Turkish Health Minister Reports 30 Percent Smoking Rate Among Adolescents

ANKARA, Oct 24 (OPA) — Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu disclosed the figures during a Turkish Parliamentarians Union event, citing recent data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). According to the report, approximately 2.5 million of Turkey’s 7.5 million adolescents in the 13-to-17 age bracket are regular smokers. Memişoğlu characterized the trend as a dramatic public health crisis, noting that the average age for starting tobacco use in the country is now 17.

Economic data provided by the ministry highlights the scale of the tobacco industry's impact on the national economy. In 2025, consumers purchased 8.5 billion packs of cigarettes, representing an annual expenditure of $15 billion. Memişoğlu emphasized that these figures underscore the urgent need for comprehensive intervention strategies targeting both tobacco consumption and rising obesity rates across the population.

Beyond tobacco control, the minister addressed national efforts to promote natural childbirth. He reported that primary cesarean section rates have declined by 5.5 percentage points since 2024, supported by new initiatives such as the 'Mother’s Journey' mobile application and the assignment of midwives to first-time expectant mothers during their final trimester.

Public health metrics regarding infant mortality have shown improvement, according to ministry data. The infant mortality rate dropped from 8.9 per thousand in 2024 to 7.7 per thousand in 2026. Memişoğlu stated that this 1.1-point reduction represents approximately 3,000 additional infants surviving, marking a significant improvement from the 31.5 per thousand rate recorded in 2002.