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Turkey education and demographic trends

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-10 08:01 UTC → 2026-09-11 04:53 UTC · added removed

Turkey is undergoing significant transformations continues to see shifts in its educational landscape performance and demographic profile. Data from the Ministry of National Education details a 25-year shift where the budget grew from approximately 7.46 billion lira in 2002 to a projected 1.94 trillion lira in 2026. During this period, the number of schools increased from 43,696 to 74,759, and teacher staffing rose from 540,433 to 1,216,379. Digitalization efforts, such as the FATİH project, resulted in the installation of 668,441 interactive whiteboards. Additionally, preschool enrollment rates surged from 11.7 percent in 2002 to 82.53 percent for the 2024-2025 academic year. In higher education, the percentage of university graduates in the 25-34 age group rose from 13.5 percent in 2008 to 45.6 percent in 2025. Within this bracket, women have surpassed men with a 50.3 percent graduation rate compared to 41 percent for men. Recent Building on previous PISA trends, the 2025 results indicate a positive trend in student performance. Talip Geylan, President of Türk Eğitim-Sen, noted that while performance has declined in many OECD countries, Turkey saw increases in science, mathematics, and reading. show Turkey achieved scores of 494 rising to 19th place in science, 472 18th in reading, and 462 28th in mathematics, placing it mathematics among 91 nations. These scores place the country above the OECD average in both science and reading, and at the OECD average for mathematics. Geylan reading. National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin attributed improved reading comprehension these improvements to structural reforms, specifically the ‘Türkiye Century Maarif Model’ curriculum, enhanced teacher training, and better mastery technological infrastructure. He also noted a reduction in the influence of private tutoring centers. The Ministry has set a goal to reach the Turkish language. Since 2003, science scores top five in PISA rankings by 2029 by reducing exam-oriented pressure and limiting the number of high schools that rely solely on entrance exams. Despite these gains, some academics have risen from 434 to 494, mathematics from 423 to 462, raised concerns regarding the transparency of the results. Critics have questioned the selection criteria for participating students and reading from 441 to 472. schools, suggesting the Ministry may have prepared specific students for the digital exam. Furthermore, observers noted a discrepancy between these high PISA scores and the lower average scores observed in national university entrance exams. Demographically, declining fertility rates are driving the country faces an aging trend. trend driven by declining fertility rates. The population aged 65 and older now accounts for 11.1 percent of the total population. population, with Sinop is being the oldest province with a at 21.7 percent elderly population, while and Şırnak is the youngest at 3.8 percent. Projections suggest a potential demographic crisis if current low-fertility trends continue. persist.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-11 04:53 UTC Turkey education and demographic trends
  2. 2026-09-10 08:01 UTC Turkey education and demographic trends
  3. 2026-09-09 10:41 UTC Turkey education and demographic trends
  4. 2026-08-15 14:56 UTC Turkey education and demographic trends

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