Turkey Population

Turkey’s position between Europe and Asia has given the country a key role in the relationship between the two continents. Today, the country is ruled by an authoritarian president who has increasingly seized power and undermined democracy.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Ankara
• Ethnic groups: Turks 70-75%, Kurds 19%, other minorities 7-12% (2016, estimate)
• Language: Turkish, Kurdish, Dimli, Azeri, Kabardian
• Religion: Muslims 99.8%, other 2%
• Population: 81,257,239 (July 2018, estimate)
• Control Form: Presidential Republic
• Area: 783 560 km2
• Currency: Turkish lira
• GNP per capita: 25 247 PPP $
• National Day: October 29th

Population of Turkey

The population in Turkey is 82 017 514 (2020). In the period from 2010 to 2020, the number of residents increased by 13.4 percent. Life expectancy at birth is 78.2 years for women and 73.3 years for men (2020). The birth and death rates are 14.8 and 6.1 per 1000 residents respectively. The birth rate is 1.96 children per woman (2020).

Population of Turkey by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	84,338,956	1.090%	109.5839	17
2019	83,429,504	1.320%	108.4022	18
2018	82,339,977	1.510%	106.9866	18
2017	81,116,339	1.610%	105.3967	18
2016	79,827,760	1.650%	103.7224	17
2015	78,529,298	1.660%	102.0353	17
2010	72,326,877	1.270%	93.9763	18
2005	67,903,358	1.430%	88.2287	18
2000	63,240,083	1.580%	82.1696	18
1995	58,486,345	1.640%	75.9929	18
1990	53,921,649	1.880%	70.0619	21
1985	49,133,826	2.240%	63.8410	21
1980	43,975,860	2.290%	57.1391	20
1975	39,277,147	2.400%	51.0339	20
1970	34,876,192	2.400%	45.3157	20
1965	30,972,883	2.430%	40.2440	21
1960	27,472,234	2.510%	35.6955	20
1955	24,270,489	2.540%	31.5354	20
1950	21,408,288	0.000%	27.8165	20

Major Cities in Turkey by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Istanbul	14,804,005
2	Ankara	3,517,071
3	Izmir	2,500,492
4	Bursa	1,412,590
5	Adana	1,248,877
6	Gaziantep	1,065,864
7	Konya	875,419
8	Cankaya	792,078
9	Antalya	758,077
10	Bagcilar	724,159
11	Diyarbakir	644,652
12	Kayseri	592,729
13	UEskuedar	582,555
14	Bahcelievler	576,688
15	Umraniye	573,154
16	Mersin	537,731
17	Esenler	520,124
18	Eskisehir	514,758
19	Karabaglar	457,889
20	Muratpasa	449,889
21	Sanliurfa	449,438
22	Malatya	441,694
23	Sultangazi	436,824
24	Maltepe	426,929
25	Erzurum	420,580
26	Samsun	393,939
27	Batman	381,879
28	Kahramanmaras	375,934
29	Van	371,602
30	Atasehir	361,504
31	Sisli	314,573
32	Denizli	313,127
33	Batikent	299,889
34	Elazig	297,893
35	Zeytinburnu	288,632
36	Adapazari	286,676
37	Sultanbeyli	286,511
38	Gebze	281,325
39	Merkezefendi	280,230
40	Sivas	263,911
41	Tarsus	256,371
42	Trabzon	243,972
43	Manisa	243,860
44	Sancaktepe	240,889
45	Balikesir	238,040
46	Adiyaman	223,633
47	Esenyurt	211,219
48	Kirikkale	211,027
49	Antakya	209,889
50	Osmaniye	202,726
51	Corlu	202,467
52	Arnavutkoey	198,054
53	Izmit	196,460
54	Basaksehir	193,639
55	Kutahya	184,897
56	Corum	183,307
57	Siverek	175,230
58	Isparta	172,223
59	Bueyuekcekmece	163,029
60	Aydin	162,911
61	Iskenderun	159,854
62	Viransehir	154,052
63	Usak	152,751
64	Aksaray	152,090
65	Kiziltepe	150,063
66	Afyonkarahisar	146,025
67	Inegol	133,848
68	Tokat	129,591
69	Edirne	126,359
70	Beylikduezue	122,341
71	Tekirdag	122,176
72	Karaman	120,288
73	Nazilli	119,259
74	Ordu	116,677
75	Siirt	113,923
76	Erzincan	113,916
77	Alanya	112,858
78	Turhal	110,773
79	Bandirma	107,520
80	Turgutlu	103,181
81	Mustafakemalpasa	101,301
82	Zonguldak	100,118
83	Manavgat	99,143
84	Giresun	98,753
85	Karabuk	97,370
86	Bolu	96,518
87	Ceyhan	96,192
88	Kirsehir	94,225
89	Polatli	93,151
90	Bafra	92,833
91	Rize	92,661
92	Eregli	92,006
93	Agri	91,911
94	Ercis	91,804
95	Nigde	90,928
96	Luleburgaz	90,788
97	Korfez	90,469
98	Nusaybin	88,866
99	Salihli	88,795
100	Eregli	88,737
101	Kozan	88,004
102	Yozgat	87,770
103	Canakkale	87,680
104	Patnos	87,340
105	Akhisar	84,548
106	Cerkezkoey	84,123
107	Amasya	82,785
108	Mus	82,425
109	Nizip	82,197
110	Kilis	82,190
111	Fatsa	82,049
112	Cizre	80,881
113	Bingol	80,457
114	Elbistan	80,345
115	Hakkari	77,588
116	UEnye	77,474
117	Kars	77,375
118	Midyat	76,157
119	Igdir	75,610
120	Nevsehir	75,416
121	Silifke	75,204
122	Silopi	74,687
123	Bismil	74,382
124	Belek	73,149
125	Tatvan	73,111
126	Kahta	72,994
127	Yuksekova	71,618
128	Khanjarah	71,268
129	Mardin	71,262
130	Yalova	71,178
131	Gemlik	70,952
132	Kastamonu	70,291
133	Kadirli	70,137
134	Dogubayazit	70,060
135	Ayvalik	69,891
136	Soeke	68,119
137	Ardesen	67,854
138	OEdemis	67,042
139	Burdur	66,047
140	Silvan	65,845
141	Soma	65,823
142	Ahlat	64,584
143	Aksehir	64,335
144	Kusadasi	63,066
145	Sorgun	62,751
146	Cubuk	62,491
147	Kirikhan	60,805
148	Fethiye	60,326
149	Kirklareli	58,112
150	Duzce	57,628
151	Bergama	57,089
152	Anamur	57,017
153	Reyhanli	56,884
154	Doertyol	56,402
155	Goelcuek	56,078
156	Bolvadin	55,759
157	Zile	55,569
158	Eminoenue	55,437
159	Bozuyuk	55,254
160	Menemen	53,378
161	Silivri	53,056
162	Adilcevaz	52,670
163	Sirnak	52,632
164	Ergani	52,573
165	Erbaa	52,074
166	Tavsanli	52,071
167	Orhangazi	51,681
168	Seydisehir	50,978
169	Merzifon	50,547
170	Kavakli	50,391
171	Carsamba	50,348
172	Torbali	50,192
173	guengoeren merter	49,889
174	Merter Keresteciler	49,889
175	Niksar	49,754
176	Keskin	49,568
177	Karapinar	49,398
178	Mut	49,286
179	Mugla	48,072
180	Alasehir	48,036
181	Suluova	47,461
182	Sebin Karahisar	47,249
183	Tire	47,109
184	Kulu	46,926
185	Suruc	46,583
186	Erdemli	46,459
187	Bitlis	46,000
188	Cumra	45,546
189	Urla	45,088
190	Akcaabat	44,994
191	Aliaga	44,772
192	Kesan	44,533
193	Beysehir	44,349
194	Birecik	44,173
195	Karacabey	44,145
196	Sereflikochisar	43,990
197	Bulancak	43,524
198	Milas	43,082
199	Sandikli	42,870
200	Besni	41,781
201	Edremit	40,666
202	Gonen	40,652
203	Bilecik	40,174
204	Afsin	39,502
205	Cimin	39,480
206	Karasu Mahallesi	39,397
207	Bodrum	39,206
208	Yalvac	39,034
209	Beypazari	38,658
210	Burhaniye	37,972
211	Vakfikebir	37,617
212	Sungurlu	37,415
213	Bartin	37,316
214	Besikduzu	36,876
215	Serik	36,814
216	Talas	36,779
217	Uzunkoeprue	36,359
218	Osmancik	36,332
219	Kestel	36,074
220	Develi	35,757
221	Hinis	35,361
222	Dinar	35,248
223	Yerkoy	35,183
224	Hendek	35,146
225	Safranbolu	35,131
226	Akcakoca	35,040
227	Simav	34,798
228	Sinop	34,723
229	Goksun	34,132
230	Cay	34,104
231	Marmaris	33,620
232	Sarkikaraagac	32,660
233	Bor	32,324
234	Gumushkhane	32,139
235	Kumru	32,063
236	Akcakale	32,003
237	Kurtalan	32,003
238	Yesilli	31,961
239	Of	31,840
240	Imamoglu	31,805
241	Ceylanpinar	31,377
242	Bulanik	31,319
243	Bayburt	31,147
244	Ortakoy	31,033
245	Kula	30,989
246	Mimarsinan	30,891
247	Biga	30,741
248	Karasu	30,635
249	Karamursel	30,414
250	Kemalpasa	30,300
251	Gorele	30,270
252	Beykonak	30,228
253	Arakli	29,806
254	Karakocan	29,624
255	Kozluk	29,391
256	Gurpinar	29,300
257	Bucak	29,123
258	Selcuk	28,990
259	Tunceli	28,951
260	Yakuplu	28,700
261	Yenisehir	28,545
262	Kaman	28,494
263	Gerede	28,471
264	Bozyazi	28,345
265	Terme	28,286
266	Golbasi	27,967
267	Boyabat	27,606
268	Malkara	27,316
269	Ilgin	27,312
270	Kirkagac	26,942
271	Alaca	26,908
272	Babaeski	26,613
273	Kulp	26,458
274	Erzin	26,205
275	Can	26,090
276	Malazgirt	25,997
277	Didim	25,889
278	Guroymak	25,715
279	Susehri	25,709
280	Elmadag	25,283
281	Sapanca	25,113
282	Gelibolu	25,067
283	Kagizman	25,046
284	Vezirkopru	25,044
285	Akyazi	24,957
286	Yahyali	24,908
287	Susurluk	24,705
288	Devrek	24,448
289	Cayeli	24,445
290	Pasinler	24,442
291	Gursu	24,399
292	Artvin	24,155
293	Mahmutlar	24,116
294	Tosya	23,902
295	Kazan	23,778
296	Kelkit	23,759
297	Pazarcik	23,739
298	Emet	23,701
299	Sarkisla	23,689
300	Ferizli	23,629
301	Sarikamis	23,554
302	Oltu	23,393
303	Mudanya	23,050
304	Akdagmadeni	22,937
305	Kovancilar	22,865
306	Idil	22,849
307	Erdek	22,567
308	Genc	22,382
309	Iznik	22,119
310	Gediz	21,947
311	Menderes	21,854
312	Caycuma	21,662
313	Tepecik	21,588
314	Bozova	21,391
315	Havza	21,389
316	Demirci	21,267
317	Cine	21,216
318	Cesme	21,205
319	Hacilar	21,056
320	Ardahan	20,909
321	Cermik	20,864
322	Alapli	20,779
323	Dargecit	20,682
324	Karacoban	20,356
325	Korkuteli	20,354
326	Darende	20,277
327	Geyve	20,088
328	Belen	20,002
329	Hadim	19,999
330	Emirdag	19,952
331	Surmene	19,928
332	Tekirova	19,889
333	Iskilip	19,718
334	Hayrabolu	19,682
335	Yomra	19,659
336	Ortaca	19,630
337	Seferihisar	19,485
338	Bahce	19,455
339	Catalca	19,205
340	Dalaman	19,181
341	Tasova	19,142
342	Nallihan	18,995
343	Yatagan	18,909
344	Semdinli	18,867
345	Saraykoy	18,826
346	Gurgentepe	18,660
347	Eleskirt	18,658
348	Varto	18,580
349	Incirliova	18,461
350	Gazipasa	18,260
351	Diyadin	18,061
352	Kizilcahamam	17,864
353	Cerkes	17,691
354	Dursunbey	17,421
355	Hopa	17,408
356	Denizciler	17,384
357	Taskopru	17,380
358	Kemer	17,189
359	Egirdir	17,117
360	Tekkekoy	17,115
361	Serinhisar	17,058
362	Tirebolu	17,013
363	Banaz	16,969
364	Horasan	16,956
365	Hilvan	16,879
366	Ermenek	16,875
367	Gemerek	16,805
368	Bayindir	16,739
369	Serinyol	16,642
370	Korgan	16,622
371	UErguep	16,531
372	Elmali	16,476
373	Mucur	16,411
374	Turgutreis	16,379
375	Lice	16,225
376	Arhavi	16,106
377	Arsin	16,037
378	Sarigerme	15,889
379	Baskil	15,811
380	Senirkent	15,808
381	Osmaneli	15,597
382	Ezine	15,566
383	Caglayancerit	15,419
384	Askale	15,351
385	Solhan	15,192
386	Hizan	15,191
387	Kadinhani	15,190
388	Bigadic	15,131
389	Foca	15,078
390	Kocaali	14,965
391	Espiye	14,947
392	Pamukova	14,774
393	Buldan	14,700
394	Dogansehir	14,683
395	Akcadag	14,677
396	Gumushacikoy	14,623
397	Cayiralan	14,623
398	Siran	14,581
399	Tonya	14,433
400	Baskale	14,405

Ethnic groups

The Turks are a people with a very complex ethnic background after the many conquests and migrations through the ages. More than 90 percent of the population is considered to be Turks, but statistics are based on language. As Turks, those who have Turkish as their mother tongue are considered. Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Turkey, amounting to between 12 and 15 million. They live all over Turkey, but have their core area to the east and southeast. In southeastern Anatolia there is an Arab minority (1.4 percent). In the border regions against Georgia and Armenia, smaller groups of Churches, Georgians, Armenians and lasers live (see lasic). The largest cities, especially Istanbul, have Jewish and Armenian minorities.

Ethnic minorities have had a hard fate in Turkey. Nearly 2.5 million Armenians, the largest element of the people in Turkish Armenia, were displaced or massacred during the period 1894-1915 (the Armenian Genocide). There are now an estimated 55,000 Armenians in Turkey. The Greek minority has been heavily persecuted because of the hostility between Greece and Turkey. At the peace with Greece in 1923, over one million Greeks were forced to move to Greece in exchange with Turks from there.

Population Density

Population density averages 106.9 residents per square kilometer (2018). The settlement is closely linked to the topographic conditions, soils and rainfall, and is highly concentrated in European Turkey, and in the fertile valleys and lowlands along the Black Sea, Lake Marmara and the Aegean Sea. This area, which together comprises about a quarter of the country’s area, has over half of the country’s population. The inland of Anatolia, especially the highlands of Armenia, is sparsely populated.

Especially since 1950, there has been a shift in population from the countryside to the cities. 76.1 percent of the population lives in urban areas (2020). The number of residents of the metropolitan areas of the three largest cities is: Istanbul 15.5 million, Ankara 5.1 million and Izmir 4.4 million. However, the rural population is largely concentrated in villages that can be quite large.

Emigration

Especially in the period 1960–1970 many emigrated from Turkey, the largest groups went to West Germany and Saudi Arabia. It was primarily job-seeking men who left, then their families. In the mid-1980s, it was estimated that over one million Turkish men (2.5–3 million with family members) stayed abroad temporarily. This was almost ten percent of Turkey’s working male population. Several recipient countries for Turkish labor have since introduced immigration restrictions, and labor migration has fallen somewhat.

Language

The official language and mother tongue of more than 90 percent of the population is Turkish (Turkey-Turkish). In eastern and southeastern Turkey, there is a significant minority (about seven percent) who speak the Iranian language Kurdish. Furthermore, Arabic is spoken in the border regions of Syria and Iraq. Various Caucasian languages are spoken by small groups all over the country after immigration from the Caucasus in the 19th century. Greek and Armenian are spoken by quite small groups, mainly in Istanbul. The Jews in Istanbul (around 50,000) are still trying to keep their mother tongue Ladino up.

Religion

The Turkish state has been secular since the 1920s, but over 99 percent of the population is Muslim, and Islam is an increasingly important factor in social life. Sunni Muslims constitute the majority (about 80 percent), but there are also Shia Muslims. Following the genocide of the Armenians in 1915 and the deportation of the Greek population in 1923, Christians now constitute only 0.2 percent of the population.