While the level of happiness was 60.2% for females in 2015, the percentage increased to 64.5% in 2016, the level of happiness for males increased to 58.1% from 52.9%.

When the level of happiness was analyzed by age groups, the highest level of happiness was at 18-24 age group with 65.1%, the lowest level of happiness was seen at 35-44 age group with 58.2% in 2016.

Level of happiness in general, 2003-2016

People who didn’t complete school have higher level of happiness
While the happiness percentage was 63.5% for individuals who did not complete school, it was followed by primary school graduates with 62.9%, primary education or junior high school gradutes with 61.4%, higher education graduates with 60.2%, high school and equivalent graduates with 57.8%, respectively.

Married females were happier than married males
It was seen that married individuals were happier than unmarried individuals. While 64.7% of married individuals were happy, the percentage was 53.5% for unmarried ones in 2016. When the level of happiness was analyzed by sex, it was seen that 68.3% of married females and 60.8% of married males were happy.

Families were the ones that made individuals happiest
While the percentage of individuals who mentioned that their families made them happiest was 70.2%; children with 15.1%, spouse with 4.7%, parents with 3.6%, themselves with 2.7%, grandchildren with 1.9% and others with 1.7% were followed, respectively.

Health was the first source of happiness
While the percentage of individuals who mentioned that their health made them happiest was 72.1%; love with 14.6%, success with 7%, money with 3.2%, work with 2.3% and other values with 0.8% were followed, respectively.

Satisfaction level from public services in general increased
When we look at the overall satisfaction level of individuals, according to the results, it was observed that the highest increase occurred in services of Social Security Institution with 9.2 percentage points in 2016. The highest satisfaction level was seen in the transportation services with 78.4%. It was followed with public security services with 75.7%, health services with 75.4%, Social Security Institution services with 67.9%, education services with 65.1% and judicial services with 57.9%, respectively in 2016.

76.8% of the individuals were hopeful about their own future
While the percentage of individuals who were hopeful about their own future was 74.4% in 2015, the percentage increased to 76.8% in 2016. While the percentage of females who were hopeful about their own future was 74% in 2015, the percentage increased to 76.7% in 2016. While the percentage of males who were hopeful about their own future was 74.7% in 2015, the percentage increased to 77% in 2016.

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.

With its unique geographical location combined with a rich and diverse history, right in the cradle of many different civilizations, Turkey is a privileged place to live for expatriates and their families.

Many of Turkey’s new residents hail from countries like the UK, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Belgium, France, USA, as well as several of the Gulf countries. Thanks to the amendments in Turkey’s property law that lifted the reciprocity principle, foreign homebuyers and investors are now free to purchase any property in Turkey.

2-Housing
From flats in urban centers to villas in suburbs, there are a multitude of options to choose from when looking for housing in Turkey. Major metropolitan areas have the most modern and complete environment for an extravagant life in the city, where luxurious residence complexes offer all the daily amenities such as private security, kindergartens, sports complexes, social facilities, parking lots, and shopping malls for their residents.

3-Residing in Turkey
Foreigners wishing to work or reside in Turkey are obliged to file an application to the relevant Turkish authorities with required documents in order to obtain a work or residence permit. The methods and principles concerning work permits to be issued to foreigners that will be employed in Turkey vary by the relevant sector, such as

• education,
• housekeeping services,
• health services,
• tourism,
• aviation,
• entertainment, and
• Others, as well as with respect to foreign direct investments, special foreign direct investments, professional services, and liaison offices. Meanwhile, residence permits are issued to foreigners mainly based on ownership status of real estate or on the intention to run a business or establish commercial connections in Turkey.

4-Transportation
The transportation system in Turkey makes good use of the country’s highly developed infrastructure. With more than 50 airports across the country, one can fly from one city to another in Turkey in less than an hour in most instances. An extensive network of dual carriageways and highways makes it very easy to drive from your home to any major city in Turkey. The high-speed train network, meanwhile, has been improving rapidly in the last decade; the 14 largest cities of Turkey are expected to be interconnected with high-speed train lines by 2023, the centennial of foundation of the Republic of Turkey.

5-Education
The education system of Turkey underwent serious reforms in the last decade. Most apparent are the now compulsory twelve-year education and the dramatic increase in the number of schools and other educational institutions. Many private and foundation schools, in addition to public schools, offer education services. Moreover, international schools, where only pupils holding a foreign passport can attend, are present throughout the country. While schools providing education in European languages such as

• English,
• German,
• French, and
• Italian are available, there are other institutions where languages such as Russian, Japanese, and Chinese are taught as well.

6-Health Services
The healthcare system in Turkey mainly operates with three different types of hospitals:

• public,
• university, and
• Private.

While social and health securities are governed in essence by the state, it is also possible to have private health insurance. The majority of hospitals in Turkey, both public and private, are either meeting or surpassing international standards in equipment quality and expertise.

7-Passtime and Cultural Activities
The cultural activities in which one can engage in Turkey are only limited by individual interests and capabilities. Be it arts, hobbies, entertainment, or other leisure activities, the possibilities are endless. In all major cities one can find movies, plays, concerts, ballets, operas, and other varieties of cultural activities awaiting either participants or spectators. Local festivals and more traditional forms of leisure activities are also rising in popularity.

Turkey’s rich geography and suitable terrain make the country an ideal place for alternative sports such as;

• mountaineering,
• golf,
• scuba diving,
• rafting,
• skiing, and
• yachting.

Naturally, well-established and popular sports like;

• football,
• basketball, and
• volleyball have a considerable number of players and supporters all over the country.

Located in the Eastern Mediterranean region and surrounded on three sides by temperate seas, Turkey has a climate allowing for extreme variations in weather, often in the same region or province. As such, it is possible to go skiing in a mountain resort after sunbathing on a sandy beach, both in the same day.

 Date: 13 March 2017

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.