Ministry of Youth and Sports: Why Should It Be Separated?

The boundaries of the concept of “youth” are not fixed; it is a sociological construct. In the words of Pierre Bourdieu, “Youth is nothing but a word.” Therefore, the age range of youth may vary depending on the purpose and method of the study.

As Arayüz Campaign, we define youth as the 18–30 age group based on concrete criteria such as Türkiye’s population dynamics and the threshold for transition to economic/financial independence. In this information note, “youth” also refers to the 18–30 age group. As of the end of 2024, the population aged 18–30 is 16.7 million. This corresponds to approximately 19.5% of Türkiye’s population. Considering the numerical weight of young people, this information note will discuss why it is meaningful to critically examine the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the context of youth and to rethink the ministry by separating it into a Ministry of Youth.