KAMU-AR July 2025 Hunger and Poverty Line Survey: Turkey's Hunger Line Hits ₺27,670

Ankara – The latest Hunger and Poverty Line Survey for July 2025, conducted by KAMU-AR, the R&D unit of the United Public Employees Confederation (Birleşik Kamu-İş), reveals a concerning rise in living costs across Turkey. The hunger line, which represents the minimum food expenditure required for a balanced and healthy diet for a four-person family, increased by ₺255 from the previous month, reaching ₺27,670. Simultaneously, the poverty line, encompassing not only food but also essential expenses like housing, transportation, household goods, health, and education, surged by ₺1,485 to ₺85,344 due to persistent price hikes.

Dramatic Annual Increases Highlight Shrinking Purchasing Power

Over the past year, the hunger line has climbed by ₺6,894, while the poverty line has seen a staggering increase of ₺23,042. These substantial rises underscore a severe decline in household purchasing power, making it increasingly difficult for families to meet their basic needs.

Minimum Wage and Pensions Fall Below Hunger Line

The survey highlights a stark reality: the hunger line in July exceeded the minimum wage by ₺5,566. With the net minimum wage for 2025 set at ₺22,104, unchanged for the second half of the year, the hunger line now stands at 25.2% above it. This means the minimum wage can barely cover a four-person family's food expenses for just 24 days. The poverty line, meanwhile, is now equivalent to 3.8 times the minimum wage.

The lowest pension, set at ₺16,881 for the second half of this year, covers only 18 days of sustenance. The July increase in the lowest pension provided enough for merely two additional days of food.

Civil Servant Salaries Lag Far Behind Poverty Line

Even with a 15.57% increase in July, the lowest civil servant salary, now at ₺50,534, covers only 59% of the poverty line. The average civil servant salary, rising to ₺57,310, covers only 67%. To meet the poverty line, the lowest civil servant salary would need to increase by at least 69%, and the average salary by 49%.

Detailed Breakdown of Food and Non-Food Expenditures

KAMU-AR's analysis, based on prices collected from widely available supermarkets in Ankara, details the monthly food expenditure breakdown for a balanced diet:

• Meat, fish, and eggs: Decreased by ₺31 in July to ₺8,561, but still up by ₺2,566 annually.

• Legumes: Increased by ₺9 from the previous month and ₺76 annually, reaching ₺508.

• Milk, yogurt, and cheese: Decreased by ₺36 in July to ₺5,458, but increased by ₺806 annually.

• Fruits: Rose by ₺342 from the previous month and ₺1,596 annually, reaching ₺3,571.

• Vegetables: Decreased by ₺94 in July but increased by ₺646 annually, reaching ₺3,066.

• Bread, flour, and pasta: Increased by ₺45 in July, reaching ₺2,222.

• Rice and bulgur: Increased by ₺67, reaching ₺1,064.

• Oil: Increased by ₺4, reaching ₺613.

• Sugar, honey, molasses, jam: Decreased by ₺83, reaching ₺1,953.

• Olives: Increased by ₺31, reaching ₺653.

Based on calorie calculations (2,800 for adult males, 2,200 for adult females, 3,000 for young adults, and 1,600 for children), the July hunger line for an adult male was ₺8,079; for an adult female, ₺6,342; for a child, ₺4,604; and for a young adult, ₺8,644.

Non-food expenditures also saw significant increases. A four-person family's monthly spending to meet non-food needs "in a manner worthy of human dignity and without feeling deprivation" reached ₺57,673 in July. Average monthly non-food expenditures included:

• Clothing and footwear: ₺2,227

• Housing (including rent): ₺16,332

• Household goods: ₺6,885

• Health: ₺2,363

• Transportation: ₺15,901

• Communication: ₺1,559

• Entertainment and culture: ₺1,578

• Education: ₺1,591

• Holiday-hotel: ₺6,194

• Miscellaneous goods and services: ₺3,044

Poverty Line Sets New Record

The poverty line, representing the total cost of food and non-food expenditures for a four-person family to live in dignity without feeling deprivation, soared to ₺85,344 as of July 2025. This marks a ₺1,485 increase in July alone, a ₺14,296 increase in the first seven months of the year, and a record ₺23,042 increase over the last 12-month period. These figures clearly demonstrate the escalating economic hardship faced by households in Turkey and the rapidly rising cost of living.