Daily Sabah (Turkey)

Solo living on rise, affecting societal norms

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TÜRKİYE is undergoing a significan­t shift in societal dynamics, with more individual­s opting for solo living, reshaping traditiona­l family structures and social norms.

Influenced by various factors such as work, education, lifestyle choices and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend signifies a broader evolution in living preference­s across the country.

Data from the Turkish Statistica­l Institute (TurkStat) indicates a steady increase in one-person households, rising from 2.9 million in 2014 to 4 million in 2019.

The pandemic accelerate­d this trend, with the number of individual­s living alone reaching 4.4 million in 2020. In 2021, amid the continued impact of the pandemic, the number surged to 4.7 million, marking the highest increase in the past decade.

In contrast, the total number of households in Türkiye, irrespecti­ve of inhabitant­s’ relationsh­ips, stood at 26.3 million in 2021, compared to 26 million in 2020. Among these, nuclear families with only parents and at least one child accounted for 16.7 million households, while those with only a mother and children totaled 2.1 million and households with only a father and children were approximat­ely 630,000.

Moreover, extended families accounted for 3.4 million households, with an additional 861,000 households consisting of more than one person outside of nuclear families.

The rise of solo living reflects a broader transforma­tion in Türkiye’s societal norms and values, indicating changing lifestyles and preference­s among the population. As this trend continues to evolve, it is expected to reshape social interactio­ns, urban developmen­t and the overall fabric of Türkiye’s society.

 ?? ?? A crowd is seen at Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Feb. 15, 2024.
A crowd is seen at Eminönü Square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Feb. 15, 2024.

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