Demographics of Turkey

Demographic features of the population of Turkey include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Demographics of Turkey
Population pyramid of Turkey in 2024
Population	85,664,944 (31 December 2024)[1]
Density	111/km2 (290/sq mi) (2024)[1]
Growth rate	0.34% (2024)[1]
Birth rate	11.2 births/1,000 population (2023)
Death rate	6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023)[2]
Life expectancy	77.3 years (2023)[3]
• male	74.7 years
• female	80 years
Fertility rate	1.51 children born/woman (2023)[4]
Infant mortality rate	9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2022)
Net migration rate	−3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023)
Age structure
0–14 years	20.9% (male 9,196,102/female 8,730,463)
15–64 years	68.4% (male 29,589,637/female 29,036,444)
65 and over	10.6% (male 4,067,371/female 5,044,927) (2024)[1]
Sex ratio
Total	1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[5]
At birth	1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15	1.05 male(s)/female
15–64 years	1.03 male(s)/female
65 and over	0.83 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality	Turkish citizen
Major ethnic	Turkish (70–75%)[5]
Minor ethnic	Kurdish (19%)[5] other minorities (6–11%)[5] (2016 est.)
Language
Official	Turkish (87.6%)[6]
Spoken	Kurdish (10.4%) Arabic (1.4%) Others (0.6%)

As of 31 December 2024,^[update] the population of Turkey was 85.7 million with an annual growth rate of 0.34%. However, this official population number excludes the registered Syrian refugees under temporary protection status which have a population of about 2.9 million as of 2025.^[7]

Turks are the largest ethnic group, comprising 70–75% of the population while Kurds are the second largest with 19%. The others, including Armenians, Arabs, Assyrians, Albanians, Bosniaks, Circassians, Chechens, Georgians, Pomaks, Romani, Laz people make 6–11% of the population according to 2016 estimate of CIA.^[8]

The population has been aging in recent years, with just 20.9% falling in the 0–14 age bracket (down from 26.4% in 2007).^[7] The population over the age of 65 is 10.6% (up from 7.1% in 2007). As of 2024,^[update] the median age of the Turkish population is 34.4 years (up from 28.3 in 2007).^[7] According to OECD/World Bank population statistics, from 1990 to 2008 the population growth in Turkey was 16 million or 29%.^[9]

Population

Historical population

Historical population of Turkey

Historical population^{[10] [11]}

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1890 8,274,971 —     1910 12,329,210 +2.01% 1927 13,648,270 +0.60% 1935 16,158,018 +2.13% 1940 17,820,950 +1.98% 1945 18,790,174 +1.06% 1950 20,947,188 +2.20% 1955 24,064,763 +2.81% 1960 27,754,820 +2.89% 1965 31,391,421 +2.49% 1970 35,605,176 +2.55% 1975 40,347,719 +2.53%

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1980 44,736,957 +2.09% 1985 50,664,458 +2.52% 1990 56,473,035 +2.19% 2000 67,803,927 +1.85% 2010 73,722,988 +0.84% 2015 78,741,053 +1.33% 2020 83,614,362 +1.21% 2021 84,680,273 +1.27% 2022 85,279,553 +0.71% 2023 85,372,377 +0.11% 2024 85,664,944 +0.34%

Urbanization

Istanbul has experienced rapid population growth (The gray areas are buildings)

According to the CIA World Factbook

• Urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
• Rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020–25 est.)^[5]

According to TURKSTAT

• Population of densely populated urban areas: 67.2%
• Population of intermediate density urban areas: 15.5%
• Population of rural areas: 17.2% (2024)^[12]

Structure of the population

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	38,473,360	38,194,504	76,667,864	100
0–4	3,187,259	3,019,156	6,206,415	8.10
5–9	3,218,411	3,052,823	6,271,234	8.18
10–14	3,269,578	3,102,587	6,372,165	8.31
15–19	3,327,238	3,150,484	6,477,722	8.45
20–24	3,166,104	3,047,920	6,214,024	8.10
25–29	3,189,167	3,097,165	6,286,332	8.20
30–34	3,305,734	3,237,935	6,543,669	8.54
35–39	2,946,289	2,879,860	5,826,149	7.60
40–44	2,673,800	2,634,460	5,308,260	6.92
45–49	2,389,852	2,331,911	4,721,763	6.16
50–54	2,123,029	2,109,763	4,232,792	5.52
55–59	1,769,399	1,785,786	3,555,185	4.64
60–64	1,346,426	1,414,034	2,760,460	3.60
65–69	950,337	1,095,061	2,045,398	2.67
70–74	674,943	832,785	1,507,728	1.97
75–79	461,225	616,070	1,077,295	1.41
80–84	335,943	484,663	820,606	1.07
85–89	112,700	228,962	341,662	0.45
90+	25,926	73,079	99,005	0.13

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9,675,248	9,174,566	18,849,814	24.59
15–64	26,237,038	25,689,318	51,926,356	67.73
65+	2,561,074	3,330,620	5,891,694	7.68

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	38,984,302	38,711,602	77,695,904	100
0–4	3,231,903	3,062,630	6,294,533	8.10
5–9	3,241,355	3,074,273	6,315,628	8.13
10–14	3,209,897	3,042,372	6,252,269	8.05
15–19	3,349,081	3,169,840	6,518,921	8.39
20–24	3,191,641	3,071,819	6,263,460	8.06
25–29	3,179,412	3,093,790	6,273,202	8.07
30–34	3,294,389	3,221,905	6,516,294	8.39
35–39	2,996,001	2,922,335	5,918,336	7.61
40–44	2,766,305	2,744,032	5,510,337	7.09
45–49	2,375,494	2,298,768	4,674,262	6.02
50–54	2,218,311	2,220,111	4,438,422	5.71
55–59	1,828,486	1,828,077	3,656,563	4.70
60–64	1,402,604	1,468,111	2,870,715	3.69
65–69	1,030,716	1,184,988	2,215,704	2.85
70–74	699,604	857,631	1,557,235	2.00
75–79	465,081	639,097	1,104,178	1.42
80–84	353,906	486,504	840,410	1.08
85–89	119,892	240,266	360,158	0.46
90+	30,224	85,053	106,585	0.11

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9,683,155	9,179,275	18,862,430	24.28
15–64	26,601,724	26,038,788	52,640,512	67.75
65+	2,699,423	3,493,539	6,192,962	7.97

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	39,511,191	39,229,862	78,741,053	100
0–4	3,275,520	3,105,996	6,381,516	8.10
5–9	3,252,811	3,084,908	6,337,719	8.05
10–14	3,166,860	3,000,125	6,166,985	7.83
15–19	3,382,363	3,203,137	6,585,500	8.36
20–24	3,224,168	3,089,999	6,314,167	8.02
25–29	3,178,350	3,084,899	6,263,249	7.95
30–34	3,252,171	3,175,879	6,428,150	8.16
35–39	3,134,041	3,069,282	6,203,323	7.88
40–44	2,788,425	2,764,155	5,552,580	7.05
45–49	2,337,087	2,252,992	4,590,079	5.83
50–54	2,317,534	2,315,375	4,632,909	5.88
55–59	1,843,354	1,837,816	3,681,170	4.68
60–64	1,515,065	1,593,402	3,108,467	3.95
65–69	1,100,734	1,255,651	2,356,385	2.99
70–74	737,892	888,292	1,626,184	2.07
75–79	501,411	682,335	1,183,746	1.50
80–84	339,904	470,584	810,488	1.03
85–89	128,879	261,571	390,450	0.50
90+	34,622	93,364	127,986	0.16

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9,695,191	9,191,029	18,886,220	23.99
15–64	26,972,558	26,387,036	53,359,594	67.77
65+	2,843,442	3,651,797	6,495,239	8.25

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	40,043,650	39,771,221	79,814,871	100
0–4	3,314,542	3,144,753	6,459,295	8.09
5–9	3,253,345	3,084,099	6,337,444	7.94
10–14	3,147,133	2,981,910	6,129,043	7.68
15–19	3,400,443	3,222,876	6,623,319	8.30
20–24	3,247,764	3,117,959	6,365,723	7.98
25–29	3,169,360	3,076,681	6,246,041	7.83
30–34	3,196,645	3,113,766	6,310,411	7.91
35–39	3,275,175	3,219,158	6,494,333	8.14
40–44	2,833,655	2,800,662	5,634,317	7.06
45–49	2,412,875	2,335,639	4,748,514	5.95
50–54	2,381,640	2,374,604	4,756,244	5.96
55–59	1,855,171	1,860,565	3,715,736	4.66
60–64	1,636,510	1,706,438	3,342,948	4.19
65–69	1,132,464	1,280,073	2,412,537	3.02
70–74	763,121	917,371	1,680,492	2.11
75–79	512,607	689,443	1,202,050	1.51
80–84	336,206	473,119	809,325	1.01
85–89	136,238	265,520	401,758	0.50
90+	38,756	106,585	145,341	0.18

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9,715,020	9,210,762	18,925,782	23.71
15–64	27,409,238	26,828,348	54,237,586	67.95
65+	2,919,392	3,732,111	6,651,503	8.33

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	40 535 135	40 275 390	80 810 525	100
0–4	3 326 591	3 155 258	6 481 849	8.02
5–9	3 254 177	3 086 592	6 340 769	7.85
10–14	3 188 333	3 022 537	6 210 870	7.69
15–19	3 351 043	3 175 544	6 526 587	8.08
20–24	3 294 336	3 162 174	6 456 510	7.99
25–29	3 163 889	3 067 653	6 231 542	7.71
30–34	3 189 075	3 107 849	6 296 924	7.79
35–39	3 308 413	3 252 283	6 560 696	8.12
40–44	2 891 799	2 849 020	5 740 819	7.10
45–49	2 556 364	2 498 790	5 055 154	6.26
50–54	2 349 139	2 326 316	4 675 455	5.79
55–59	1 977 328	1 989 399	3 966 727	4.91
60–64	1 651 215	1 720 023	3 371 238	4.17
65–69	1 188 986	1 322 918	2 511 904	3.11
70–74	784 614	952 653	1 737 267	2.15
75–79	533 757	715 428	1 249 185	1.55
80–84	330 240	471 436	801 676	0.99
85–89	152 317	282 516	434 833	0.54
90+	43 519	117 001	160 520	0.20

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 769 101	9 264 387	19 033 488	23.55
15–64	27 732 601	27 149 051	54 881 652	67.91
65+	3 033 433	3 861 952	6 895 385	8.53

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	41 139 980	40 863 902	82 003 882	100
0–4	3 327 780	3 157 206	6 484 986	7.91%
5–9	3 264 608	3 094 412	6 358 920	7.75%
10–14	3 254 277	3 086 146	6 340 423	7.73%
15–19	3 299 449	3 124 818	6 424 267	7.83%
20–24	3 347 297	3 199 832	6 547 129	7.98%
25–29	3 190 023	3 086 446	6 276 469	7.65%
30–34	3 205 205	3 127 948	6 333 153	7.72%
35–39	3 316 603	3 259 469	6 576 072	8.02%
40–44	2 953 329	2 892 697	5 846 026	7.13%
45–49	2 670 183	2 640 524	5 310 707	6.48%
50–54	2 372 182	2 329 142	4 701 324	5.73%
55–59	2 076 882	2 095 459	4 172 341	5.09%
60–64	1 692 130	1 753 731	3 445 861	4.20%
65–69	1 245 979	1 366 228	2 612 207	3.19%
70–74	835 353	1 021 569	1 856 922	2.26%
75–79	539 825	722 725	1 262 550	1.54%
80–84	318 882	474 854	793 736	0.97%
85–89	182 957	302 957	485 914	0.59%
90+	47 136	127 739	174 875	0.21%

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 846 565	9 337 764	19 184 329	23.39%
15–64	28 123 283	27 510 066	55 633 349	67.84%
65+	3 170 132	4 016 072	7 186 204	8.76%

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
Total	41 721 136	41 433 861	83 154 997	100
0–4	3 254 719	3 090 417	6 345 136	7.63%
5–9	3 316 621	3 144 418	6 461 039	7.77%
10–14	3 288 207	3 117 963	6 406 170	7.70%
15–19	3 254 891	3 076 703	6 331 594	7.61%
20–24	3 392 374	3 231 704	6 624 078	7.97%
25–29	3 240 657	3 126 654	6 367 311	7.66%
30–34	3 221 381	3 141 636	6 363 017	7.65%
35–39	3 324 759	3 260 084	6 584 843	7.92%
40–44	3 016 898	2 950 486	5 967 384	7.18%
45–49	2 772 838	2 760 721	5 533 559	6.65%
50–54	2 367 577	2 307 796	4 675 373	5.62%
55–59	2 178 454	2 211 543	4 389 997	5.28%
60–64	1 754 500	1 800 269	3 554 769	4.27%
65–69	1 301 371	1 421 301	2 722 672	3.27%
70–74	907 850	1 109 063	2 016 913	2.43%
75–79	560 695	747 604	1 308 299	1.57%
80–84	323 732	493 998	817 730	0.98%
85–89	192 938	304 472	497 410	0.60%
90+	50 674	137 029	187 703	0.23%

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 859 547	9 352 798	19 212 345	23.10%
15–64	28 524 329	27 867 596	56 391 925	67.82%
65+	3 337 260	4 213 467	7 550 727	9.08%

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	41 915 985	41 698 377	83 614 362	100
0–4	3 140 172	2 981 535	6 121 707	7.32
5–9	3 349 253	3 177 340	6 526 593	7.81
10–14	3 294 985	3 124 952	6 419 937	7.68
15–19	3 201 588	3 028 526	6 230 114	7.45
20–24	3 408 434	3 255 202	6 663 636	7.97
25–29	3 240 543	3 130 411	6 370 954	7.62
30–34	3 199 710	3 119 184	6 318 894	7.56
35–39	3 270 512	3 203 071	6 473 583	7.74
40–44	3 145 645	3 089 465	6 235 110	7.46
45–49	2 788 035	2 775 631	5 563 666	6.65
50–54	2 325 190	2 259 442	4 584 632	5.48
55–59	2 273 088	2 304 499	4 577 587	5.47
60–64	1 764 938	1 809 456	3 574 394	4.27
65–69	1 399 052	1 539 663	2 938 715	3.51
70–74	960 742	1 170 963	2 131 705	2.55
75–79	583 671	771 675	1 355 346	1.62
80–84	339 767	521 432	861 199	1.03
85–89	177 532	289 216	466 748	0.56
90+	53 128	146 714	199 842	0.24
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 784 410	9 283 827	19 068 237	22.80
15–64	28 617 683	27 974 887	56 592 570	67.68
65+	3 513 892	4 439 663	7 953 555	9.51

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	42 428 101	42 252 172	84 680 273	100
0–4	3 033 029	2 880 580	5 913 609	6.98
5–9	3 398 812	3 225 390	6 624 202	7.82
10–14	3 304 851	3 133 301	6 438 152	7.60
15–19	3 203 519	3 026 190	6 229 709	7.36
20–24	3 445 410	3 296 170	6 741 580	7.96
25–29	3 296 919	3 179 980	6 476 899	7.65
30–34	3 212 668	3 129 119	6 341 787	7.49
35–39	3 228 063	3 158 145	6 386 208	7.54
40–44	3 294 071	3 253 091	6 547 162	7.73
45–49	2 838 766	2 823 495	5 662 261	6.69
50–54	2 403 726	2 350 758	4 754 484	5.61
55–59	2 337 304	2 369 876	4 707 180	5.56
60–64	1 776 254	1 835 662	3 611 916	4.27
65–69	1 508 990	1 647 458	3 156 448	3.73
70–74	982 573	1 192 451	2 175 024	2.57
75–79	598 307	794 411	1 392 718	1.64
80–84	340 568	520 841	861 409	1.02
85–89	169 807	286 741	456 548	0.54
90+	54 464	148 513	202 977	0.24
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 736 692	9 239 271	18 975 963	22.41
15–64	29 036 700	28 422 486	57 459 186	67.85
65+	3 654 709	4 590 415	8 245 124	9.74

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	42 704 112	42 575 441	85 279 553	100
0–4	2 904 379	2 759 241	5 663 620	6.64
5–9	3 404 972	3 230 105	6 635 077	7.78
10–14	3 303 371	3 133 043	6 436 414	7.55
15–19	3 244 500	3 070 609	6 315 109	7.41
20–24	3 388 724	3 245 984	6 634 708	7.78
25–29	3 334 439	3 218 730	6 553 169	7.68
30–34	3 199 028	3 116 019	6 315 047	7.41
35–39	3 215 451	3 151 290	6 366 741	7.47
40–44	3 321 873	3 284 156	6 606 029	7.75
45–49	2 893 831	2 869 703	5 763 534	6.76
50–54	2 543 588	2 511 036	5 054 624	5.93
55–59	2 305 846	2 321 295	4 627 141	5.53
60–64	1 893 862	1 962 809	3 856 671	4.52
65–69	1 523 412	1 661 877	3 185 289	3.74
70–74	1 031 897	1 232 222	2 264 119	2.65
75–79	617 021	827 777	1 444 798	1.69
80–84	353 290	540 167	893 457	1.05
85–89	165 676	284 407	450 083	0.53
90+	58 952	154 971	213 923	0.25
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 612 722	9 122 389	18 735 111	21.97
15–64	29 341 142	28 751 631	58 092 773	68.12
65+	3 750 248	4 701 421	8 451 669	9.91

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	42 734 071	42 638 306	85 372 377	100
0–4	2 741 873	2 606 181	5 348 054	6.26
5–9	3 368 825	3 197 661	6 566 486	7.69
10–14	3 283 764	3 113 329	6 397 093	7.49
15–19	3 283 511	3 113 008	6 396 519	7.49
20–24	3 317 007	3 158 513	6 475 520	7.59
25–29	3 330 851	3 212 210	6 543 061	7.66
30–34	3 172 482	3 094 683	6 267 165	7.34
35–39	3 190 762	3 138 484	6 329 246	7.41
40–44	3 298 682	3 265 956	6 564 638	7.69
45–49	2 932 767	2 894 024	5 826 791	6.83
50–54	2 637 680	2 634 986	5 272 666	6.18
55–59	2 315 313	2 311 209	4 626 522	5.42
60–64	1 980 198	2 055 612	4 035 810	4.73
65–69	1 554 059	1 686 354	3 240 413	3.80
70–74	1 077 788	1 267 553	2 345 341	2.75
75–79	656 329	886 599	1 542 928	1.81
80–84	357 820	546 603	904 423	1.06
85–89	163 397	288 413	451 810	0.53
90+	70 963	166 928	237 891	0.28
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 394 462	8 917 171	18 311 633	21.45
15–64	29 459 253	28 878 685	58 337 938	68.33
65+	3 880 356	4 842 450	8 722 806	10.22

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	42 853 110	42 811 834	85 664,944	100
0–4	2 606 763	2 475 623	5 082 386	5.93
5–9	3 274 360	3 110 725	6 385 085	7.45
10–14	3 314 979	3 144 115	6 459 094	7.54
15–19	3 298 654	3 129 876	6 428 530	7.50
20–24	3 235 130	3 099 499	6 334 629	7.39
25–29	3 336 548	3 218 069	6 554 617	7.65
30–34	3 182 620	3 105 980	6 288 600	7.34
35–39	3 174 570	3 125 998	6 300 568	7.35
40–44	3 282 536	3 245 656	6 528 192	7.62
45–49	2 979 015	2 933 900	5 912 915	6.90
50–54	2 726 368	2 739 014	5 465 382	6.38
55–59	2 301 684	2 277 880	4 579 564	5.35
60–64	2 072 512	2 160 572	4 223 084	4.93
65–69	1 608 416	1 725 547	3 333 963	3.89
70–74	1 124 799	1 316 670	2 441 469	2.85
75–79	716 554	964 063	1 680 617	1.96
80–84	374 066	568 407	942 473	1.10
85–89	167 988	300 951	468 939	0.55
90+	75 548	169 289	244 837	0.29
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	9 196 102	8 730 463	17 926 565	20.92
15–64	29 589 637	29 036 444	58 626 081	68.44
65+	4 067 371	5 044 927	9 112 298	10.64

Structure of the population

Structure of the population (31.XII.2013):

Structure of the population (31.XII.2014):

Structure of the population (31.XII.2015) (Data based on Address Based Population Registration System.):^[13][14][15]

Structure of the population (31.XII.2016):

Structure of the population (31.XII.2017):

Structure of the population (31.XII.2018):

Structure of the population (31.XII.2019):

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (31.XII.2020):^[16]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (31.XII.2021):^[16]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (31.XII.2022):^[16]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (31.XII.2023):^[16]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (31.XII.2024):^[16]

Vital statistics

Registered births and deaths

	Population (31.12.)	Live births	Deaths	Natural change	Crude birth rate (per 1000)	Crude death (per 1000)	Natural increase (per 1000)	Crude migration (per 1000)	Total fertility rate (TFR)
1990		1,392,000	388,000	1,004,000					3.11
1991		1,390,000	391,000	999,000					3.02
1992		1,388,000	394,000	994,000					2.94
1993		1,385,000	396,000	989,000					2.87
1994		1,372,000	399,000	973,000					2.81
1995		1,368,000	402,000	966,000					2.76
1996		1,386,000	419,000	967,000					2.70
1997		1,317,000	424,000	893,000					2.66
1998		1,318,000	426,000	892,000					2.61
1999		1,313,000	427,000	886,000					2.56
2000		1,307,000	422,000	885,000					2.53
2001		1,323,341	175,137	1,148,204	20.3				2.38
2002		1,229,555	175,434	1,054,121	18.6				2.17
2003		1,198,927	184,330	1,014,597	17.9				2.09
2004		1,222,484	187,086	1,035,398	18.1				2.11
2005		1,244,041	197,520	1,046,521	18.2				2.12
2006		1,255,432	210,146	1,045,286	18.1				2.12
2007	70,586,256	1,289,992	212,731	1,077,261	18.4	3.0	15.3		2.16
2008	71,517,100	1,295,511	215,562	1,079,949	18.2	3.0	15.1	−2.1	2.15
2009	72,561,312	1,266,751	369,703	897,048	17.6	5.1	12.5	2.0	2.10
2010	73,722,988	1,261,169	366,471	894,698	17.2	5.0	12.2	3.6	2.08
2011	74,724,269	1,252,812	376,162	876,650	16.9	5.1	11.8	1.7	2.05
2012	75,627,384	1,294,605	376,520	918,085	17.2	5.0	12.2	−0.2	2.11
2013	76,667,864	1,297,505	373,041	924,464	17.0	4.9	12.1	1.5	2.11
2014	77,695,904	1,351,088	391,091	959,997	17.5	5.1	12.4	0.9	2.19
2015	78,741,053	1,336,908	405,528	931,380	17.1	5.2	11.9	1.4	2.16
2016	79,814,871	1,316,204	422,964	893,240	16.6	5.3	11.3	2.3	2.11
2017	80,810,525	1,300,258	426,857	873,401	16.2	5.3	10.9	1.5	2.08
2018	82,003,882	1,257,071	426,785	830,286	15.4	5.2	10.2	4.4	2.00
2019	83,154,997	1,190,950	436,624	754,326	14.4	5.3	9.1	4.8	1.89
2020	83,614,362	1,118,975	509,147	609,828	13.4	6.1	7.3	−1.8	1.77
2021	84,680,273	1,084,548	566,624	517,924	12.9	6.7	6.2	6.4	1.71
2022	85,279,553	1,039,712	505,269	534,443	12.2	5.9	6.3	0.7	1.63
2023	85,372,277	958,408	525,814	432,594	11.2	6.2	5.0	−3.9	1.51
2024	85,664,944	937,369			10.9				1.47

Birth statistics of Turkey from 2001 onward are from the Central Population Administrative System (MERNIS) database which is available online.^[17] Birth statistics are updated continually because MERNIS has dynamic structure.^[18]

In 2022 Turkey had a crude birth rate of 12.2 per 1000, in 2023 11.2, down from 20.3 in 2001. The total fertility rate (TFR) in 2022 was 1.63 children per woman, in 2023 1.51 The crude birth rate in 2023 ranged from 8.9 per 1,000 in West Marmara (TFR 1.35) (8.9;1.81 in 2023), similar to neighbouring Bulgaria, to 19.3 per 1,000 in Southeast Anatolia (TFR 2.45) (20.1;2.75 in 2023), similar to neighbouring Syria. Similarly, in 2023, the TFR ranged from 1.13 in Bartın, to 3.27 in Şanlıurfa.^[19] Death statistics from MERNIS are available as of 2009. Mortality data prior to 2009 are incomplete.

Demographic and Health Surveys

Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):^[20]

Year	CBR (Total)	TFR (Total)	CBR (Urban)	TFR (Urban)	CBR (Rural)	TFR (Rural)
1993	22.9	2.7 (1.8)	21.7	2.4 (1.7)	24.0	3.1 (2.0)
1998	23.4	2.61 (1.9)	22.8	2.39 (1.9)	24.7	3.08 (2.1)

Total fertility rate by region in Turkey by Turkish General Census (GNS) and Turkish population and health research (TNSA).^[21]

	South-East	East	Mediterranean	Black Sea	Central	Aegean	Marmara	Turkey
TNSA 1978	-	6.31	3.77	4.99	4.26	-	2.89	4.33
GNS 1980	4.61	4.64	3.50	3.65	3.76	2.81	2.73	3.41
TNSA 1993	-	4.40	2.37	3.15	2.44	-	2.03	2.65
TNSA 1998	-	4.19	2.55	2.68	2.56	-	2.03	2.61
GNS 2000	4.31	3.72	2.43	2.28	2.29	1.96	1.88	2.53
TNSA 2003	-	3.65	2.30	1.94	1.86	-	1.88	2.23

Fertility rate in Turkiye as per GNS (2000) for Rural, Urban and Metropolitan areas.

	South-East	East	Mediterranean	Black Sea	Central	Aegean	Marmara	Turkey
GNS rural 2000	4.80	4.52	2.52	2.56	2.91	2.23	2.03	2.87
GNS urban 2000	4.05	3.08	2.38	2.01	2.05	1.80	1.85	2.20
GNS metropolitan 2000	3.81	2.34	2.41	1.87	1.89	1.60	1.83	2.03

UN estimates

The 2018 figures from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:^[22]

Period	Live births per year	Deaths per year	Natural change per year	CBR[a]	CDR[a]	NC[a]	TFR[a]	IMR[a]
1950–1955	1,127,000	551,000	677,000	48.4	18.8	29.6	6.69	167.4
1955–1960	1,216,000	564,000	752,000	46.9	18.4	28.5	6.5	163.9
1960–1965	1,277,000	547,000	799,000	44.3	17.6	26.7	6.2	160.5
1965–1970	1,343,000	527,000	792,000	40.3	16.7	23.6	5.80	156.9
1970–1975	1,451,000	523,000	887,000	38.7	15.0	23.7	5.39	141.3
1975–1980	1,497,000	505,000	977,000	36.4	13.0	23.4	4.69	119.4
1980–1985	1,527,000	481,000	1,074,000	33.8	10.8	23.0	4.11	96.7
1985–1990	1,431,000	454,000	976,000	27.7	8.8	18.9	3.39	78.0
1990–1995	1,375,000	438,000	987,000	25.1	7.7	17.4	3.11	63.0
1995–2000	1,389,000	418,000	983,000	22.8	6.9	15.9	2.76	45.5
2000–2005	1,345,000	404,000	923,000	20.5	6.2	14.3	2.50	31.4
2005–2010	1,309,000	415,000	932,000	18.7	5.9	12.8	2.27	24.0
2010–2015	1,302,000	439,000	914,000	17.3	5.8	11.5	2.15	13.0
2015–2020	1,281,000	473,000	808,000	15.8	5.8	10.0	2.10
2020–2025	1,242,000	509,000	733,000	14.6	6.0	8.6	2.04
2025–2030	1,191,000	543,000	648,000	13.6	6.2	7.4	2.01
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Life expectancy

Life expectancy at birth in Turkey since 1937

Life expectancy in Turkey by gender since 1960

Life expectancy in Turkish provinces in 2018-20

Life expectancy in Turkey according to the UN^[23]

Period	Life expectancy in Years	Period	Life expectancy in Years
1950–1955	41.01	1985–1990	63.04
1955–1960	43.69	1990–1995	65.49
1960–1965	47.22	1995–2000	68.49
1965–1970	50.78	2000–2005	71.37
1970–1975	53.75	2005–2010	73.37
1975–1980	57.05	2010–2015	74.83
1980–1985	60.22	2015–2020	77.31

Regional data

Birth and death rates

Birth Rate by Region and Year^[a]

Region	Population (2024)	Birth Rate (TFR)/2023	Birth Rate (TFR)/2022	Birth Rate (TFR)/2021	Birth Rate (TFR)/2020	Birth Rate (TFR)/2019	Birth Rate (TFR)/2018	Birth Rate (TFR)/2017	Birth Rate (TFR)/2016	Birth Rate (TFR)/2015	Birth Rate (TFR)/2014	Birth Rate (TFR)/2013	Birth Rate (TFR)/2012	Birth Rate (TFR)/2011	Birth Rate (TFR)/2010	Birth Rate (TFR)/2009
Turkey	85 664 944	11.2 (1.51)	12.2 (1.63)	12.9 (1.71)	13.4 (1.77)	14.4 (1.89)	15.4 (2.00)	16.2 (2.08)	16.6 (2.11)	17.1 (2.16)	17.5 (2.19)	17.0 (2.11)	17.2 (2.11)	16.9 (2.05)	17.2 (2.08)	17.6 (2.10)
İstanbul	15 701 602	9.9 (1.20)	10.8 (1.30)	11.6 (1.39)	12.4 (1.49)	13.6 (1.61)	14.8 (1.73)	15.6 (1.80)	16.3 (1.86)	16.7 (1.88)	17.0 (1.89)	16.4 (1.81)	16.5 (1.80)	15.9 (1.72)	16.3 (1.77)	16.4 (1.77)
West Marmara	3 832 502	8.9 (1.35)	9.4 (1.41)	9.6 (1.43)	10.1 (1.50)	10.6 (1.57)	11.5 (1.67)	11.8 (1.70)	11.9 (1.69)	12.0 (1.69)	12.1 (1.69)	11.9 (1.64)	11.9 (1.63)	11.6 (1.57)	11.5 (1.54)	11.7 (1.54)
Aegean	10 974 357	9.2 (1.34)	9.8 (1.41)	10.2 (1.45)	10.7 (1.50)	11.4 (1.58)	12.2 (1.68)	12.9 (1.75)	13.2 (1.76)	13.6 (1.80)	13.8 (1.80)	13.4 (1.73)	13.7 (1.74)	13.2 (1.66)	13.3 (1.66)	13.7 (1.69)
East Marmara	8 676 119	10.4 (1.41)	11.1 (1.48)	11.8 (1.56)	12.2 (1.61)	13.2 (1.72)	14.2 (1.84)	14.6 (1.87)	15.0 (1.89)	15.2 (1.90)	15.3 (1.88)	14.8 (1.80)	15.0 (1.80)	14.5 (1.71)	14.8 (1.74)	15.2 (1.77)
West Anatolia	8 456 864	10.2 (1.33)	11.0 (1.43)	11.4 (1.48)	12.1 (1.55)	13.0 (1.66)	14.1 (1.78)	14.7 (1.84)	15.1 (1.87)	15.5 (1.90)	15.8 (1.91)	15.4 (1.85)	15.4 (1.83)	15.2 (1.79)	15.4 (1.80)	15.8 (1.83)
Mediterranean	10 936 452	11.1 (1.57)	12.3 (1.72)	12.8 (1.77)	13.3 (1.84)	14.3 (1.96)	15.4 (2.08)	16.3 (2.18)	17.0 (2.24)	17.5 (2.29)	18.0 (2.32)	17.6 (2.24)	17.8 (2.23)	17.3 (2.14)	17.8 (2.18)	18.3 (2.20)
Central Anatolia	4 160 359	10.4 (1.45)	11.4 (1.57)	11.8 (1.62)	12.3 (1.68)	13.2 (1.80)	14.1 (1.89)	14.9 (1.99)	15.4 (2.05)	15.8 (2.09)	16.4 (2.14)	16.0 (2.06)	16.3 (2.07)	16.4 (2.06)	16.7 (2.08)	17.6 (2.16)
West Black Sea	4 711 687	8.4 (1.28)	9.0 (1.36)	9.4 (1.41)	9.8 (1.47)	10.6 (1.57)	11.2 (1.63)	11.6 (1.67)	11.9 (1.69)	12.2 (1.73)	12.7 (1.77)	12.8 (1.76)	13.0 (1.77)	13.0 (1.74)	13.6 (1.79)	14.2 (1.84)
East Black Sea	2 707 777	8.8 (1.34)	9.3 (1.40)	9.8 (1.45)	10.3 (1.52)	11.0 (1.61)	11.6 (1.69)	12.0 (1.73)	12.3 (1.77)	12.5 (1.78)	12.8 (1.81)	12.8 (1.77)	13.0 (1.78)	13.1 (1.77)	13.6 (1.81)	14.1 (1.86)
Northeast Anatolia	2 140 232	13.6 (1.75)	15.1 (1.93)	16.5 (2.11)	17.1 (2.18)	18.4 (2.36)	19.1 (2.45)	20.6 (2.64)	21.2 (2.72)	21.7 (2.79)	22.7 (2.90)	22.4 (2.85)	22.8 (2.90)	22.9 (2.90)	23.4 (2.97)	23.1 (2.91)
Central East Anatolia	3 876 707	14.3 (1.81)	16.0 (2.02)	16.8 (2.12)	17.8 (2.23)	19.3 (2.43)	20.0 (2.52)	21.1 (2.65)	21.2 (2.67)	21.9 (2.75)	23.0 (2.87)	22.6 (2.82)	22.5 (2.82)	22.9 (2.85)	23.6 (2.95)	23.9 (3.00)
Southeast Anatolia	9 490 286	19.3 (2.45)	21.4 (2.72)	22.7 (2.86)	22.5 (2.85)	23.9 (3.03)	25.5 (3.23)	26.6 (3.36)	26.7 (3.38)	27.8 (3.52)	28.7 (3.63)	27.6 (3.48)	28.0 (3.53)	27.7 (3.48)	28.2 (3.57)	28.3 (3.59)

Death Rate by Region and Year^[a]

Region	Population (2024)	Death Rate (2023)	Death Rate (2022)	Death Rate (2021)	Death Rate (2020)	Death Rate (2019)	Death Rate (2018)	Death Rate (2017)	Death Rate (2016)	Death Rate (2015)	Death Rate (2014)	Death Rate (2013)	Death Rate (2012)	Death Rate (2011)	Death Rate (2010)	Death Rate (2009)
Turkey	85 664 944	6.2	5.9	6.7	6.1	5.3	5.2	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.1	4.9	5.0	5.1	5.0	5.1
İstanbul	15 701 602	4.4	4.7	5.4	4.9	4.2	4.2	4.2	4.2	4.1	4.1	3.9	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.2
West Marmara	3 832 502	8.3	9.0	9.8	8.1	7.7	7.8	7.8	7.7	7.8	7.5	7.1	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.3
Aegean	10 974 357	7.1	7.7	8.2	7.5	6.7	6.6	6.6	6.6	6.4	6.1	5.9	6.2	6.2	5.9	6.0
East Marmara	8 676 119	5.9	6.4	7.3	6.3	5.6	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.5	5.4	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.6
West Anatolia	8 456 864	5.3	5.5	6.2	6.1	5.0	5.0	5.0	4.9	4.7	4.7	4.5	4.6	4.7	4.6	4.8
Mediterranean	10 936 452	8.5	5.7	6.5	5.8	5.0	4.9	4.9	5.0	4.8	4.6	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.5
Central Anatolia	4 160 359	6.3	6.7	7.8	7.1	5.9	5.9	6.1	6.1	5.9	5.8	5.5	5.5	5.7	5.5	5.7
West Black Sea	4 711 687	8.1	8.8	9.9	8.5	7.6	7.6	7.6	7.6	7.4	7.3	6.9	7.0	7.0	6.8	7.0
East Black Sea	2 707 777	7.6	8.7	9.6	8.0	7.2	7.0	7.3	7.0	6.9	6.8	6.3	6.5	6.5	6.2	6.4
Northeast Anatolia	2 140 232	4.9	5.2	6.1	5.7	4.9	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	4.9	4.8	5.0	5.4	5.0	5.1
Central East Anatolia	3 876 707	4.5	4.3	5.2	5.1	4.1	4.0	4.2	4.2	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.5	4.4	4.5
Southeast Anatolia	9 490 286	4.9	3.5	4.3	4.2	3.5	3.3	3.4	3.7	3.4	3.5	3.4	3.5	3.6	3.7	3.8

Birth and Death Rate by Region and Year

Regional births and deaths

Absolute Births by Region and Year^[a]

Region	Population (2024)	Births (2023)	Births (2022)	Births (2021)	Births (2020)	Births (2019)	Births (2018)	Births (2017)	Births (2016)	Births (2015)	Births (2014)	Births (2013)	Births (2012)	Births (2011)	Births (2010)	Births (2009)	Births (2008)	Births (2007)	Births (2006)	Births (2005)	Births (2004)	Births (2003)	Births (2002)	Births (2001)
Turkey	85 664 944	958,408	1,039,712	1,084,548	1,118,975	1,190,950	1,257,071	1,300,258	1,316,204	1,336,908	1,351,088	1,297,505	1,294,605	1,252,812	1,261,169	1,266,751	1,295,511	1,289,992	1,255,432	1,244,041	1,222,484	1,198,927	1,229,555	1,323,341
İstanbul	15 701 602	156,708	170,898	181,007	192,670	208,494	223,223	233,220	240,027	242,888	242,397	229,390	226,594	213,441	213,821	210,441	226,109	222,060	207,872	205,241	197,065	187,823	182,003	188,549
West Marmara	3 832 502	33,782	34,812	35,060	36,522	38,159	40,590	40,933	40,495	40,391	40,138	38,806	38,517	37,058	36,284	36,400	36,411	36,643	35,651	35,155	34,312	33,156	33,733	36,988
Aegean	10 974 357	100,371	106,601	109,677	113,621	120,130	127,652	132,868	134,176	137,187	137,438	132,299	133,419	127,833	128,112	129,927	135,479	135,506	129,660	127,627	124,388	119,110	120,964	133,182
East Marmara	8 676 119	89,106	93,518	97,686	100,020	106,127	112,197	113,462	113,585	112,635	111,115	105,761	105,203	99,704	100,386	100,928	101,848	99,483	93,125	90,140	88,121	85,016	87,245	95,562
West Anatolia	8 456 864	85,363	91,037	93,898	98,224	104,668	111,434	115,079	116,456	117,694	117,405	112,593	111,279	108,026	106,921	107,734	115,491	114,063	108,092	106,790	102,151	99,888	100,871	107,714
Mediterranean	10 936 452	121,168	134,639	138,286	142,645	151,080	159,781	166,815	171,561	174,874	177,272	170,686	169,985	163,817	166,123	167,506	173,576	170,512	165,986	162,685	155,983	153,491	154,160	168,391
Central Anatolia	4 160 359	43,099	46,859	48,345	50,399	53,891	56,569	58,933	60,381	61,569	63,446	61,669	62,634	62,989	64,216	67,174	67,033	68,239	68,476	68,020	67,929	67,222	71,697	79,713
West Black Sea	4 711 687	39,272	41,927	43,933	45,795	49,613	51,719	52,779	53,722	54,995	57,099	57,369	58,377	58,511	61,393	63,972	63,456	64,389	63,668	65,659	68,199	69,885	76,942	86,266
East Black Sea	2 707 777	23,931	25,155	26,236	27,700	29,647	31,024	31,556	32,092	32,144	32,817	32,558	32,774	32,836	34,272	35,565	34,101	34,534	34,157	34,216	36,354	38,340	42,090	46,843
Northeast Anatolia	2 140 232	29,457	32,723	36,027	37,581	40,636	41,932	45,262	46,609	47,720	49,996	49,605	50,781	50,779	51,578	50,778	47,677	49,640	51,435	52,908	54,722	56,050	59,391	63,135
Central East Anatolia	3 876 707	55,850	63,038	66,446	70,056	75,761	77,904	81,133	81,298	83,682	87,027	84,963	84,018	84,344	86,055	86,812	84,725	86,348	87,951	88,721	92,235	90,526	94,643	100,609
Southeast Anatolia	9 490 286	180,301	198,409	207,922	203,720	212,721	223,029	228,218	225,802	231,129	234,938	221,806	221,024	213,474	212,008	209,514	209,605	208,575	209,359	206,879	201,025	198,420	205,816	216,389

Absolute Deaths by Region and Year^[a]

Region	Population (2024)	Deaths (2023)	Deaths (2022)	Deaths (2021)	Deaths (2020)	Deaths (2019)	Deaths (2018)	Deaths (2017)	Deaths (2016)	Deaths (2015)	Deaths (2014)	Deaths (2013)	Deaths (2012)	Deaths (2011)	Deaths (2010)	Deaths (2009)
Turkey	85 664 944	525,814	505,269	566,624	509,147	436,624	426,785	426,857	422,964	405,528	391,091	373,041	376,520	376,162	366,471	369,703
İstanbul	15 701 602	69,937	73,851	84,264	76,421	63,486	62,594	63,389	62,572	60,093	58,009	54,770	54,696	53,165	52,812	53,761
West Marmara	3 832 502	31,176	33,329	35,756	29,389	27,589	27,456	27,222	26,416	26,145	24,864	23,229	23,496	23,167	23,007	22,687
Aegean	10 974 357	78,002	83,163	87,910	79,807	71,047	68,644	68,480	67,699	64,844	61,126	57,651	60,234	59,623	56,658	57,068
East Marmara	8 676 119	50,441	53,651	60,299	51,540	45,264	44,858	44,254	43,628	41,991	40,007	38,291	38,220	38,094	37,526	37,379
West Anatolia	8 456 864	44,744	45,824	51,279	50,005	39,814	39,382	38,917	37,765	35,814	34,589	33,219	33,369	33,097	32,270	32,976
Mediterranean	10 936 452	92,609	62,702	69,860	61,599	52,801	50,776	50,548	50,229	47,411	45,439	43,949	43,404	42,900	41,834	41,264
Central Anatolia	4 160 359	26,311	27,481	31,865	28,805	24,198	23,890	24,009	23,914	23,086	22,379	21,238	21,049	21,873	21,299	21,582
West Black Sea	4 711 687	38,210	40,944	46,104	39,596	35,366	34,984	34,756	34,359	33,355	32,772	31,011	31,476	31,651	30,541	31,279
East Black Sea	2 707 777	20,728	23,374	25,909	21,344	19,345	18,606	19,186	18,339	17,672	17,292	15,996	16,504	16,266	15,574	16,158
Northeast Anatolia	2 140 232	10,688	11,352	13,375	12,568	10,779	10,900	10,930	11,020	11,013	10,787	10,667	11,052	11,870	10,955	11,154
Central East Anatolia	3 876 707	17,528	16,978	20,472	19,989	15,969	15,530	16,132	16,132	15,685	15,441	15,430	15,419	16,551	16,114	16,491
Southeast Anatolia	9 490 286	45,440	32,620	39,531	38,084	30,966	29,165	29,034	30,891	28,419	28,386	27,590	27,601	27,905	27,881	27,904

Absolute Births and Deaths by Region and Year

Regional natural increase

Natural Increase by Region and Year^[a]

Region	Population (2024)	Natural Increase (2022)	Natural Increase (2021)	Natural Increase (2020)	Natural Increase (2019)	Natural Increase (2018)	Natural Increase (2017)	Natural Increase (2016)	Natural Increase (2015)	Natural Increase (2014)	Natural Increase (2013)	Natural Increase (2012)	Natural Increase (2011)	Natural Increase (2010)	Natural Increase (2009)
Turkey	85 664 944	530 956/6.3	516 851/6.2	608 894/7.3	753 315/9.1	829 497/10.2	873 596/10.9	893 240/11.3	931 380/11.9	959 997/12.4	924 464/12.1	918 085/12.2	876 650/11.8	894 698/12.2	897 048/12.5
İstanbul	15 701 602	96 333/6.1	96 475/6.1	116 017/7.5	144 778/9.4	160 419/10.6	169 848/11.4	177 455/12.0	182 795/12.6	184 388/12.9	174 620/12.5	171 898/12.5	160 276/11.9	161 009/12.3	156 680/12.2
West Marmara	3 832 502	1 497/0.4	−692/−0.2	7 137/2.0	10 570/2.9	13 134/3.7	13 714/3.9	14 079/4.1	14 246/4.2	15 274/4.6	15 577/4.8	15 021/4.7	13 891/4.4	13 277/4.2	13 713/4.4
Aegean	10 974 357	23 160/2.1	21 660/2.0	33 733/3.2	48 976/4.7	58 935/5.6	64 393/6.2	66 477/6.5	72 343/7.2	76 312/7.7	74 648/7.6	73 185/7.5	68 210/7.0	71 454/7.4	72 859/7.7
East Marmara	8 676 119	39 623/4.7	37 302/4.4	48 406/5.9	60 800/7.6	67 306/8.5	69 212/8.9	69 957/9.2	70 644/9.5	71 108/9.8	67 470/9.5	66 983/9.6	61 610/8.9	62 860/9.3	63 549/9.6
West Anatolia	8 456 864	44 955/5.4	42 523/5.2	48 134/5.9	64 774/8.0	71 994/9.1	76 169/9.7	78 691/10.2	81 880/10.8	82 816/11.1	79 374/10.9	77 910/10.8	74 929/10.6	74 651/10.7	74 758/11.0
Mediterranean	10 936 452	71 437/6.5	68 276/6.3	80 891/7.5	98 149/9.3	108 913/10.5	116 282/11.4	121 332/12.0	127 463/12.8	131 833/13.4	126 737/13.1	126 581/13.2	120 917/12.8	124 289/13.3	126 242/13.8
Central Anatolia	4 160 359	19 166/4.6	16 395/4.0	21 530/5.2	29 627/7.3	32 637/8.2	34 928/8.8	36 467/9.3	38 483/9.9	41 067/10.6	40 431/10.5	41 585/10.8	41 116/10.7	42 917/11.2	45 592/12.0
West Black Sea	4 711 687	881/0.2	−2 197/−0.5	6 178/1.3	14 229/3.0	16 721/3.6	18 031/4.0	19 363/4.3	21 640/4.8	24 327/5.4	26 358/5.9	26 901/6.0	26 860/6.0	30 852/6.8	32 693/7.3
East Black Sea	2 707 777	1 708/0.6	296/0.2	6 340/2.3	10 282/3.8	12 396/4.6	12 373/4.7	13 753/5.3	14 472/5.6	15 525/6.1	16 562/6.5	16 270/6.4	16 570/6.6	18 698/7.4	19 407/7.7
Northeast Anatolia	2 140 232	21 296/9.8	22 634/10.4	24 993/11.4	29 834/13.5	31 015/14.1	34 347/15.6	35 589/16.2	36 707/16.7	39 209/17.8	38 938/17.6	39 729/17.8	38 909/17.6	40 623/18.5	39 624/18.0
Central East Anatolia	3 876 707	45 808/11.7	45 929/11.6	50 028/12.7	59 748/15.2	62 330/16.0	65 047/16.9	65 166/17.0	67 997/17.8	71 586/18.9	69 533/18.5	68 599/18.4	67 793/18.4	69 941/19.2	70 321/19.4
Southeast Anatolia	9 490 286	165 092/17.8	168 250/18.4	165 507/18.3	181 548/20.3	193 697/22.2	199 252/23.2	194 911/23.1	202 710/24.4	206 552/25.3	194 216/24.2	193 423/24.5	185 569/24.1	184 127/24.5	181 610/24.5

Natural Increase by Region and Year

Regional total fertility rate (TFR)

Province	Population (2024)[25]	TFR (1980)[21]	TFR (2000)	TFR (2009)	TFR (2010)	TFR (2011)	TFR (2012)	TFR (2013)	TFR (2014)	TFR (2015)	TFR (2016)	TFR (2017)	TFR (2018)	TFR (2019)	TFR (2020)	TFR (2021)	TFR (2022)	TFR (2023)
Turkey	85 664 944		2.53	2.10	2.08	2.05	2.11	2.11	2.19	2.16	2.11	2.08	2.00	1.89	1.77	1.71	1.63	1.51
İstanbul	15 701 602			1.77	1.77	1.72	1.80	1.81	1.89	1.88	1.86	1.80	1.73	1.61	1.49	1.39	1.30	1.20
West Marmara	3 832 502			1.54	1.54	1.57	1.63	1.64	1.69	1.69	1.69	1.70	1.67	1.57	1.50	1.43	1.41	1.35
Tekirdağ	1 187 162		1.83	1.69	1.67	1.72	1.79	1.82	1.88	1.94	1.93	1.94	1.93	1.78	1.65	1.59	1.53	1.45
Edirne	421 247	2.41	1.66	1.43	1.39	1.45	1.51	1.49	1.46	1.54	1.49	1.47	1.44	1.34	1.35	1.31	1.31	1.23
Kırklareli	379 031		1.70	1.38	1.39	1.35	1.45	1.45	1.56	1.56	1.49	1.54	1.49	1.44	1.40	1.30	1.31	1.24
Balıkesir	1 276 096	2.42	1.95	1.53	1.56	1.58	1.62	1.66	1.72	1.66	1.67	1.67	1.63	1.54	1.49	1.42	1.42	1.36
Çanakkale	568 966	2.53	1.68	1.50	1.44	1.53	1.58	1.52	1.57	1.55	1.56	1.58	1.57	1.47	1.40	1.32	1.28	1.29
Aegean	10 974 357			1.69	1.66	1.66	1.74	1.73	1.80	1.80	1.76	1.75	1.68	1.58	1.50	1.45	1.41	1.34
İzmir	4 493 242		1.75	1.57	1.54	1.56	1.66	1.64	1.72	1.73	1.69	1.67	1.60	1.49	1.40	1.36	1.32	1.22
Aydın	1 165 943		2.12	1.74	1.71	1.69	1.82	1.79	1.84	1.86	1.83	1.88	1.79	1.68	1.57	1.55	1.49	1.42
Denizli	1 061 371		2.19	1.73	1.66	1.70	1.74	1.76	1.87	1.86	1.81	1.80	1.72	1.62	1.56	1.50	1.48	1.41
Muğla	1 081 867		1.94	1.71	1.70	1.67	1.76	1.73	1.76	1.77	1.74	1.71	1.66	1.55	1.50	1.43	1.35	1.29
Manisa	1 475 353		2.14	1.78	1.77	1.79	1.86	1.89	1.94	1.93	1.91	1.87	1.84	1.75	1.69	1.64	1.62	1.57
Afyonkarahisar	750 193	3.74	2.82	2.06	2.01	2.01	2.03	1.98	2.09	2.08	2.01	1.97	1.89	1.84	1.74	1.67	1.62	1.53
Kütahya	571 078		2.19	1.55	1.60	1.53	1.55	1.52	1.58	1.59	1.52	1.51	1.43	1.34	1.32	1.21	1.18	1.16
Uşak	375 310		2.18	1.64	1.67	1.64	1.74	1.76	1.80	1.75	1.69	1.70	1.60	1.51	1.45	1.38	1.39	1.32
East Marmara	8 676 119			1.77	1.74	1.71	1.80	1.80	1.88	1.90	1.89	1.87	1.84	1.72	1.61	1.56	1.48	1.41
Bursa	3 238 618		1.98	1.78	1.77	1.73	1.85	1.85	1.90	1.92	1.91	1.89	1.87	1.75	1.65	1.57	1.48	1.41
Eskişehir	921 630		1.74	1.40	1.38	1.38	1.46	1.48	1.57	1.56	1.54	1.55	1.50	1.41	1.35	1.35	1.30	1.20
Bilecik	228 495		1.98	1.71	1.67	1.63	1.75	1.77	1.78	1.72	1.74	1.70	1.69	1.62	1.50	1.45	1.40	1.38
Kocaeli	2 130 006	3.23	2.13	1.90	1.87	1.82	1.91	1.91	2.04	2.07	2.05	2.02	1.97	1.86	1.70	1.66	1.58	1.49
Sakarya	1 110 735		2,23	1.87	1.82	1.78	1.85	1.83	1.91	1.94	1.95	1.95	1.95	1.81	1.69	1.68	1.55	1.52
Düzce	412 344		2.18	1.87	1.83	1.82	1.81	1.87	1.90	1.86	1.90	1.84	1.78	1.72	1.60	1.50	1.49	1.43
Bolu	326 409		1.93	1.60	1.57	1.64	1.59	1.64	1.66	1.60	1.62	1.57	1.52	1.47	1.36	1.37	1.32	1.24
Yalova	307 882		1.93	1.78	1.64	1.62	1.72	1.69	1.81	1.79	1.89	1.83	1.76	1.66	1.50	1.48	1.39	1.31
West Anatolia	8 456 864			1.83	1.80	1.79	1.83	1.85	1.91	1.90	1.87	1.84	1.78	1.66	1.55	1.48	1.43	1.33
Ankara	5 864 049		1.90	1.68	1.66	1.65	1.68	1.71	1.77	1.77	1.74	1.72	1.65	1.53	1.42	1.34	1.29	1.20
Konya	2 330 024		3.00	2.14	2.12	2.13	2.18	2.18	2.26	2.21	2.19	2.13	2.08	1.95	1.85	1.81	1.76	1.65
Karaman	262 791		2.77	2.15	1.95	1.98	2.02	2.09	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.07	1.95	1.85	1.78	1.66	1.61	1.51
Mediterranean	10 936 452			2.20	2.18	2.14	2.23	2.24	2.32	2.29	2.24	2.18	2.08	1.96	1.84	1.77	1.72	1.57
Antalya	2 722 103		1.93	1.91	1.87	1.84	1.93	1.91	1.96	1.99	1.94	1.84	1.76	1.63	1.55	1.48	1.38	1.31
Isparta	446 409		2.04	1.76	1.66	1.66	1.72	1.71	1.76	1.73	1.72	1.78	1.64	1.56	1.46	1.43	1.39	1.34
Burdur	275 826		2.12	1.74	1.73	1.68	1.66	1.68	1.79	1.79	1.74	1.67	1.58	1.50	1.42	1.37	1.37	1.37
Adana	2 280 484		2.68	2.18	2.14	2.12	2.21	2.25	2.34	2.33	2.26	2.23	2.13	2.02	1.88	1.83	1.83	1.68
Mersin	1 954 279		2.38	2.03	2.04	2.00	2.12	2.12	2.21	2.17	2.15	2.09	2.03	1.87	1.77	1.72	1.68	1.55
Hatay	1 562 185		2.97	2.57	2.54	2.51	2.63	2.63	2.82	2.75	2.70	2.61	2.51	2.39	2.21	2.15	2.05	1.78
Kahramanmaraş	1 134 105		3.54	2.70	2.68	2.66	2.68	2.74	2.74	2.64	2.61	2.55	2.40	2.24	2.12	2.00	1.95	1.72
Osmaniye	561 061		2.95	2.55	2.57	2.40	2.51	2.51	2.59	2.50	2.43	2.40	2.27	2.22	2.04	1.93	1.99	1.81
Central Anatolia	4 160 359			2.16	2.08	2.06	2.07	2.06	2.14	2.09	2.05	1.99	1.89	1.80	1.68	1.62	1.57	1.45
Kırıkkale	283 053	2.25	2.39	1.77	1.70	1.60	1.59	1.65	1.69	1.72	1.70	1.69	1.60	1.54	1.43	1.39	1.33	1.24
Aksaray	439 474		2.85	2.42	2.35	2.34	2.30	2.30	2.36	2.31	2.24	2.20	2.14	2.01	1.94	1.87	1.84	1.70
Niğde	372 708		2.98	2.40	2.28	2.23	2.32	2.25	2.33	2.19	2.20	2.08	2.00	1.93	1.77	1.73	1.69	1.58
Nevşehir	317.952		2.55	2.10	1.98	1.97	1.98	1.95	2.10	1.98	1.94	1.88	1.79	1.68	1.63	1.58	1.52	1.40
Kırşehir	244 546		2.40	1.72	1.69	1.69	1.75	1.78	1.86	1.82	1.79	1.77	1.73	1.65	1.49	1.40	1.38	1.29
Kayseri	1 452 458		2.62	2.21	2.14	2.16	2.18	2.17	2.25	2.20	2.14	2.04	1.97	1.86	1.72	1.66	1.61	1.46
Sivas	637 007		2.76	2.07	2.02	1.99	1.99	1.94	1.99	1.98	1.96	1.94	1.78	1.73	1.64	1.56	1.46	1.38
Yozgat	413 161		2.84	2.25	2.07	2.04	2.03	1.98	2.08	2.09	2.01	1.99	1.84	1.72	1.64	1.54	1.49	1.37
West Black Sea	4 711 687			1.84	1.79	1.74	1.77	1.76	1.77	1.73	1.69	1.67	1.63	1.57	1.47	1.41	1.36	1.28
Zonguldak	586 802		1.93	1.71	1.65	1.58	1.62	1.59	1.60	1.56	1.50	1.49	1.43	1.39	1.31	1.26	1.19	1.14
Karabük	250 478		1.99	1.67	1.60	1.62	1.54	1.59	1.56	1.57	1.46	1.51	1.49	1.41	1.29	1.33	1.22	1.14
Bartın	206 715		2.11	1.68	1.67	1.61	1.50	1.57	1.69	1.59	1.55	1.45	1.48	1.43	1.38	1.25	1.26	1.13
Kastamonu	381 991	3.44	2.18	1.70	1.69	1.64	1.69	1.68	1.59	1.63	1.59	1.51	1.54	1.48	1.41	1.39	1.40	1.28
Çankırı	199 981		2.27	1.97	1.93	1.91	1.84	1.78	1.87	1.79	1.84	1.76	1.69	1.69	1.67	1.69	1.51	1.42
Sinop	226 957	4.35	2.48	1.91	1.81	1.77	1.84	1.75	1.79	1.73	1.71	1.71	1.62	1.62	1.57	1.47	1.41	1.31
Samsun	1 382 376		2.55	1.87	1.81	1.77	1.83	1.83	1.85	1.82	1.80	1.78	1.75	1.65	1.51	1.43	1.38	1.32
Tokat	612 674		3.06	1.95	1.92	1.83	1.79	1.82	1.83	1.74	1.70	1.67	1.64	1.61	1.47	1.42	1.40	1.34
Çorum	521 335		2.66	1.93	1.90	1.86	1.96	1.89	1.97	1.85	1.87	1.80	1.74	1.69	1.58	1.52	1.45	1.33
Amasya	342 378		2.34	1.80	1.75	1.71	1.75	1.78	1.75	1.80	1.70	1.72	1.66	1.60	1.48	1.46	1.39	1.31
East Black Sea	2 707 777			1.86	1.81	1.77	1.78	1.77	1.81	1.78	1.77	1.73	1.69	1.61	1.52	1.45	1.40	1.34
Trabzon	822 270		2.10	1.87	1.82	1.78	1.80	1.79	1.84	1.86	1.85	1.82	1.80	1.68	1.56	1.53	1.43	1.39
Ordu	770 711		2.81	1.94	1.89	1.84	1.86	1.85	1.89	1.83	1.84	1.81	1.73	1.67	1.56	1.44	1.44	1.35
Giresun	455 922		2.31	1.74	1.74	1.65	1.66	1.64	1.65	1.64	1.57	1.56	1.55	1.49	1.41	1.34	1.32	1.28
Rize	346 977		2.01	1.80	1.76	1.75	1.73	1.80	1.79	1.79	1.80	1.76	1.77	1.66	1.57	1.53	1.41	1.40
Artvin	169 280		2.24	1.73	1.72	1.67	1.78	1.73	1.78	1.74	1.77	1.73	1.65	1.60	1.58	1.40	1.40	1.29
Gümüşhane	142 617		2.92	2.09	1.88	1.89	1.84	1.84	1.84	1.73	1.62	1.38	1.34	1.36	1.39	1.36	1.32	1.23
Northeast Anatolia	2 140 232			2.91	2.97	2.90	2.90	2.85	2.90	2.79	2.72	2.64	2.45	2.36	2.18	2.11	1.93	1.75
Erzurum	745 005		3.51	2.51	2.49	2.50	2.50	2.49	2.60	2.52	2.45	2.41	2.24	2.16	2.02	1.95	1.80	1.68
Erzincan	241 239		2.54	1.82	1.82	1.91	1.88	1.90	1.82	1.82	1.89	1.73	1.64	1.65	1.53	1.58	1.39	1.34
Bayburt	83 676		3.29	2.38	2.31	2.16	2.30	2.13	2.18	2.09	1.96	1.83	1.84	1.71	1.61	1.60	1.42	1.35
Ağrı	499 801		5.49	4.22	4.38	4.13	4.11	4.01	4.04	3.84	3.73	3.63	3.29	3.19	2.89	2.73	2.52	2.20
Kars	272 300		3.76	2.90	3.05	2.88	2.92	2.74	2.75	2.64	2.59	2.54	2.35	2.25	2.11	1.98	1.86	1.67
Iğdır	206 857		4.17	3.06	3.16	3.12	3.10	3.21	3.19	3.05	2.98	2.82	2.70	2.57	2.28	2.22	2.00	1.78
Ardahan	91 354		2.95	2.35	2.25	2.25	2.21	2.11	2.24	2.17	2.01	2.05	1.91	1.88	1.75	1.82	1.64	1.46
Central East Anatolia	3 876 707			3.00	2.95	2.85	2.82	2.82	2.87	2.75	2.67	2.65	2.52	2.43	2.23	2.12	2.02	1.81
Malatya	750 491	3.66	2.56	2.08	2.06	1.99	1.99	1.96	2.05	2.01	1.99	1.99	1.90	1.81	1.66	1.64	1.59	1.38
Elazığ	603 941		2.52	2.02	1.98	1.98	1.97	1.93	2.04	1.99	1.96	1.96	1.86	1.79	1.72	1.60	1.52	1.42
Bingöl	283 276	5.57	3.56	2.56	2.55	2.52	2.49	2.49	2.63	2.42	2.44	2.39	2.37	2.27	2.11	2.00	1.81	1.67
Tunceli	86 612	4.87	1.90	1.56	1.47	1.50	1.53	1.55	1.62	1.69	1.58	1.56	1.64	1.69	1.57	1.49	1.40	1.30
Van	1 118 087		6.00	3.93	3.84	3.66	3.58	3.64	3.54	3.37	3.20	3.15	2.96	2.85	2.56	2.35	2.29	2.03
Muş	392 301		4.18	3.93	3.94	3.66	3.65	3.59	3.71	3.49	3.37	3.42	3.25	3.16	2.86	2.78	2.54	2.24
Bitlis	359 808	6.01	5.03	3.80	3.71	3.52	3.49	3.44	3.47	3.40	3.30	3.23	3.07	2.90	2.70	2.65	2.49	2.21
Hakkâri	282 191		6.69	3.35	3.18	3.14	2.99	3.01	3.03	2.76	2.60	2.58	2.43	2.37	2.18	2.06	2.01	1.88
Southeast Anatolia	9 490 286			3.59	3.57	3.48	3.53	3.48	3.63	3.52	3.38	3.36	3.23	3.03	2.85	2.86	2.72	2.45
Gaziantep	2 193 363		3.83	3.15	3.07	3.04	3.15	3.17	3.28	3.19	3.06	2.94	2.86	2.63	2.47	2.49	2.40	2.10
Adıyaman	611 037		3.66	2.76	2.79	2.77	2.79	2.75	2.90	2.87	2.78	2.79	2.69	2.56	2.36	2.37	2.25	1.93
Kilis	156 739		3.54	2.93	3.01	2.83	2.99	2.96	3.13	3.03	2.87	2.84	2.76	2.57	2.49	2.48	2.35	2.06
Şanlıurfa	2 237 745		4.83	4.57	4.58	4.46	4.47	4.41	4.57	4.42	4.35	4.33	4.16	3.91	3.72	3.82	3.61	3.27
Diyarbakır	1.833 684		4.51	3.23	3.24	3.19	3.23	3.16	3.30	3.22	3.13	3.13	2.97	2.79	2.55	2.54	2.43	2.22
Mardin	895 911		4.98	3.46	3.53	3.35	3.46	3.33	3.55	3.46	3.26	3.29	3.16	3.01	2.78	2.79	2.63	2.40
Batman	654 528	6.17	5.27	3.70	3.64	3.43	3.42	3.34	3.41	3.25	3.11	3.08	2.91	2.72	2.56	2.57	2.39	2.18
Şırnak	570 826	6.25	7.06	4.69	4.51	4.26	4.21	4.19	4.27	4.09	3.51	3.76	3.63	3.40	3.24	3.19	2.95	2.72
Siirt	336 453		6.05	4.23	4.12	3.96	3.85	3.70	3.89	3.56	3.47	3.33	3.18	2.93	2.89	2.71	2.47	2.23

Total fertility rate (TFR) by province and year

Figures from Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat):^[24]

Turkey total fertility rate by province (2023)^[24]

  3–4

  2–3

  1.5 – 2

  1 – 1.5

Total fertility rate by province 1980^[24]

5–6   4–5   3–4   2–3   1.5 – 2   1 – 1.5

Total fertility rate by province (2013)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2014)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2015)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2019)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2020)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2021)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2022)^[24]

Total fertility rate by province (2023)^[24]

Total fertility rate development by province 2009–2015^[24]

> 12%   8 to 12%   4 to 8%   0 to 4%   −4 to 0%   −8 to −4%   −12 to −8%   < −12%

Ethnicity

See also: Minorities in Turkey

Modern Turkey was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as secular (Laiklik, Turkish adaptation of French Laïcité), i.e. without a state religion, or separate ethnic divisions/ identities. The concept of "minorities" has only been accepted by the Republic of Turkey as defined by the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) and thence strictly limited to Greeks, Jews and Armenians, only based on religious affiliation, excluding from the scope of the concept the ethnic identities of these minorities as of others such as the Kurds who make up 15% of the country; others include Assyrians of various Christian denominations, Alevis and all the others.^{[26][27][28][29]} Provisions of the Lausanne Treaty were extended to Bulgarians in Turkey by the Turkey-Bulgaria Friendship Treaty (Türkiye ve Bulgaristan Arasındaki Dostluk Antlaşması) of 18 October 1925.^{[28][30][31][32]} According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey), as of 2008, there were 89,000 Turkish citizens belonging to one of the three recognized minorities, two thirds of Armenian descent.^[33] On 18 June 2013, the Ankara 13th Circuit Administrative Court unanimously ruled that the Assyrians were included as beneficiaries of the Lausanne Treaty,^[34] so that Assyrians were allowed to open the first school teaching in their mother tongue.^[35][36]

The word Turk or Turkish also has a wider meaning in a historical context because, at times, especially in the past, it has been used to refer to all Muslim inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire irrespective of their ethnicity.^[37]

According to the 2016 edition of the CIA World Factbook, 70–75% of Turkey's population consists of ethnic Turks, with Kurds accounting for 19% and other minorities between 6 and 11%.^[5] According to Milliyet, a 2008 report prepared for the National Security Council of Turkey by academics of three Turkish universities in eastern Anatolia suggested that there are approximately 55 million ethnic Turks, 9.6 million Kurds, 3 million Zazas, 2.5 million Circassians, 2 million Bosniaks, 500,000–1.3 million Albanians, 1,000,000 Georgians, 870,000 Arabs, 600,000 Pomaks, 80,000 Laz, 60,000 Armenians, 30,000 British, 25,000 Assyrians, 20,000 Jews, 15,000 Greeks, and 500 Yazidis living in Turkey.^[38]

According to a survey published in 2022 by Konda Research, Turks make up 77% of the population, while 19% self-identify as Kurd. Arabs (Syrian refugees excluded) make up 2%, and other ethnic groups are 2% of the population.^[39]

Since the immigration to the big cities in the west of Turkey, interethnic marriage has become more common. A recent study estimates that there are 2,708,000 marriages between Turks and Kurds.^[40]

According to a survey done in March 2020 by Area Araştırma, 20.4% of the total population of Turkey claim to be Kurdish (either Kurmanji speaking or Zazaki speaking).

Ethnolinguistic estimates in 2014 by Ethnologue and Jacques Leclerc:^[41][42][43]

People	Population	Percentage	Language	Status
Anatolian Turks	53,402,000	70.6%	Turkish	1 (National)
Kurmanji Kurds	8,127,000	10.7%	Kurmanji	3 (Wider communication)
Turcophones, Kurds	5,881,000	7.7%	Turkish	1 (National)
Zaza	1,155,000	1.5%	Zaza	5 (Developing)
Arabs	1,133,000	1.4%	Levantine Arabic
Kabardians, Circassians	1,062,000	1.4 %	Kabardian	5 (Developing)
Iraqi Arabs	722,000	0.9%	Mesopotamian Arabic	6a (Vigorous)
Azerbaijani	540,000	0.7%	Azerbaijani	5 (Developing)
Romani	500,000 (1985)	0.7%	Romani, Domari
Gagauzes	418,000	0.5%	Balkan Gagauz Turkish	7 (Shifting)
Pomaks	351,000	0.4%	Bulgarian	5 (Dispersed)
Pontic Greeks	321,000	0.4%	Pontic Greek	6a (Vigorous)
Adyghe, Circassians	316,000	0.4%	Adyghe	5 (Developing)
Alevi Kurds	184,000	0.2%	Zazaki
Georgians	151,000	0,1 %	Georgian	6b (Threatened)
Bosniaks	101,000	0.1%	Bosnian
Chechens	101,000	0.1%	Chechen
Crimean Tatars	100,000	0.1%	Crimean Tatar	5 (Developing)
Lazi	93,000	0.1%	Laz language	6b (Threatened)
Karakalpaks	74,000		Karakalpak
Albanians	66,000		Tosk Albanian	6b (Threatened)
Armenians	61,000		Armenian	6b (Threatened)
Abkhazians	44,000		Abkhazian	6b (Threatened)
Han Chinese	38,000		Chinese
Ossetians	37,000		Ossetian
British	35,000		English
Bulgarians	32,000		Bulgarian
Jews	30,000		Turkish, Ladino	7 (Shifting)
Tatars	26,000		Tatar
Assyrians	25,000		Neo-Aramaic
Pakistanis	22,000		Urdu
Assyrians	15,000		Turoyo	6b (Threatened)
Turks other (Hemshin, Meskhetian Turks, Gajal)	57,000		Turkish
Kurds other (Herki and Shikaki)	62,000		Kurdish
Other	180,000
Total	75,566,800

Languages

Main article: Languages of Turkey

See also: Turkic peoples, Iranic peoples, and Minorities in Turkey

No exact data are available concerning the different ethnic groups in Turkey. The last census data according to language date from 1965 and major changes may have occurred since then. However, it is clear that the Turkish are in the majority, while the largest minority groups are Kurds and Arabs. Smaller minorities are the Armenians, Greeks and others.

Language	Census 1927		Census 1935		Census 1945		Census 1950		Census 1955		Census 1960		Census 1965
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Turkish	11,778,810	86.42	13,899,073	86.02	16,598,037	88.34	18,254,851	87.15	21,622,292	89.85	25,172,535	90.70	28,175,579	89.76
Kurdish	1,184,446	8.69	1,480,246	9.16	1,476,562	7.9	1,680,043	8.02	1,679,265	6.98	1,847,674	6.66	2,219,599	7.07
Zazaki							174,526	0.70					150,644	0.48
Arabic	134,273	0.98	153,687	0.95	247,294	1.3	269,038	1.28	300,583	1.25	347,690	1.25	365,340	1.16
Circassian	95,901	0.70	91,972	0.57	66,691	0.4	75,837	0.36	77,611	0.32	63,137	0.23	58,339	0.19
Greek	119,822	0.88	108,725	0.67	88,680	0.47	89,472	0.43	79,691	0.33	65,139	0.23	48,096	0.15
Armenian	64,745	0.48	57,599	0.36	47,728	0.3	52,776	0.25	56,235	0.23	52,756	0.19	33,094	0.11
Georgian	–	–	57,325	0.35	40,076	0.21	72,604	0.35	51,983	0.22	32,944	0.12	34,330	0.11
Laz	–	–	63,253	0.39	39,323	0.21	70,423	0.34	30,566	0.13	21,703	0.08	26,007	0.08
other	251,491	1.85	227,544	1.41	185,783	0.99	207,618	0.99	166,537	0.69	151,242	0.54	280,403	0.89
Total	13,629.488	100	16,157,450	100	18,790,174	100	20,947,188	100	24,064,763	100	27,754,820	100	31,391,421	100
Sources:[44][45][46][47][48][49][50]

A possible list of ethnic groups living in Turkey could be as follows:^[51]

1. Turkic-speaking peoples: Turks, Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Karachays, Uzbeks, Crimean Tatars, Kyrgyzs and Uyghurs
2. Indo-European-speaking peoples: Kurds, Zazas,^[52] Bosniaks, Albanians, Pomaks, Ossetians, Armenians, Megleno-Romanians,^[43] Hamshenis, Goranis and Greeks
3. Semitic-speaking peoples: Arabs, Jews and Assyrians
4. Caucasian-speaking peoples: Circassians, Georgians, Lazs and Chechens

Religion

Further information: Religion in Turkey

See also: Freedom of religion in Turkey and Secularism in Turkey

Turkey has officially been a secular country since its 1924 constitution was amended in 1928. This was later strengthened and entrenched with the wider appliance of laicism by founder Atatürk during the mid-1930s, as part of the Republican reforms.

There are no official statistics of people's religious beliefs nor is it asked in the census. According to the United States Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report 2008, the Turkish government considers 99 percent of the population is Muslim, the majority of which is Hanafi Sunni.^[53] A similar figure can be found in the current US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) the World Factbook (99.8%).^[5] The remaining 0.2% is other - mostly Christians and Jews.^[5] However, these are based on the existing religion information written on every citizen's national id card, that is automatically passed on from the parents to every newborn, and do not necessarily represent individual choice. Religious records can be changed or even blanked on the request of citizen, by filing an e-government application since May 2020, using a valid electronic signature to sign the electronic application. Any change in religion records additionally results in a new ID card being issued. Any change in religion record also leaves a permanent trail in the census record, however, record of change of religion is not accessible except for the citizen in question, next-of-kins of the citizen in question, the citizenship administration and courts.^[54]

In 2023, according to Ipsos, 83% are Muslim, 12% have no religion, 2% prefer not to say, 2% are Christian and 2% are other religions.^[55] In a similar survey in 2016, Islam comprised 82% of the total population (65% Sunni and 4% Shi'a), followed by 7% no religion, 6% Spiritual but not religious, 4% Atheism, 3% Agnosticism, 2% Christian, 1% Protestantism, 1% Buddhism, 1% Mahayana and 1% other.^[56]

In 2018, a poll conducted by Eurobarometer and KONDA Research and Consultancy and some other research institutes showed that 3% of those interviewed had no religion.^[57][58] In 2013, the same institutions showed that around 0.5% of the population had no religion.

Between 8 million^[59] and 20 million Turks are Alevis.^[53]

In 2006, in a poll conducted by Sabancı University, 98.3% of Turks revealed they were Muslim.^[60] In 2005, a Eurobarometer poll on Europeans views on ethics in science and technology reported 95% of Turkish citizens answered that "they believe there is a God", while about 2% responded "I believe there is so me sort of spirit or life force", about 1% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force" and about 1% "DK" (that they don't know).^[61] Similar figures were found in some other European countries.^[61]

There is concern over the future of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, which suffers from a lack of trained clergy due to the closure of the Halki seminary. The state does not recognise the Ecumenical status of the Patriarch of Constantinople.^[62]

Muslim and non-Muslim population in Turkey, 1914–2005 (in thousands)^[63]

Year	1914	1927	1945	1965	1990	2005
Muslims	12,941	13,290	18,511	31,139	56,860	71,997
Greeks	1,549	110	104	76	8	3
Armenians	1,204	77	60	64	67	50
Jews	128	82	77	38	29	27
Others	176	71	38	74	50	45
Total	15,997	13,630	18,790	31,391	57,005	72,120
Percentage non-Muslim	19.1	2.5	1.5	0.8	0.3	0.2

The percentage of non-Muslims in Turkey fell from 19.1% in 1914 to 2.5% percent in 1927.^[63] The drop was the result of the late Ottoman genocides, the population exchange between Greece and Turkey^[64] and the emigration of Christians.^[65] The 1942 Wealth Tax on non-Muslims, the emigration of many of Turkish Jews to Israel after 1948, and the 1955 Istanbul pogrom further contributed to the decline of Turkey's non-Muslim population.

Religiosity

In 2018, according to a KONDA survey, the religiosity was the following:^[66][67]

• 51% defined themselves as "a religious person who strives to fulfill religious obligations" (Religious)
• 34% defined themselves as "a believer who does not fulfill religious obligations" (Not religious).
• 10% defined themselves as "a fully devout person fulfilling all religious obligations" (Fully devout).
• 2% defined themselves as "someone who does not believe in religious obligations" (Non-believer).
• 3% defined themselves as "someone with no religious conviction" (Atheist).

Among those aged between 15 and 29 years old:^[68]

• 43% defined themselves as "a religious person who strives to fulfill religious obligations" (Religious)
• 45% defined themselves as "a believer who does not fulfill religious obligations" (Not religious).
• 5% defined themselves as "a fully devout person fulfilling all religious obligations" (Fully devout).
• 4% defined themselves as "someone who does not believe in religious obligations" (Non-believer).
• 4% defined themselves as "someone with no religious conviction" (Atheist).

According to the 2007 KONDA survey:^[69]

• 52.8% defined themselves as "a religious person who strives to fulfill religious obligations" (Religious)
• 34.3 % defined themselves as "a believer who does not fulfill religious obligations" (Not religious).
• 9.7% defined themselves as "a fully devout person fulfilling all religious obligations" (Fully devout).
• 2.3% defined themselves as "someone who does not believe in religious obligations" (Non-believer).
• 0.9% defined themselves as "someone with no religious conviction" (Atheist).

In a 2006 Pew Research Center survey, 69% of Turkey's Muslims said that "religion is very important in their lives".^[70] Based on the Gallup Poll 2006–08, Turkey was defined as More religious, in which over 63 percent of people believe religion is important.^[71][72]

Around 2007, according to the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, 62% of women wore the headscarf or hijab in Turkey.^[73][74][75]

Migration

Immigration

Main article: Immigration to Turkey

Immigration to Turkey is the process by which people migrate to Turkey to reside in the country. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and following Turkish War of Independence, an exodus by the large portion of Turkish (Turkic) and Muslim peoples from the Balkans (Balkan Turks, Albanians, Bosniaks, Pomaks), Caucasus (Abkhazians, Ajarians, Circassians, Chechens, Lezgins), Crimea (Crimean Tatar diaspora), and Crete (Cretan Turks) took refuge in present-day Turkey and moulded the country's fundamental features. Trends of immigration towards Turkey continue to this day, although the motives are more varied and are usually in line with the patterns of global immigration movements — Turkey, for example, receives many economic migrants from nearby countries such as Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Iran, and Azerbaijan, but also from Central Asia, Ukraine and Russia. Turkey's migrant crisis during the 2010s saw high numbers of people arriving in Turkey, particularly those fleeing the Syrian civil war.

As of August 2024, the number of refugees of the Syrian civil war in Turkey was estimated to be 3,097,660 people. The number of Syrians had decreased by 321,118 people in 2023.^[76] In 2022, nearly 100,000 Russian citizens migrated to Turkey, becoming the first in the list of foreigners who moved to Turkey, meaning an increase of more than 218% from 2021.^[77]

In order to obtain Turkish citizenship there is a range of legal grounds, which can include: reunification with their family, marriage to a Turkish citizen, for the purchase of real estate worth $400,000 from a Turkish citizen or company.^[78] The minimum investment amount was increased in May 2022, previously it was enough to invest $250,000. Also the basis is to work in Turkey, training, business, medical treatment, refugee status.

Population in Turkey by country of citizenship by the end of each years:^[16]

Country	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
Total people living in Turkey1	85 664 944 (100%)	85 372 377 (100%)	85 279 553 (100%)	84 680 273 (100%)	83 614 362 (100%)
Turkey	84 184 397 (98.27%)	83 801 834 (98.16%)	83 455 717 (97.86%)	82 888 237 (97.88%)	82 280 952 (98.41%)
Total foreign population1	1 480 547 (1.73%)	1 570 543 (1.84%)	1 823 836 (2.14%)	1 792 036 (2.12%)	1 333 410 (1.59%)
Iraq	177 988 (0.21%)	217 476 (0.25%)	275 305 (0.32%)	322 015 (0.38%)	281 074 (0.34%)
Afghanistan	139 251 (0.16%)	164 131 (0.19%)	186 160 (0.22%)	183 567 (0.22%)	158 252 (0.19%)
Germany	115 958 (0.14%)	114 293 (0.13%)	110 453 (0.13%)	102 592 (0.12%)	92 284 (0.11%)
Turkmenistan	113 762 (0.13%)	110 349 (0.13%)	116 447 (0.14%)	123 965 (0.15%)	91 218 (0.11%)
Iran	95 924 (0.11%)	101 164 (0.12%)	117 026 (0.14%)	128 883 (0.15%)	68 561 (0.08%)
Russian Federation	85 752 (0.10%)	102 585 (0.12%)	151 049 (0.18%)	66 786 (0.08%)	43 679 (0.05%)
Azerbaijan	80 133 (0.09%)	70 971 (0.08%)	68 884 (0.08%)	68 562(0.08%)	48 495 (0.06%)
Syria	72 367 (0.08%)	79 952 (0.09%)	99 360 (0.12%)	104 554 (0.12%)	88 907 (0.11%)
Uzbekistan	59 132 (0.07%)	54 594 (0.06%)	61 754 (0.07%)	71 145 (0.08%)	36 510 (0.04%)
Kazakhstan	44 445 (0.05%)	44 133 (0.05%)	45 530 (0.05%)	39 454 (0.05%)	23 645 (0.03%)
Ukraine	35 446 (0.04%)	40 483 (0.05%)	50 357 (0.06%)	23 377 (0.03%)	17 505 (0.02%)
Egypt	28 304 (0.03%)	28 451 (0.03%)	33 040 (0.04%)	34 162 (0.04%)	25 475 (0.03%)
Kyrgyzstan	23 802 (0.03%)	22 477 (0.03%)	24 485 (0.03%)	26 541 (0.03%)	18 019 (0.02%)
Palestine	23 569 (0.03%)	21 612 (0.03%)	26 278 (0.03%)	28 027 (0.03%)	17 915 (0.02%)
Austria	22 231 (0.03%)	22 102 (0.03%)	21 311 (0.02%)	19 900 (0.02%)	18 047 (0.02%)
Bulgaria	17 315 (0.02%)	16 899 (0.02%)	16 612 (0.02%)	15 426 (0.02%)	14 195 (0.02%)
Morocco	16 914 (0.02%)	16 699 (0.02%)	18 482 (0.02%)	20 520 (0.02%)	12 122 (0.01%)
Indonesia	16 089 (0.02%)	12 301 (0.01%)	11 280 (0.01%)	10 219 (0.01%)	5 226 (0.01%)
China	15 107 (0.02%)	14 030 (0.02%)	16 880 (0.02%)	20 486 (0.02%)	18 740 (0.02%)
Yemen	14 748 (0.02%)	16 386 (0.02%)	19 099 (0.02%)	18 094 (0.02%)	14 927 (0.02%)
Greece	14 496 (0.02%)	14 164 (0.02%)	13 583 (0.02%)	12 569 (0.01%)	12 137 (0.01%)
United Kingdom	14 386 (0.02%)	15 734 (0.02%)	17 193 (0.02%)	16 440 (0.02%)	13 985 (0.02%)
Pakistan	14 384 (0.02%)	13 903 (0.02%)	16 505 (0.02%)	17 290 (0.02%)	7 248 (0.01%)
Jordan	14 343 (0.02%)	17 098 (0.02%)	22 733 (0.03%)	23 656 (0.03%)	14 260 (0.02%)
Libya	11 644 (0.01%)	15 621 (0.02%)	21 677 (0.03%)	24 188 (0.03%)	18 607 (0.02%)
Somalia	10 815 (0.01%)	14 011 (0.02%)	20 906 (0.02%)	28 081 (0.03%)	17 245 (0.02%)
Georgia	10 725 (0.01%)	11 851 (0.01%)	14 680 (0.02%)	19 276 (0.02%)	15 661 (0.02%)
Algeria	9 815 (0.01%)	10 145 (0.01%)	12 248 (0.01%)	10 698 (0.01%)	5 914 (0.01%)
Sudan	9 632 (0.01%)	10 371 (0.01%)	11 613 (0.01%)	9 538 (0.01%)	3 193 (<0.01%)
United States	9 621 (0.01%)	10 655 (0.01%)	12 793 (0.02%)	12 773 (0.02%)	9 032 (0.01%)
India	7 639 (0.01%)	6 699 (0.01%)	4 669 (0.01%)	3 092 (<0.01%)
Netherlands	7 587 (0.01%)	7 786 (0.01%)	8 104 (0.01%)	7 686 (0.01%)	6 550 (0.01%)
Lebanon	7 340 (0.01%)	8 864 (0.01%)	12 430 (0.01%)	13 242 (0.02%)	5 943 (0.01%)
Nigeria	7 252 (0.01%)	9 196 (0.01%)	12 928 (0.02%)	12 920 (0.02%)	7 120 (0.01%)
Tajikistan	6 486 (0.01%)	6 251 (0.01%)	7 153 (0.01%)	7 965 (0.01%)	3 626 (<0.01%)
Kuwait	5 912 (0.01%)	5 699 (0.01%)	6 190 (0.01%)	5 498 (0.01%)	3 559 (<0.01%)
Moldova	5 257 (0.01%)	5 842 (0.01%)	6 790 (0.01%)	7 546 (0.01%)	6 295 (0.01%)
Tunisia	5 105 (0.01%)	5 172 (0.01%)	6 075 (0.01%)	6 033 (0.01%)	2 961 (<0.01%)
France	4 237 (<0.01%)	4 102 (<0.01%)	4 526 (0.01%)	4 294 (0.01%)	3 181 (<0.01%)
Belarus	4 207 (<0.01%)	4 440 (0.01%)	5 169 (0.01%)	3 873 (<0.01%)
Ethiopia	3 036 (<0.01%)	3 724 (<0.01%)	6 165 (0.01%)	6 633 (0.01%)	2 936 (<0.01%)
1: excluding Syrian refugees under temporary protection status and foreigners holding visas or residence permits shorter than 90 days

Internal migration

Place of origin (rows) versus place of residence (columns) for Turkish citizens in 2014^[79]

Regions	İstanbul	West Marmara	Aegean	East Marmara	West Anatolia	Mediterranean	Central Anatolia	West Black Sea	East Black Sea	Northeast Anatolia	Central East Anatolia	Southeast Anatolia	Total Population
İstanbul	2,162,588	79,009	72,123	84,689	38,802	38,673	4,858	11,976	9,147	3,533	3,667	4,754	2,513,819
West Marmara	523,725	2,378,938	187,256	135,364	44,409	27,376	5,140	10,238	4,513	5,273	7,110	8,861	3,338,203
Aegean	297,143	76,518	7,047,801	210,522	134,073	166,785	16,606	22,252	10,354	14,936	20,388	28,224	8,045,602
East Marmara	520,698	67,299	131,586	4,317,877	187,043	61,782	10,715	33.371	10,701	8,074	9,775	12,286	5,371,207
West Anatolia	272,835	35,919	259,387	127,794	3,721,634	192,934	49,942	29,545	8,468	10,360	13,727	20,850	4,743,395
Mediterranean	470,673	53,295	250,529	111,393	228,398	7,329,964	100,729	32,461	16,963	21,667	46,013	181,874	8,843,959
Central Anatolia	1,346,007	92,421	297,114	235,407	1,223,857	305,343	3,466,971	70,729	16,604	20,204	32,153	36,818	7,143,628
West Black Sea	2,637,016	186,103	252,628	458,730	956,151	133,053	54,578	3,982,185	42,935	18,878	21,757	27,735	8,771,749
East Black Sea	1,918,805	96,494	152,843	529,110	241,801	70,823	19,104	198,869	2,382,704	33,854	11,852	13,140	5,669,399
Northeast Anatolia	1,580,876	120,086	504,588	593,882	344,929	101,600	63,029	34,656	32,761	2,009,253	39,921	20,576	5,446,157
Central East Anatolia	1,293,157	86,315	359,161	299,390	167,451	393,102	31,612	22,064	11,070	31,709	3,438,577	133,862	6,267,470
Southeast Anatolia	1,197,959	65,538	445,279	174,765	156,489	1,002,771	33,876	23,666	11,689	22,036	150,028	7,738,941	11,023,037
Total population	14,221,482	3,337,935	9,960,295	7,278,923	7,445,037	9,824,206	3,857,160	4,472,012	2,557,909	2,199,777	3,794,968	8,227,921	77,177,625

See also

• List of Turkish provinces by life expectancy
• Provinces of Turkey by population
• Census in Turkey
• Minorities in Turkey