Turkey’s Hunger Line Surpasses Wages: Poverty Threshold Explodes

In September 2025, the Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) reported that the hunger threshold rose to 27,970 TL, while the poverty threshold surged to 91,109 TL. These figures highlight a dramatic divergence between wages and living costs, as the current minimum wage now sits 5,866 TL below the hunger line. For a single worker, the cost of living has climbed to 36,305 TL, pushing families and individuals further into financial distress.

Widening Gap Between Wages and Survival Costs

The monthly research by TÜRK-İŞ shows how the minimum wage is increasingly inadequate. In September, the gap between a single worker’s living costs and the minimum wage expanded to 14,201 TL, growing by more than 1,300 TL in just one month. The poverty threshold, now equivalent to the income of four minimum wages, underscores how households are struggling to meet basic needs despite working full-time.

Inflation in the Kitchen: Food Prices Keep Climbing

According to TÜRK-İŞ data, food inflation rose by 3.17% in September, while the annual increase hit 41.05%. Over the past nine months, kitchen expenses have grown by 32.67%, making it increasingly difficult for families to maintain a balanced diet. The price hikes are particularly severe in essential goods:

• Chicken prices jumped 20% over two months.

• Eggs surged 26% in the same period.

• Hazelnuts skyrocketed 60%, rising from 1,029 TL/kg in August to 1,659 TL/kg in September.

Vegetable prices saw a general increase, with the average price reaching 64.06 TL per kilo, while fruits averaged 105 TL. However, potatoes dropped 15% and onions remained stable, offering minor relief in an otherwise relentless upward trend.

Iris Cibre Warns: “Historic Gap Between Wages and Hunger Line”

Financial markets expert İris Cibre commented on the figures, noting the unprecedented disparity. She wrote, “For the first time in history, the hunger line has climbed this far above the minimum wage. Even a 20% wage hike at the end of the year cannot recover the losses of 2025.” Cibre also stressed that the monthly 3.17% food inflation is a worrying sign for the months ahead, warning families may face deeper challenges as 2025 closes.

Families Forced Into Unhealthy Choices

TÜRK-İŞ underlined that families with limited income are increasingly forced to make trade-offs between food and other essential expenses. The report noted, “Households, with their restricted budgets, are compelled to choose cheaper products. This often results in unhealthy and unbalanced nutrition.” As healthier food options become less accessible, nutritional standards risk deteriorating across large segments of society.

Poverty Line: A Household Measure, Not Just a Worker’s Wage

It is important to note that the poverty threshold is not calculated as a single worker’s wage requirement but as the total household income needed to support a family of four. The methodology draws on Hacettepe University’s nutritional models for food calculations and Turkey’s Statistical Institute’s (TÜİK) household consumption surveys for non-food expenses. This ensures the poverty line reflects a comprehensive cost-of-living benchmark rather than a narrow wage-focused calculation.

Living Standards Under Severe Pressure

The findings from September 2025 make clear that current income levels are failing to secure even minimum living standards. The hunger threshold exceeding wages represents not just a financial strain but also a broader social warning signal. As basic food items become less affordable, families face stark choices that compromise both health and stability.

Unless corrective measures address the growing gap between income and living costs, Turkey’s working population may face an enduring cycle of financial insecurity, malnutrition, and heightened social inequality.