According to a research carried out by The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the total income of the most wealthy 20 percent of the Turkish population is 8 times higher than the earnings of the poorest part of the population. As reported in the "Income and Living Conditions Research", 20.6 percent of the population is living below the poverty line, 18 percent live under the risk of poverty.

The income difference is most significant between Istanbul with the highest per capita income of 11,454 TL (€ 5,200), and 3,591 TL (€ 1600) the South-East of the country as the region with the lowest income.

1 out of 2 people have a debt, as revealed by the research, 1 in 4 people of the people in debt have difficulty to pay their obligations.

7 out of 10 people are not able to pay for a 1-week holiday, unexpected expenses or the replacement of worn-out furniture.

The research is based on data from the year 2007. The data revealed the following aspects:

* 60.8 percent of the population live in their own homes.

* 39.1 percent of all privately-owned homes have problems such as "leaking roofs, damp walls, rotten window frames etc."

* In 39.8 percent of all homes heating is an issue due to insufficient isolation

* 55.5 percent of all households have to pay debt or instalments. Of the people in debt, 1 out of 4 people cause a severe burden for the household they are living in.

According to the research, the share of income from wages within the total income decreased by 1 percent and the rate of social benefits increased by 0.4 percent. The social benefits almost entirely consist of retirement payments and benefits for widows and orphans. (EÜ/VK)