OBJECTIVE Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease that starts in the most productive years of life and causes severe disability in at least 1/3 of patients. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between work productivity, social activities and disease activity in AS patients. Material and Methods A total of 100 AS patients aged 18-65 years and 100 healthy volunteers were included. Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: general health (WPAI:GH); Social Role Participation Questionnaire (SRPQ) short form values were recorded. Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), and Bath AS metrology index (BASMI) values were recorded. RESULTS Among AS patients, the rate of quitting work due to health problems was 16% and the rate of job change due to illness was 34%. The unemployment rate was 25% in the AS group and 3% in the control group. SRPQ subscales were lower in the AS group compared to the control group. In the AS group, there was a statistically significant relationship between WPAI and SRPQ values; BASDAI and BASFI scales; and between SRPQ values and BASMI. CONCLUSION Reduced work productivity and social activities were significantly more prevalent in the AS patient group. Investigating patients’ decreased work productivity and decreased social activities will help direct patients to appropriate work, reduce the economic burden, and maintain participation in social roles.