Key Figures
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population aged 18–74 in Türkiye | 59,127,000 |
| Share with care responsibilities | 43.1% |
| Women with care responsibilities | 45.6% |
| Men with care responsibilities | 40.6% |
Source: TurkStat, Reconciliation of Work and Family Life Survey, 2025
Care Boosts Men’s Employment, Constrains Women’s
At first glance, the headline numbers appear counterintuitive. Adults with care responsibilities recorded a higher labour force participation rate, at 60.5%, than those without care duties, who stood at 56.4%. The overall rate for the 18–74 age group was 58.2% in 2025.
| Group | Rate |
|---|---|
| Overall, ages 18–74 | 58.2% |
| With care duties | 60.5% |
| Without care duties | 56.4% |
| Women with care duties | 37.8% |
| Women without care duties | 41.7% |
| Men with care duties | 86.0% |
| Men without care duties | 70.0% |
Source: TurkStat
But the aggregate figure masks a deep gender divide. For women, having care duties modestly reduces participation: 37.8% of women with caregiving roles were in the labour force, compared with 41.7% of those without. For men, the pattern is reversed. Men with care responsibilities posted a participation rate of 86.0%, compared with 70.0% for men without such duties.
The finding suggests that care duties may function as an economic motivator for men while creating barriers for women.
Child Care Dominates, Formal Services Remain Rare
Among employed adults, child care is by far the most common form of care responsibility, affecting 39.0% of workers. Care for grandchildren and care for adult relatives each accounted for 2.3%, while a further 2.1% managed multiple types of care simultaneously.
| Care Type | Share of Employed Adults |
|---|---|
| Child care only | 39.0% |
| Grandchild care only | 2.3% |
| Adult care only | 2.3% |
| Combined child/adult or grandchild/adult care | 2.1% |
Source: TurkStat
Despite the scale of these responsibilities, formal care solutions remain rare. A striking 83.0% of employed parents with children under 15 did not use any professional child care services. Only 14.0% used institutional care centres, while even fewer opted for paid home-based care.
| Service Used | Share |
|---|---|
| No professional services | 83.0% |
| Institutional care centres | 14.0% |
| Paid professional care at home | 1.6% |
| Both institutional and home care | 1.4% |
Source: TurkStat
The picture is similar for adult care. Among those responsible for adult dependents, 79.3% managed without professional support. Of those who did seek help, 17.0% used paid care at home and 3.6% relied on institutional centres.
| Service Used | Share |
|---|---|
| No professional services | 79.3% |
| Paid professional care at home | 17.0% |
| Institutional care centres | 3.6% |
Source: TurkStat
Families Rely on Themselves, While Cost Remains a Barrier
When asked why they did not use professional child care, 50.8% of employed parents said they or their spouse provided the care personally. A further 19.7% said their children were old enough to look after themselves.
| Reason | Share |
|---|---|
| Care provided by themselves or spouse | 50.8% |
| Children can look after themselves | 19.7% |
| High cost of services | 17.6% |
| Grandparents or other relatives | 5.5% |
Source: TurkStat
| Reason | Share |
|---|---|
| Did not need it | 72.6% |
| High cost | 17.9% |
| No available or fully booked services | 5.3% |
Source: TurkStat
Most Manage, But Millions Still Struggle
Seven in ten employed people with care duties, or 70.1%, reported no significant difficulty balancing work and family life. However, that still leaves an estimated 4.3 million people facing challenges.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Reported no difficulty | 70.1% |
| Reported difficulty | 4,303,000 people |
| Leading obstacle: long working hours | 38.4% |
| Men citing long hours | 39.3% |
| Women citing long hours | 36.4% |
| Demanding or exhausting job | 26.9% |
| Long commute | 8.9% |
Source: TurkStat
Among those reporting difficulty, long working hours were the most common obstacle, at 38.4%. This was followed by demanding or physically exhausting jobs, at 26.9%, and lengthy commutes, at 8.9%. Men were slightly more likely to cite long working hours, at 39.3%, compared with 36.4% of women.
A System Still Built on the Family
The TurkStat data points to a care system that remains strongly rooted in informal, family-based arrangements. While many adults appear to manage their dual responsibilities, the persistent gender gap, the low use of formal care services and the role of cost all point to structural challenges that extend beyond individual household choices.
Source: TurkStat, Reconciliation of Work and Family Life Survey, 2025
Data portal:
data.tuik.gov.tr/en/press/62062