Turkey’s National Happiness Rating (NHR) — or its ranking in the UN World Happiness Report — has consistently been low, especially for a middle-income country with a relatively large economy and rich cultural heritage. While Turkey has modern infrastructure and strong family ties, it ranks well below the global average in self-reported life satisfaction.
Here’s why Turkey’s NHR is relatively poor:
🇹🇷 1. Political Instability and Authoritarianism
- Turkey has shifted from a parliamentary democracy to an executive presidency under President Erdoğan.
- There’s been:
- Erosion of checks and balances
- Suppression of media freedom
- Mass arrests following the 2016 coup attempt
- Many Turks feel politically disempowered, with limited freedom of expression or trust in democratic processes.
📉 Perceived lack of freedom is one of the strongest predictors of low happiness globally — and Turkey scores very low here.
💰 2. Economic Struggles and Inflation
- Turkey has faced a severe economic crisis in recent years:
- Hyperinflation (over 50% at times)
- Lira devaluation
- High unemployment, especially among youth
- Basic goods like food, rent, and medicine have become unaffordable for many.
- Economic uncertainty and inequality are major sources of stress.
🧠 3. Mental Health and Social Pressure
- Mental health is increasingly a concern, but services are underdeveloped and often stigmatized.
- Young people face a lack of opportunity and widespread disillusionment.
- Brain drain: Many educated young Turks are emigrating for better futures.
📺 4. Media Control and Distrust
- Major news outlets are under government control or pressure.
- Censorship of dissent and online platforms (Twitter, Wikipedia) has occurred frequently.
- This creates distrust in information, pessimism, and alienation.
🏘️ 5. Social Strains and Polarization
- Turkey is deeply politically polarized, especially between secular and religious groups.
- Social cohesion is weakening due to cultural divisions, refugee tensions (especially with Syrians), and urban-rural disparities.
- Community vitality, a core happiness factor, is under pressure.
🏚️ 6. Natural Disasters and Government Response
- Major earthquakes (e.g., February 2023) caused massive loss of life and property.
- Many criticized the government’s response as slow or inadequate, fueling public frustration.
- Post-disaster trauma has further reduced wellbeing, particularly in affected regions.
📊 Turkey in the UN World Happiness Report (2024 Estimates)
| Indicator | Relative Score |
|---|---|
| GDP per capita | Moderate |
| Social support | Moderate |
| Healthy life expectancy | Moderate |
| Freedom to make life choices | Low |
| Generosity | Low |
| Perceptions of corruption | Very low |