What is the population of Turkey in 2026?
Turkey has a population of 85,878,556 people (2025 estimate), which is 18th in the world and about 1.03% of the global total.
Officially Republic of Türkiye
Population 2025
85,878,556
1.03% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+0.42%
+360,690 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
111/km²
769,630 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
33.5 years
Life expectancy 77.4 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a transcontinental country straddling Southeast Europe and Western Asia. It controls the Turkish Straits (Bosphorus and Dardanelles), linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Turkey is the world's 18th-most populous nation and has the 17th-largest economy. As a NATO member and EU candidate, Turkey occupies a unique geopolitical position bridging East and West, with a rich history as the seat of Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Ankara
- Continent
- Asia
- ISO codes
- TR · TUR
- Demonym
- Turkish
- Currency
- Turkish lira (TRY ₺)
- Government
- Presidential system, Unitary state
- State inception
- 1923
- Time zone
- UTC+03:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +90
- Internet TLD
- .tr
- Land neighbours
- 8
Languages
- Turkish
Religions
- Islam (98% - majority Sunni)
- Christianity (0.2%)
- Other (1.8%)
Demographics
Turkey has a young population with a median age of 32.2 years, younger than most European countries. The population has grown from 14 million in 1927 to over 85 million today. About 77% live in urban areas, with Istanbul (16+ million) being Europe's largest city. Turkey hosts the world's largest refugee population (3.6+ million Syrians). Ethnic Turks comprise 70-75%, with Kurds being the largest minority (15-20%).
Economy
Turkey has a diversified economy with major automotive, textile, electronics, and agricultural sectors. It is a major global producer of textiles, agricultural products, vehicles, and ships. Tourism is significant, with Turkey ranking among the world's top destinations. The economy has faced challenges from inflation, currency depreciation, and external debt. Turkey is the world's largest producer of hazelnuts, cherries, and figs.
Major exports
- Automobiles
- Machinery
- Iron and steel
- Textiles
- Electronics
- Agricultural products
- Jewelry
Major imports
- Machinery
- Chemicals
- Semi-finished goods
- Fuels
- Transportation equipment
- Electronics
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Turkey spans 783,356 km² across the Anatolian Peninsula and Eastern Thrace. Landscapes include the Pontic and Taurus mountain ranges, the fertile coastal plains, the central Anatolian plateau, and numerous lakes. Turkey has coastlines on the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, and Sea of Marmara. The country is seismically active, with the 1999 Marmara and 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes causing massive destruction.
Natural resources
- Coal
- Iron ore
- Copper
- Chromium
- Antimony
- Mercury
- Gold
- Barite
- Borate
- Celestite
- Emery
- Feldspar
- Limestone
- Magnesite
- Marble
Climate
- Mediterranean coast, continental interior, oceanic Black Sea
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 21.4%
- Age 15–64
- 68.3%
- Age 65+
- 10.3%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 236 | 2,806 |
| 95-99 | 6,085 | 30,148 |
| 90-94 | 49,103 | 122,513 |
| 85-89 | 158,685 | 308,570 |
| 80-84 | 358,546 | 567,953 |
| 75-79 | 672,078 | 907,264 |
| 70-74 | 1,168,338 | 1,399,505 |
| 65-69 | 1,548,645 | 1,695,490 |
| 60-64 | 2,015,158 | 2,114,997 |
| 55-59 | 2,367,269 | 2,392,381 |
| 50-54 | 2,565,910 | 2,556,203 |
| 45-49 | 3,149,267 | 3,149,943 |
| 40-44 | 3,349,657 | 3,299,238 |
| 35-39 | 3,270,326 | 3,190,957 |
| 30-34 | 3,341,769 | 3,216,957 |
| 25-29 | 3,520,271 | 3,364,124 |
| 20-24 | 3,355,785 | 3,213,619 |
| 15-19 | 3,204,581 | 3,077,255 |
| 10-14 | 3,413,923 | 3,294,829 |
| 5-9 | 3,319,990 | 3,203,409 |
| 0-4 | 2,825,896 | 2,704,129 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 21,021,140 |
| 1960 | 28,329,898 |
| 1970 | 36,638,465 |
| 1980 | 45,408,815 |
| 1990 | 56,015,628 |
| 2000 | 65,425,961 |
| 2010 | 73,346,769 |
| 2020 | 86,091,692 |
| 2030 | 89,027,542 |
| 2040 | 91,009,681 |
| 2050 | 91,258,061 |
| 2060 | 88,863,276 |
| 2070 | 84,358,564 |
| 2080 | 78,555,666 |
| 2090 | 72,021,272 |
| 2100 | 65,338,459 |
History
Turkey's territory hosted ancient civilizations including Hittites, Greeks, and Romans. Constantinople (Istanbul) was the Byzantine Empire's capital for over 1,000 years until the Ottoman conquest in 1453. The Ottoman Empire lasted 600+ years, spanning three continents at its peak. After WWI defeat, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the modern secular republic in 1923, implementing sweeping reforms to modernize and Westernize the nation.
Culture
Turkish culture synthesizes Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and European influences. Ottoman architecture, Turkish carpets, ceramics, and calligraphy are renowned. Turkish cuisine—kebabs, meze, baklava, Turkish delight—is globally appreciated. Hammams (Turkish baths) and Turkish coffee are cultural institutions. Modern Turkey balances secular traditions with Islamic heritage. Football and oil wrestling are popular sports.
Current Challenges
Turkey faces challenges from economic instability (high inflation, currency weakness), political polarization, Kurdish conflicts, refugee integration, press freedom concerns, and earthquake vulnerability. Relations with the EU have cooled, stalling accession talks. Balancing secularism with Islamic conservatism remains contentious. The 2023 earthquake killed over 50,000 people and highlighted infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Future Outlook
Turkey aims to become a top-10 economy by 2050. Its young population and strategic location offer growth potential. Infrastructure investments, including new airports and canals, position Turkey as a regional hub. Population is expected to peak around 2040 at 100 million before declining. Turkey navigates between Western alignment and independent foreign policy amid regional instability.
Highlights
What Turkey Is Known For
- 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Spans two continents (Europe and Asia)
- Home to seven ancient wonders' sites
- World's largest refugee-hosting country
- Istanbul has Europe's largest population
Interesting Facts About Turkey
- Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents
- Turkey introduced tulips to Europe (not the Netherlands)
- Noah's Ark allegedly rested on Mount Ararat in Turkey
- Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was born in Patara, Turkey
- The first coins were minted in Lydia (modern-day Turkey) around 600 BC
- Turkey has more archaeological sites than any other country
- Turkish coffee and oil wrestling are UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
How Turkey Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Turkey | 85.9M |
Major Cities in Turkey
3 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.
Countries Bordering Turkey
8 land borders.
Turkey Population FAQ
Is the population of Turkey growing or shrinking?
Turkey's population is growing at +0.42% per year, a change of roughly 360,690 people annually.
What is the capital of Turkey?
The capital of Turkey is Ankara.
What is the largest city in Turkey?
Istanbul is the largest metropolitan area in Turkey, with about 15.9M people.
How densely populated is Turkey?
Turkey has 111/km² across 769,630 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Turkey?
Life expectancy at birth in Turkey is 77.4 years (2024).
What is the median age in Turkey?
The median age in Turkey is 33.5 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Turkey in?
Turkey is in Asia.