Population in Turkey getting older, official report reveals

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s population is growing older but compared with European countries, the country is remarkably younger. DAILY NEWS Photo

Turkey has witnessed several demographic changes over the past few decades that have changed the age composition of its population, according to figures released by Turkish Statistical Institute on July 11.

The report, issued by the Turkish Statistical Institute for the annual World Population Day to raise awareness of global population issues, said up to 17 percent of the population in Turkey are in the 18 to 24 age group and they are increasingly looking to the government to help secure a prosperous future for themselves.

Turkey's population is growing older but compared with European countries, Turkey is remarkably younger with a 16.6 percent young population while Spain and Italy have the lowest percentage of young population with 9.9 percent.

In 1989, the U.N. recommended that July 11 be observed worldwide as World Population Day to focus attention on the urgency of population issues in the context of overall development plans in order to find solutions for overpopulation issues. World Population Day was inspired by the interest in Five Billion Day on 11 July 1987 - approximately the date when the world's population reached five billion. This year's theme is “Investing in Young People.”