Dude, I am a
professional statistician working in the field of
demographics (although my work mostly focus on religious demographics globally, not general population demographics per say).
You’d think I’d know a thing or two about this topic?
There are myriads of factors at play when it comes to demographics of any society...and yes, Education is a
major one (even most significant according to many population studies experts).
However, education causes decrease in fertility rate, but having
unhealthy fertility rates is not because of education. Israel is one of the most educated and technologically advanced nation. Yet they have healthy fertility rates (which I am arguing for Turkey oF Turkey wants the great power status in the long run). And oh, I know you aren’t familiar with demographics as I am....so let me tell you that Iran has actually reversed their fertility decline. Iranians have a fertility of above 2 kids per woman now (Stanford researchers did evaluations of the most recent available birth and age-cohort data from Iran. I’ve read the report myself on my desk)
If you google, Iranian fertility will still come up as 1.6 etc. But it’s not the case any longer (atleast for now).
Turkey has a window of opportunity for now, as your median age is still in early 30’s. You folks should figure out how to keep a healthy fertility rate instead of making dumb excuses for your failing and increasingly
unhealthy demographic future by saying “oh we just got educated and hence it was expected. Blah blah” ....I’m not attacking you or saying you are dumb btw
It’s like Americans treating their obesity health crisis by saying “well you know, we are too rich and have soooo much to consume. So we just eat ALOT and drive automatically driven AI Tesla’s. What can we say? It makes us fat”....No American health body would even imagine justifying the health crisis by alluding to these facts. Yes, it’s a fact American wealth and prosperity makes us more susceptible to obesity but it is NOT a justification for our bad health. Hence so much resources are allocated for research about obesity problem and billions spent to decrease its bad effects.
Turkey should treat their falling birth rates the same way....while you have the opportunity to do so. Otherwise, here’s another surprise for you, Turkey’s median age will surpass that of
RUSSIA Within few decades...without outside immigration (I can actually show you the population pyramids of both countries and write calculations with for you to verify yourself). Can you imagine Turkey being older than....Russia?! But it will happen if current trends continue.
I’m sure Turkish demographers explained these things for Erdogan and his govt. There’s a reason uncle Tayyip is SO concerned with Turkey’s falling birth rates. He knows things that average Turk does not.
As I said, Turks should rally around this issue as a National cause.