Turkey’s ruling party has tripled poverty-related aid spending since 2021, but the real value of assistance per person has declined, according to official data adjusted for inflation and exchange rates.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) allocated 166.3 billion Turkish lira (approximately $5.04 billion) for poverty relief in 2024, up from 50.7 billion lira (around $5.82 billion at the time based on the 2021 average US dollar-Turkish lira exchange rate) in 2021. In the first two months of 2025 alone, 31.5 billion lira was spent, according to figures from the Ministry of Family and Social Services.
More than half of the ministry’s total 2025 budget was allocated to poverty-related programs. Officials estimate that around 20 million people in Turkey now rely on social assistance.
Opposition lawmakers argue that the increase in spending fails to address the root causes of poverty.
Critics say the number of aid recipients has grown while the real value of assistance has decreased due to inflation and currency depreciation.
According to the Republican People’s Party (CHP), 6.5 million children in Turkey live in extreme poverty, with many going to school without breakfast or to bed hungry.
Open source data show that bread prices rose from $0.275 per a standard 200 gram loaf in 2021 to $0.303 in 2024, indicating a rise in the cost of basic food items even when measured in US dollars.
While the aid budget increased by more than threefold in Turkish lira terms from 2021 to 2024, the dollar value of that budget fell by about 13 percent. The Turkish lira has lost more than 75 percent of its value against the US dollar since 2021, weakening further by 2.25 percent in early 2025.
The number of people receiving government assistance has also increased. In 2021, fewer people relied on support. By 2024, 18.3 million individuals received various forms of aid, suggesting that although more people are being helped, each recipient is receiving less support in real terms.
Total social assistance, which includes electricity and heating subsidies, food programs, housing support and health insurance coverage, reached 491.7 billion lira ($13.4 billion) in 2024, according to a report from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, marking a 61 percent increase from 2023.
Among the recipients were 4 million households receiving electricity support, 2.2 million receiving heating aid, 21,380 families benefiting from housing assistance and 4.2 million people provided with food aid. In addition, 9.4 million individuals had their General Health Insurance premiums covered due to low income.
Children receiving Social and Economic Support Service benefits rose to 272,348 in 2024, up from 129,422 in 2020. This program is intended for families unable to care for their children due to financial hardship.
The Turkish economy has been under pressure from high inflation, a rising cost of living and currency depreciation.
Critics blame the AKP’s economic and monetary policies for worsening conditions and say the AKP uses social aid to build political loyalty by making millions dependent on government support.
Many aid recipients fear losing assistance if they do not vote for the ruling party or prove their loyalty. Reports include threats to cut aid or remove children from poor families on the grounds that they can’t support them, reinforcing a climate of fear during election periods.