Retirement Life in Çorum: A City Where One in Four People Is Retired

Çorum retirement data shows a quarter of the city receives a pension from the SGK. Role change, loneliness in retirement and ways to build a new routine.

Those chatting in front of the tea stall at the market in the morning, those waiting for the afternoon prayer in the mosque courtyard, those walking their grandchildren in the park in the afternoon... If retired people set the daily rhythm of a city, then understanding that city's state of mind also means understanding retirement. Data on Çorum retirement is striking in this respect: according to the Social Security Institution's (SGK) Statistical Yearbook 2025, the number of people in Çorum receiving a pension or benefit from the SGK is 125,211. That is about 24 per cent of the province's population; in Turkey the figure is about 20 per cent. In other words, roughly one in every four people in Çorum receives an income such as a retirement pension or a widow's or orphan's pension. In this article we look at these figures, the place of retirement in the city's social fabric, and the psychological effects of the role change that comes with retirement.

Retirement Life in Çorum: What Do the Figures Say?

The key data, compiled from the provincial tables of the SGK Statistical Yearbook 2025 and partly calculated in proportion to the population, are as follows:

• People receiving a pension or benefit: In Çorum, 125,211 people receive a pension or benefit from the SGK. This number also includes those receiving widows' and orphans' pensions. As a share of the provincial population this is about 24.1 per cent; in Turkey about 19.8 per cent.
• People retired in their own right: The number of people receiving an old-age pension from their own work is 87,770. This is about 16.9 per cent of the population; in Turkey about 14.2 per cent.
• Distribution by insurance scheme: Of those receiving pensions and benefits, 65.7 per cent are covered by SSK (4A, employees), 21.1 per cent by Bağ-Kur (4B, the self-employed) and 13.2 per cent by the Emekli Sandığı (4C, civil servants). The Bağ-Kur share is above Turkey's (17.2 per cent).
• Retirement of shopkeepers and farmers: 33.2 per cent of people covered by Bağ-Kur are insured as farmers; in Turkey this figure is 28.1 per cent.
• Women: Among those receiving an old-age pension in their own right, women's share is 13.6 per cent; in Turkey 22.4 per cent. By contrast, 24,062 women receive a survivor's pension from their late husband.
• New retirees: In 2025, 2,712 people in Çorum were granted a new old-age pension.
• Retirement and return migration: According to sources citing TÜİK's (Turkish Statistical Institute) 2025 internal migration data, 100 people came to Çorum for "retirement" while 56 left (net +44). For "returning to family or home town", there is a net gain of 863 people.

The limits of the data

The high share of pension recipients is consistent less with migration than with Çorum's older population structure: according to the Health Statistics Yearbook 2023, the share of the population aged over 65 in the province is 16.6 per cent, compared with 10.2 per cent in Turkey. The "returning home" category does not cover only retirees; so while we can speak of retiree return migration existing, its scale is not known with certainty. No provincial-level data could be found on issues such as how people manage on a retirement pension, how many retirees continue working, or participation in retirees' associations and senior centres in the province.

Possible Factors Shaping Retirement in Çorum

The figures point to several distinctive features of retirement in Çorum. These are not definitive judgements but possible readings of the data.

An older population structure. The weight of retirees in the population is a reflection of the city's generally older population structure. This also means that retirees are a visible and influential group in the city's social life. Being retired here is not a solitary state but a shared stage of life experienced alongside many peers.

The weight of shopkeeper and farmer retirement. The fact that the Bağ-Kur share and the proportion of farmers within Bağ-Kur are higher than in Turkey shows that a significant part of retirement in Çorum is made up of self-employed shopkeepers and farmers. For these groups, retirement is often not a sharp ending; it can be a transition with blurred boundaries, in which they carry on being at the shop or in the field.

A predominantly male status. The share of women retired in their own right being well below the Turkey average shows that the identity of "retiree" in Çorum belongs largely to men. For many women, retirement is experienced through their husband's retirement or the pension left by their husband.

Growing old where you were born. The vast majority of older people in Çorum live in the province where they were born. In retirement this means a familiar environment, long-standing relationships and neighbourhood ties; at the same time, for retirees whose children have moved to big cities, it can also mean homes that have grown quiet. For a parent who has more time on their hands after retiring, the absence of children far away may be felt more than it was during their working years.

A Psychological Reading: Who We Are After Work

Retirement arrives as a day on the calendar; but psychologically it is a transition that stretches over months, even years.

Loss of role and identity

Someone who has been known for many years as "the master craftsman", "the teacher", "the shopkeeper" or "the civil servant" may have to redefine themselves on retiring. A qualitative study of retirees carried out in Turkey (Boduroğlu, Şahin and Çiftçi, 2025) reports that hopelessness, loneliness and loss of identity can lead to social isolation, while social support is protective. The thought that "nobody asks me anything any more" shows how important the sense of worth that work provides is.

The weight of unstructured time

Working life divides the day into hours: getting up, working hours, lunch break, coming home. In retirement this structure suddenly disappears. Free time that feels like a holiday in the first weeks can, after a while, turn into the question "What am I going to do all day?". Especially in the winter months, on long evenings when going out becomes difficult, this emptiness becomes even more pronounced. Sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping in the day and being unable to sleep at night, and days blurring into one another are familiar examples of how unstructured time can affect mood. A review of loneliness in older age (Akbaş, Taşdemir Yiğitoğlu and Çunkuş, 2020) also lists retirement and role changes among the risk factors for loneliness in later life.

Not being able to let go of work

For shopkeepers and farmers, retirement is usually just a change of status; the shop keeps opening and the field keeps being sown. This has its good sides: the person stays productive and social. But sometimes not being able to let go of work can turn into tension during the handover between generations, strain on a tired body, or the worry that "if I'm not there, everything will fall apart". Let us say that a 68-year-old hardware shop owner says he handed the shop over to his son years ago, yet every morning he is still behind the counter. His son feels he cannot make his own decisions, while the father thinks his son "still hasn't learned" the business. The issue here is not only the work; it is that the father still finds his worth in the shop, and that there is an unspoken change of roles between father and son.

Financial worry and continuing to work

The same qualitative study also reports that physical and psychological problems were seen in retirees who carried on working because their pension was not enough. Going back to work after retiring is a choice for some and a necessity for others. When it is a necessity, tiredness, resentment and the feeling that "I worked all those years and it's still not enough" can be prominent.

A new balance at home

When men retire and start spending the whole day at home, it is often a big change for their wives too, who have been running the household for years. The complaint that "he's at home all day, interfering in everything" actually describes two people learning to share the same space again. Our article on having a retired spouse at home offers suggestions on how couples can build a new routine.

Women's different experience of retirement

For women without a pension of their own, there is no period called "retirement"; housework, looking after grandchildren and caring for older relatives go on for life. For women who have lost their husbands, the survivor's pension is both a source of security and a reality in which the loss is remembered every month. These women may need to cope with grief, loneliness and financial worry all at the same time. Not having a pension in return for their own labour can also lead some women to feel, "I worked all my life, yet I have nothing of my own."

Retirement is not an ending but an invitation to build a new routine; building that routine takes time, patience and often the support of others.

Practical Suggestions for Retirees and Their Families

For those preparing to retire:

• Plan before you retire. Not leaving the question "What will I do when I retire?" until the last day makes the transition easier.
• Consider a gradual transition. For shopkeepers and farmers, handing over responsibilities little by little rather than stopping work all at once protects both the person and the business.
• Talk about the handover between generations. Openly discussing expectations and roles with the person taking over the business prevents hurt feelings later on.

For those who have retired:

• Structure your day. Regular activities such as a morning walk, meeting friends at a set time, gardening or a hobby give the day meaning.
• Keep your social circle alive. Former colleagues, the mosque congregation, conversations at the tea house or volunteering are strong protection against loneliness.
• Learn something new. A course, a handicraft or a piece of technology learned together with grandchildren keeps the mind active and strengthens the feeling that "I can still learn".
• Take care of your body. Regular health check-ups and movement have a direct effect on mood.

We looked in more detail at ways of making time meaningful in retirement in our article on what to do in retirement.

For families:

• Value the retiree's experience. Asking for their view in family decisions supports the retiree's sense of being valued.
• Talk about the change together. Replanning household routines, personal space and shared activities together with the retired spouse reduces tension.

For institutions: Meeting places for retirees run by municipalities, courses and volunteering programmes, and intergenerational activities can help retirement be lived more actively and less lonely.

When Should You Seek Professional Support?

In the first months of retirement, a sense of emptiness, restlessness or indecision is normal. However, it may be helpful to seek support from a professional in the following situations:

• If intense lack of motivation, unhappiness or hopelessness persists even months after retiring
• If the person has largely stopped going out and seeing people
• If there are marked changes in sleep patterns, appetite or personal care
• If the thought "I'm no use any more" has become constant
• If tensions between spouses that began with retirement have become more frequent and deeper
• If the person has increased their alcohol use or talks about life being meaningless

If there are thoughts of self-harm or any urgent risk, call 112 (emergency services) without delay.

How Is the Transition to Retirement Addressed in Therapy?

For the changes that come with retirement, individual therapy can offer a space to support the person's adjustment to this new stage. Therapy usually focuses on the following:

• Recognising losses and gains: Noticing the opportunities retirement offers, alongside the loss of work, role and routine.
• Redefining identity: Helping the person see their worth not only in their profession but also in their relationships, experience and interests.
• Cognitive approach: Within the framework of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), evaluating thoughts such as "I'm no use any more" or "It's all behind me now" from a more balanced perspective.
• Behavioural activation: Gradually introducing meaningful and enjoyable activities into daily life.
• Couple and family relationships: Where needed, discussing the new routine together with a spouse or children.

Psychological support can be received in Çorum face to face or through online sessions; the aim is to turn retirement from a period of loss into a time in which the person makes room for themselves again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the number of retirees in Çorum so high?

According to SGK data, people receiving a pension or benefit make up about 24 per cent of the population in Çorum, which is above the Turkey average. The main reason is the province's older population structure. The weight of shopkeeper and farmer retirement also shapes this picture.

Does retirement lead to depression?

Retirement is not a cause of depression in itself; many people experience this period as relief and freedom. However, when loss of role, unstructured time, loneliness and financial worry come together, depressive symptoms may appear in some people. Social support and meaningful activities reduce this risk.

Why is retirement experienced differently by shopkeepers and farmers?

For people who run their own business, retirement is often not a sharp ending; the shop or the field remains at the centre of life. This keeps the person productive, but it can also bring difficulties such as not being able to let go of work, tension in the handover between generations, and tiredness.

How can my retired spouse and I live together more harmoniously at home?

It is important to replan household responsibilities, personal space and shared time together. Both spouses keeping up their own interests and social circles improves the quality of the time spent together.

• #retirement
• #psychology of retirement
• #older age
• #Çorum

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Eda Erkan Alapala

Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.

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