.){kind=link}
More than 19 million students abandoned their university study in Turkey between 2015 and 2025, according to figures released by the country’s Higher Education Board (YÖK), the Sözcü newspaper reported.
The data was made public in a parliamentary response to a question from opposition lawmaker Aliye Timisi Ersever of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). It showed that a total of 19,049,203 students dropped out during the past decade, with the highest figure recorded in 2022, a year marked by economic turmoil
Economic pressure hits education
YÖK reported that nearly 3.96 million students abandoned higher education in 2022, coinciding with sharp loss of value of the Turkish lira and soaring inflation when the country’s inflation hit a record high of 85.5 percent in October of that year.
The second-highest figure came in 2018, when more than 2 million students left. In the past four years alone, over 11 million students have dropped out.
Most students who left were enrolled at public universities, Sözcü reported. Of the 19 million students who quit, 16.9 million came from public universities, 2.1 million from private universities and 57,000 from private vocational schools.
YÖK data shows that as of 2024, Turkey has a total of 209 universities, including 131 state institutions and 78 private (foundation) universities.
At public institutions, about 8.3 million dropped out of four-year faculties, 7 million from two-year associate programs, 1.4 million from master’s programs and 182,000 from doctoral studies.
Opposition warns of inequality
CHP lawmaker Ersever said the figures show how financial strain is limiting access to education, particularly for low-income families. “Education has become a luxury for the rich,” she said, warning that the trend threatens Turkey’s skilled workforce and future prospects.
Although the official annual inflation rate has declined since peaking at 85 percent in October 2022 and currently stands at around 33, percent many Turks say they still struggle to meet their basic needs as the lira continues to lose value, eroding purchasing power and deepening an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, making it difficult for people to meet their basic needs and pay their rent or bills.
For students, the situation has been particularly dire. Skyrocketing housing costs, reduced purchasing power and limited access to financial aid have forced many to choose between continuing their education and meeting basic living expenses.
Breakdowns by age and gender showed that 8 million of those who left university education were between 20 and 25 years old. Of the total, 9.7 million were men and 9.35 million were women.