Education of Disadvantaged Children in OIC:
The Key to Escape from Poverty
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3.2 TURKEY
Overview
Country Context
Economy: Located at the intersection of Europe and Central Asia, Turkey is an upper middle-
income country with USD 10,787.6 GDP per capita as of 2016.247 Despite a recent plunge in growth
in 2016, the Turkish economy seems to be improving in the first quarter of 2017 with a 5 percent
growth rate.248 While annual growth is projected to be 3.5 percent for 2017,249 youth
unemployment has reached a historical high of 21.4 percent250 and consumer price inflation has
risen again to 11.72 percent as of May 2017.251 In the latest Human Development Index (HDI)
Turkey ranks 71st among 188 countries and territories. From 1990 to 2015, Turkey’s HDI value
increased by 33.2 percent. However, the inequality-adjusted HDI is15.8 percent lower than the
unadjusted figure.252
Administration: Turkey is ruled under a centralised administrative system. Local administrative
agencies, namely provincial and district level local governments as well as municipalities, are
authorised by the central government. Each province is administrated by a governor (vali ) and
each district in a province has its own administration and is managed by a district chief
(kaymakam ). Governors and district chiefs are directed by the Ministry of Interior. Municipal
administrations consist of a mayor, an assembly, and a council. They are elected by the public
every 5 years.
Demography: As of 2015, the population of Turkey is 78.6 million. The population is projected to
reach 93.5 million by 2050. With half of its population under the age 31, Turkey has the largest
youth population in Europe.253 In addition to its local population, following the outbreak of the
Syrian civil war, there are now more than 3 million Syrian refugees residing in Turkey.254 While
the Turkish population is on the rise, unemployment is also growing. In fact, the OECD’s
unemployment projections for Turkey imply that unemployment is likely to continue to be in
double digits through the end of 2018.255. By the end of 2016, the population participating in the
labour force was 30.5 million in Turkey out of 59.1 million persons aged 15 or above.256 The
Turkish labour force predominantly consists of male workers, as the labour force participation
rate for women (above 15) is only 31.5 percent257.
247 The World Bank (2017)
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249 OECD (2017c)
250 Labour Force Statistics, March 201
251 Consumer Price Index, May 201
252 UNDP (2017)
253 Invest in Turkey (2017)
254 3.038.480 Syrians are under temporary protection in Turkey as of 8 June 2017. Directorate General of Migration Management
(2017)
255 OECD (2017b)
256 Turkish Statistical Institute (2017a)
257 Turkish Statistical Institute (2017b)