KAMU-AR July 2025 Hunger-Poverty Survey: The Hunger Limit in Turkey is 27.670 TL

Ankara - The results of the hunger and poverty line survey for July 2025 by KAMU-AR, the R&D unit of the United Public-Is Confederation, have been announced. The starvation threshold, which shows the minimum food expenditure required for a family of four to have a balanced and healthy diet, increased by 255 TL in July compared to the previous month and rose to 27,670 TL. The poverty line, which shows meeting basic needs such as housing, transportation, household goods, health and education in addition to food, increased by 1,485 liras to 85,344 liras due to price increases.

Dramatic Increases in the Last Year

According to the results of the research, the hunger limit has increased by 6 thousand 894 liras and the poverty line by 23 thousand 42 liras in the last year. These increases reveal that households are experiencing serious declines in purchasing power and are struggling to meet basic needs.

Minimum Wage and Pensions Remain Below the Hunger Line

It was emphasized that the hunger limit rose 5 thousand 566 liras above the minimum wage in July, while the poverty line was equivalent to 3.8 minimum wages. In the first seven months of the year, the hunger threshold increased by a total of 4,414 liras, 25.2% above the net minimum wage of 22,104 liras, which will be applied for the whole of 2025. This shows that the minimum wage can barely cover 24 days of food expenses for a family of four.

The lowest pension, which is applied as 16 thousand 881 liras for the second half of the year, is only enough for 18 days of nutrition. It was stated that the increase made to the lowest pension in July covered only two days of nutritional needs.

Employee Salaries Are Also Behind the Poverty Line

The lowest civil servant salary, which increased by 15.57% in July to 50 thousand 534 liras, meets only 59% of the poverty line, while the average civil servant salary, which increased to 57 thousand 310 liras, barely meets 67% of the poverty line. It was calculated that in order to meet the poverty line, the lowest civil servant salary would have to be increased by at least 69% and the average civil servant salary by 49%.

Changes in Food Expenditures

According to the prices compiled by KAMU-AR from supermarkets with a widespread branch network in Ankara, the monthly food expenditure items required for a balanced diet were analyzed:

• Meat-fish-eggs: Although it decreased by 31 liras to 8,561 liras in July compared to the previous month, it increased by 2,566 liras on an annual basis.

• Dried pulses: Increased by 9 liras compared to the previous month and 76 liras compared to last year to 508 liras.

• Milk, yogurt and cheese: Although it decreased by 36 liras to 5,458 liras in July, it increased by 806 liras in the last year.

• Fruit: Increased by 342 liras compared to the previous month and by 1,596 liras compared to the same month last year to 3,571 liras.

• Vegetables: Although it decreased by 94 liras compared to the previous month, it increased by 646 liras compared to the same month last year and reached 3 thousand 66 liras.

• Bread, flour and pasta: increased by 45 liras to 2,222 liras in July.

• Rice and bulgur: increased by 67 liras to 1,064 liras.

• Oil: rose by 4 liras to 613 liras.

• Sugar, honey, molasses, jam: decreased by 83 liras compared to the previous month to 1,953 liras.

• Olive: increased by 31 liras to 653 liras.

According to calorie calculations (2,800 calories for adult men, 2,200 calories for adult women, 3,000 calories for young people and 1,600 calories for children), the hunger limit for July was determined as 8,79 lira for adult men, 6,342 lira for adult women, 4,604 lira for children and 8,644 lira for young people.

Non-Food Expenditures Also on the Rise

The price changes of non-food necessities were also taken into account in determining the poverty line. Accordingly, the monthly expenditure amount that a family of four needs to spend in order to meet their non-food needs "in a manner befitting human dignity and without feeling deprived" increased to 57 thousand 673 liras in July.

Average expenditures in July were as follows:

• Clothing and footwear: 2 thousand 227 lira

• Housing (including rent): 16,332 lira

• Household goods: 6 thousand 885 lira

• Health: 2,363 lira

• Transport: 15 thousand 901 lira

• Communication: One thousand 559 lira

• Entertainment and culture: 1,578 lira

• Education: 1,591 lira

• Holiday-hotel: 6 thousand 194 lira

• Various goods and services: 3 thousand 44 lira

Poverty Line Hits Record High

The poverty line, which shows the total food and non-food expenditures a family of four needs to live a decent life, climbed to 85,344 liras as of July 2025. The poverty line increased by a record 1,485 liras in July, 14,296 liras in the first seven months of the year and 23,42 liras in the last 12 months. These data reveal once again that the economic conditions of households in Turkey are becoming increasingly difficult and the cost of living is rising rapidly.