Turkish poverty threshold reaches above 26,000 liras in December

Duvar English

Turkey's poverty threshold increased to 26.481 liras in December, almost five times higher than minimum wage (5,500 liras), data from the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) showed.

The poverty threshold indicates the money needed for a family of four to feed itself sufficiently and healthily, and it also covers the expenditures on basic necessities such as clothing, rent, electricity, water, transportation, education and health.

The hunger threshold, which indicates the minimum amount of money needed to save a four-member family from starvation a month, became 8,130 liras in December.

According to Türk-İş, the increase in the inflation in the kitchen expenses was 4.41 percent monthly and 98.41 percent annually.

The monthly food expenditure of an adult man is 2,451 liras whereas it is 1,951 liras for an adult woman, according to the data. The monthly food expenditure of a youth aged between 15-18 is 2,421 liras, while it is 1,306 liras for a child aged between 4-6.

In November, the government-run Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) reported an annual inflation rate of 84.39, whereas the independent inflation group ENAG put the figure at 170.70 percent. 

On the other hand, the minimum wage will be raised by some 54.66% to 8,506 lira ($455) for 2023.

Turkish citizens are struggling to adapt and survive in the face of soaring inflation.