Turkey’s poverty line, which refers to the total amount a family of four needs to live without feeling deprived of food along with other expenses such as rent and utilities, has risen to 64,157 Turkish lira ($1,884), with a minimum wage of 17,002 lira ($499) covering only 26.5 percent of it, according to the Public Service Employees Union (Birleşik KAMU-İŞ), the ANKA news agency reported on Wednesday.
The poverty line increased by TL 25,884 ($760) over the past year. Meanwhile, the hunger line, which refers to the amount a family of four has to spend on basic food expenses, has risen by TL 7,257 ($213) compared to a year ago and reached TL 20,958 ($615) in August, according to the union.
While the minimum wage can only cover 26.5 percent of the poverty line, the lowest monthly pension of TL 12,500 ($367) can only cover 59.6 percent of the hunger line.
Birleşik KAMU-İŞ’s research unit, KAMU-AR, calculates the poverty line by considering the expenditures needed for a family of four to adequately sustain their nutritional needs, along with rent and utilities, all while maintaining their dignity and avoiding a sense of deprivation, while the hunger line refers only to the amount a family of four has to spend on basic food expenses.
Price hikes accelerated across sectors, including food, transportation and housing, following the May 2023 elections. These increases are contributing to the growing risk of hunger and poverty in Turkey.
Inflation has become a pressing issue in Turkey, reaching an annual rate of 61.78 percent in July, according to official data.
Over the past several years Turkey has been suffering from a deteriorating economy, with high inflation and unemployment, as well as a poor human rights record. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is criticized for mishandling the economy, emptying the state’s coffers and establishing one-man rule in the country where dissent is suppressed and opponents are jailed on politically motivated charges.