Turkey housing market shifts as household sizes shrink

Turkey is experiencing a significant shift in its housing market dynamics driven by changing household structures. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the average household size has decreased from 4 people in 2008 to 3.08 in 2025. The number of single-person households has risen to 20.5 percent of the total.

Ahmet Çelik, Vice Chairman of the Board at Sinpaş GYO, noted that the growing need for housing cannot be explained by population growth alone. Instead, factors such as urbanization, increased divorce rates, and changes in the age of marriage are creating a demand for more independent housing units.

Regarding housing status, TÜİK data shows that 57.1 percent of individuals in Turkey are homeowners, while 27 percent are renters. Notably, 15 percent of the population lives in a residence without paying rent, a group Çelik suggests is largely composed of individuals living in family-owned properties. This indicates that property ownership is becoming concentrated within specific families and generations, making intergenerational support a key factor in housing accessibility for younger populations.