Oldest woman in Türkiye passes away at 131

SANLIURFA, Türkiye (MNTV) – Türkiye’s oldest woman, living in a rural region in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, died on Monday 28 July, 2025 at the age of 131.

According to official population records, Hodi Gurkan was born on July 1, 1894. She died surrounded by her family in her home village. Gürkan had 7 children, 110 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Her funeral took place at the Binekli Neighborhood Cemetery, attended by family members and local residents.

 Gurkan lived her entire life in Binekli, located about 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) from Viransehir town center.

Hodi Gurkan’s lifespan, which began in the Ottoman Empire, through the Turkish War of Independence, and into the modern Turkish Republic, made her a living bridge between multiple chapters of Türkiye’s history.

Her longevity and local presence made her a respected figure in her community.

 In Türkiye, average life expectancy at birth corresponds to around 78.1 years at present, according to figures published by the country’s official statistics office on July 30.

 As per the data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), women in Türkiye outlive men by a significant margin, with life expectancy for women reaching 80.7 years, compared to 75.5 years for men.

 Despite women living longer overall, men are expected to live more years in good health, with a 2.6-year advantage, according to TÜİK.

 Another striking finding from the office’s report is the clear link between education levels and life expectancy.

According to data, people with higher educational attainment tend to live longer than those with less education.