Türkiye faces serious migration crisis as nearly 300,000 citizens emigrate in 2023
The local Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping destination in Istanbul, Türkiye, is almost empty. (AA Photo)
Türkiye’s migration dynamics have shifted significantly, according to 2023 statistics released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
For the first time, the country experienced a notable net outflow of both its citizens and foreign nationals.
2023 marks turning point in migration patterns
- Turkish citizens: The number of people leaving Türkiye surged to 291,377, compared to 101,677 who immigrated, resulting in a net emigration of nearly 190,000.
| Year | Migration to Türkiye | Migration from Türkiye |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ~100,000 | ~50,000 |
| 2017 | ~113,000 | ~110,000 |
| 2018 | ~110,000 | ~100,000 |
| 2019 | ~100,000 | ~110,000 |
| 2020 | ~85,000 | ~60,000 |
| 2021 | ~110,000 | ~80,000 |
| 2022 | ~100,000 | ~140,000 |
| 2023 | 101,677 | 291,377 |
- Foreign nationals: There was a sharp drop in the number of foreign nationals coming to Turkiye, from 370,000 in 2022 to 214,779 in 2023. Meanwhile, those leaving Türkiye increased significantly, leading to a net outflow of 208,423.
| Year | Migration to Türkiye | Migration from Türkiye |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ~250,000 | ~100,000 |
| 2017 | ~300,000 | ~120,000 |
| 2018 | ~400,000 | ~150,000 |
| 2019 | ~550,000 | ~200,000 |
| 2020 | ~330,000 | ~220,000 |
| 2021 | ~580,000 | ~180,000 |
| 2022 | ~370,000 | ~140,000 |
| 2023 | 214,779 | 423,202 |
Zoom in: Russians, Ukrainians leave Türkiye en masse
Türkiye has witnessed a significant decline in the number of Russian and Ukrainian residents in 2023. For the first time in years, more Russians and Ukrainians have left Türkiye than arrived, marking a stark contrast to previous years of consistent growth.
According to TurkStat, recent international migration statistics revealed the following details:
- Emigration from Türkiye surged by 53% from the previous year, reaching a record high of 714,579 people.
- Russian citizens were the second-largest group of emigrants, following Turkish nationals.
Between the lines
- TurkStat’s data spanning eight years (2016-2023) shows that Türkiye had a net inflow of migrants in all years except 2020, which was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Türkiye saw a net outflow of over 100,000 foreign nationals, mainly because of travel restrictions and healthcare access challenges.
- However, this trend reversed in 2021, with a net inflow of 431,000 foreign nationals, indicating a recovery from the pandemic’s effects.
Both Turkish, foreign nationals left Türkiye
- The year 2023 stands out as the first time both Turkish citizens and foreign nationals left the country in such large numbers. Compared to 2022, the number of foreign nationals immigrating to Türkiye decreased by 185,000, while emigration increased by 96,000. This resulted in a net outflow of 208,423 foreign nationals.
- Türkiye’s net emigration in 2023 wasn’t limited to a specific region but extended to countries like Russia, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, Afghanistan, and various African nations, where Türkiye had traditionally been a net recipient of migrants.
Alarm bells for Türkiye
The net outflow increased dramatically from 45,000 in 2022 to 190,000 in 2023. Alarmingly, 50.8% of those leaving are between 20-40 years old, a demographic critical to the country’s economic and social stability.
This trend, combined with declining birth rates, poses a serious challenge to the country’s future.
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