ANKARA, January 12. /Dunyo IA/. During the opening ceremony of the “Khane” Islamic Art Exhibition in Istanbul, President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged families to have at least three children, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing “TRT Haber”.

During his speech, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on families to have at least three children, emphasizing that a larger family is essential for societal strength. Reflecting on his own household, which includes four children and nine grandchildren, he said: “We need to increase our generations. Our children must grow up”.

The President stressed that population growth is not only a social necessity but also a moral responsibility. He expressed concern that even among close circles, there are growing doubts or hesitations about having more children.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Türkiye’s fertility rate fell to a historic low of 1.48 children per woman in 2024 well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman considered necessary for population stability in developed countries.

The reports note that Turkey may face future challenges related to youth shortages, including potential difficulties in fulfilling military service requirements. Currently, citizens aged 65 and older make up more than 10% of the population, highlighting demographic pressures on the country’s social and economic systems.

Photo by “Anadolu” agency