for Vietnam (Working Paper No. 087). Vietnam Development Forum. http://www.vdf.org.vn/workingpapers/vdfwp087 google scholar
31. Loumrhari, G. (2024). Eradicating poverty among the elderly in Morocco: A simulation of a social pension policy. International Journal of Trade and Management, 1(3), 129–141. https://doi. org/10.34874/PRSM.ijtm-vol1iss3.1360 google scholar
32. Mac Innes, H. (2022). Older people in Sweden - Age at migration, poverty and utilization of longterm care services (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Gothenburg). Retrieved from: https:// gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/70605 google scholar
33. Marcinkiewicz, E. & Chybalski, F. (2023). The impact of imputed rent on old-aged poverty: The evidence for the Luxembourg Income Study (Working Paper No. 857). LIS Working Paper Series. google scholar
34. MISSOC. (2024, December 12). Your rights country by country. Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (European Commission), EC, Retrived from: https://employment-social-affairs.ec. europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/eu-social-security-coordination/your-rights-country-country_en google scholar
35. Mohd, S., Senadjki, A. & Latiff, A. R. A. (2024). Poverty and elderly’s health. In R. Baikady, J. Gal, V. Nadesan, S. S.M. & G. Jianguo (Eds.), The routledge handbook of poverty in the global south (pp. 159-181). New York: Routledge. google scholar
36. Möhring, K. (2018). Is there a motherhood penalty in retirement income in Europe? The role of lifecourse and institutional characteristics. Ageing & Society, 38, 2560–2589. https://doi. org/10.1017/S0144686X17000812 google scholar
37. Morley, S. (2017). Changes in rural poverty in Perú 2004–2012. Latin American Economic Review, 26(1), 2–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40503-016-0038-x google scholar
38. Morsy, H., Balma, L. & Mukasa, A. N. (2020). ‘Not a good time’: Economic impact of COVID-19 in Africa (Working Paper No. 338). African Development Bank Group, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. google scholar
39. Okumuş, B. ve Öztürk, M. (2020). Türkiye’de sosyal güvenlı̇k sı̇stemı̇nde yaşlılık sı̇gortasının yenı̇den gelı̇r dağılımı açısından analı̇zı̇. Türkiye Mesleki ve Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, (4), 61–82. https:// doi.org/10.46236/jovosst.785981 google scholar
40. Palmore, E. B. (1999). Ageism: Negative and positive (2d Ed.). New York: Springer Publishing Company. google scholar
41. Palomaki, L.-M., Riekhoff, A. J. & Kuitto, K. (2025). What it means to be poor: Dimensions of economic hardship among older people living in poverty across Europe, Ageing and Society, 45(5), 947-968. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X2300096X google scholar
42. Parvaei, S., Mazinani, A. A. T. & Zanjari, N. (2023). Poverty and social policy of aging: Investigating the determinants of income poverty among older adults in the organization for economic cooperation and development countries. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 21(2), 355–364. http:// dx.doi.org/10.32598/irj.21.2.1864.1 google scholar
43. Riekhoff, A., Kuitto, K., Möhring, K. & Palomaki, L.-M. (2025). A long arm of adversity? Financial hardship during the life course and income in retirement, European Societies, 27(3), 545–579. https://doi.org/10.1162/euso_a_00007 google scholar
44. Roman, H. A. (2024). A guide to universal social protection in the Arab region: Challenges and opportunities. Social Protection Series. https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/a-guide-to-universal-social-protection-in-the-arab-region-challenges-and-opportunities/ google scholar
45. Rowold, C., Struffolino, E. & Fasang, A. E. (2024). Life-course-sensitive analysis of group inequalities: Combining sequence analysis with the Kitagawa–Oaxaca–Blinder Decomposition. Sociological Methods and Research, 54(2), 646–705. https://doi.org/10.1177/00491241231224226 google scholar
46. Schwarz, A. M. (2003). Old age security and social pensions. Washington: The World Bank. https:// microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/citations/1282 google scholar Sönmez, B. (2020). Emekli aylıkları ve yaşlılara yönelik sosyal yardımların yoksulluk üzerindeki etkisi: Türkiye için ampirik bir çalışma. (Yüksek Lisans Tezi). Aydın Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Aydın. google scholar
47. Tai, T. (2008). Poverty gaps among age groups: Taiwan’s case in an international perspective (Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Irvine). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. (UMI No. 3318424) google scholar
48. TÜİK. (2023). Gelir ve yaşam koşulları araştırması mikro veri seti (kesit) kılavuzu. Ankara. 978625-8368-71-0. google scholar
49. TÜİK. (2024a). Nüfus projeksiyonları 2023-2100: Senaryolara göre seçilmiş yaş grupları nüfusları. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Nufus-Projeksiyonlari-2023-2100-53699 google scholar
50. TÜİK. (2024b). Gelir, yaşam, tüketim ve yoksulluk istatistikleri: Hanehalkı tüketim harcaması istatistikleri: (Türkiye). https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Kategori/GetKategori?p=Gelir,-Yasam,-Tuketim-ve-Yoksulluk-107 google scholar
51. UNFPA & HelpAge International. (2012). Ageing in the twenty-first century: A celebration and a challenge. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and HelpAge International. New York and London. https://www.unfpa.org/publications/ageing-twenty-first-century google scholar
52. United Nations. (2007). World economic and social survey 2007: Development in an ageing world (ST/ESA/314). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York. https:// www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wess/wess_archive/2007wess.pdf google scholar
53. United Nations. (2019). World population ageing 2019: Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/430). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, New York. https:// digitallibrary.un.org/record/3846855?ln=en&v=pdf google scholar
54. United Nations. (2020). Impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons (No. A/75/205). United Nations Secretary-General. https:// digitallibrary.un.org/record/3879146?ln=en&v=pdf google scholar
55. Winkle, Z. V., Riekhoff, A. J. & Turek, K. (2024). The economic consequences of widowhood during retirement: A comparative study on survivor benefits (No. DP 07/2024‐024). NETSPAR Academic Series. https://www.netspar.nl/wp-content/uploads/P20240730_DP024_VanWinkle.pdf google scholar
56. World Health Organization. (2025, 1 Eylül). Ageing: Ageism. https://www.who.int/news-room/ questions-and-answers/item/ageing-ageism google scholar
57. Yılmaz, F., Çelik, C. ve Numanoğlu Tekin, R. (2014). Investigating the effects of poverty on health and quality of life in poor people aged 65 and over in Etimesgut district, Ankara. Turk Geriatri Dergisi, 17(4), 397-403. google scholar
58. Yüksel Arabacı, R. ve Alper, Y. (2010). Sosyal güvenlik reformunun yaşlılık aylıklarına etkisi. Amme İdaresi, 43 (2), 101-117. google scholar
59. Zaidi, A. (2010). Poverty risks for older people in EU countries - An update (Policy Brief 1/2010). Vienna: European Centre. https://www.euro.centre.org/publications/detail/389 google scholar