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POPULATION
All censuses carried out before the Republican era had certain shortcomings. A systematic census to meet the social, economic and military requirements of Turkey was begun in 1927, which was followed by the census of 1935 and henceforth held every five years.
One of the most important problems created by the First World War and the National War of Liberation which followed, has been the population problem. The population of the Turkish State was estimated at 12,5 million in 1923 and under political considerations measures were sought to increase the population. Births were encouraged, abortion was considered a crime under the Penal Code and medical ways were sought to reduce death rates, attaching more importance to public health. Thus the birth rate outstripped the death rate, and this was the main factor in the population increase.
The population structure of Turkey is of a young and dynamic nature.
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The total population in Turkey is
72, 6 million (2005), of which 50 % is under the age of 20, and,
with 25.5% falling within the 0–15 age bracket. Turkey has a
growth rate of 1.5% per annum.
The life expectancy
in Turkey stands at 68.9 years for men and 73.8 years for women. The overall average is 71.3 years for the population. In Turkey education is compulsory and free from ages 6 to 15. The literacy rate is 95.3% for men and 79.6% for women, the overall average is 87.4% (2005).
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