‘Rate of the Religious on Decline, That of Atheists on Increase in Turkey’

* Religiosity

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Konda Research and Consultancy published the results of its research entitled "What Has Changed in 10 Years?" on January 2.

Based on the interviews conducted between 2008 and 2018, the research has been offering findings on a series of subjects such as urbanization, religious structure, gender roles and discrimination.

The research has shown that while the rate of the ones who say that "I am happy" or "I am very happy" has decreased from 57 percent to 52 percent, the rate of those who believe that living conditions in Turkey will change for the better in five years has increased from 25 to 38 percent.

Farming on the verge of disappearing

According to the findings of the research on occupational groups, the rate of farmers has decreased from 10 percent to 3 percent and that of workers has fallen from 10 percent to 8 percent. The rates of shopkeepers, private sector workers and civil servants have increased.

"Religiosity" both on the decrease and increase

The findings of the research have shown that no significant change has occurred in the religious structure in Turkey within the indicated time period.

However, the rate of "religious conservatives" has decreased from 32 percent to 25 percent while that of "traditional conservatives" has increased from its previous level of 37 percent to 45 percent.

Also, the rate of the ones defining themselves as "religious" has fallen from 55 to 51 percent while the rate of those who refer to themselves as "believer" has increased from 31 percent to 34 percent.

The rate of atheists has also increased from 1 percent to 3 percent and that of "non-believers" has increased from 1 percent to 2 percent.

No significant changes in gender roles

More than half of the respondents said that they have been subjected to discrimination. The rate of the ones who say that their children can marry a person with a different ethnic background, sect or religion has increased.

While over half of the participants have stated that a woman has to get the permission of her husband to be able to work, this rate has fallen from its former level of 69 percent to 55 percent in 2108.

The rate of people who say that their children "can have different sexual orientations" has increased from its former level of 10 percent to 14 percent.

Newspaper readership on decrease

The results of the research have also shown that the use of social media, which was 38 percent in 2008, has increased to 72 percent in 2018.

As for the rate of the ones who read newspaper, it has fallen from its former level of 61 percent to 26 percent. The rate of those who follow the news on television has also decreased from 98 percent in 2010 to 84 percent.

Also, the rate of the people who say "Political parties should be closed if needs be" has fallen from 50 percent to 37 percent and that of the ones who say "The military should seize the power if needs be" has decreased from its former level of 48 percent to 19 percent. (EÖ/HK/SD)