Turkey has a population of approximately 86 million people in 2025, making it the 18th most populous country in the world. Spread across both Europe and Asia, this large and youthful population sits at the crossroads of two continents, blending European and Middle Eastern demographic patterns in a way few other nations do.
How Many People Live in Turkey?
With roughly 86,000,000 residents, Turkey ranks just behind countries like Egypt and ahead of Germany among the world's largest populations. To put that figure in perspective, Turkey has more people than the United Kingdom, France, or Italy, yet fewer than Iran or Egypt. It is by far the most populous country bordering both the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
The population is unevenly distributed. The western third of the country, anchored by Istanbul and the Marmara and Aegean coasts, is densely settled and heavily urbanized, while the mountainous east and southeast remain comparatively sparse. The national population density averages about 110 people per square kilometre, but this number masks enormous regional contrasts.
Population Growth and Trends
Turkey's population is currently growing at an annual rate of about 0.67%, a moderate pace by global standards and a dramatic slowdown from the rapid expansion of the 20th century. In the 1960s, growth exceeded 2.5% per year. Today the fertility rate has fallen to roughly 1.9 children per woman, just below the replacement level of 2.1.
This decline mirrors trends across much of the developing world, where rising education, urbanization, and women's participation in the workforce reduce family sizes. Notably, eastern provinces such as Şanlıurfa and Şırnak still record higher fertility than the secular, urban west, creating an internal demographic divide. Demographers project that Turkey's population will continue rising before peaking around 2060 at approximately 96 million, after which a gradual decline and aging are expected.
The Largest Cities
Turkey is highly urbanized, with more than three-quarters of its people living in cities. The three largest are Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
- Istanbul is the largest city, home to roughly 16 million people. Spanning the Bosphorus strait, it is the only major metropolis on Earth split between two continents, with about 35% of its area in Europe and 65% in Asia. Counting both sides, it is the most populous city in Europe.
- Ankara, the capital, has around 5.7 million residents and serves as the political and administrative heart of the republic, chosen by Atatürk in 1923 over Istanbul.
- Izmir, with about 4.4 million in its metro area, is a historic Aegean port known for its cosmopolitan, liberal character and ancient roots as the Greek city of Smyrna.
Other major centres include Bursa, Adana, Gaziantep, and Konya, each anchoring its own region.
Who Are the Turkish People?
Ethnic Turks make up roughly 70–75% of the population, while Kurds form the largest minority at around 18%, concentrated in the southeast. Smaller communities include Arabs, Circassians, Laz, and others. Turkish is the sole official language, though Kurdish is widely spoken in the eastern provinces and Arabic is common along the Syrian border.
Around 98% of the population identifies as Muslim, predominantly Sunni, with a substantial Alevi minority that follows a distinct branch of Islam. Despite this, Turkey is constitutionally a secular state, a legacy of the reforms introduced by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk after the republic's founding. The median age is about 33 years, making Turkey younger than nearly every European country but older than most of its Middle Eastern neighbours.
Turkey also hosts the world's largest refugee population, with roughly 3.5 million Syrians sheltering within its borders. This influx has reshaped the demographics of southern cities such as Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa and added measurably to the national headcount. For more on the country's geography and culture, see our turkey country guide.
A Century of Growth
The scale of Turkey's demographic transformation is striking. At the first census of the modern republic in 1927, the population stood at just 13.6 million. In under a century it has grown more than sixfold. This expansion was driven by falling mortality, improving healthcare, and the high birth rates of the mid-20th century, before the recent slowdown took hold. Understanding this trajectory helps explain why Turkey today balances a still-young workforce with the looming challenge of an aging society in the decades ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Turkey in 2025?
Turkey's population is approximately 86 million people in 2025, ranking it the 18th most populous country in the world.
What is the largest city in Turkey?
Istanbul is the largest city, with around 16 million residents. It is the only major city in the world that straddles two continents, divided by the Bosphorus strait between Europe and Asia.
Is Turkey's population growing or shrinking?
Turkey's population is still growing, at about 0.67% per year, though the rate has slowed sharply. With a fertility rate near 1.9, the population is projected to peak around 96 million near 2060 before beginning to decline.
What is the capital of Turkey and how big is it?
The capital is Ankara, home to about 5.7 million people. It became the capital in 1923, replacing Istanbul, and functions as the country's administrative and political centre.