Record migration from Istanbul in 2023 as 581,000 people move out

In 2023, a staggering 581,330 people left Istanbul, marking the city as the leading contributor to inter-provincial migration in Türkiye, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).

This migration surge formed part of the broader trend, where a total of 3,450,953 people moved between provinces across the country, accounting for 4.04% of the population – the highest rate recorded in the TUIK dataset.

Nationwide migration trends

Istanbul saw a net migration of 168,623 people.

Out of 581,330 who left the city, 412,707 moved to Istanbul, making it the top sender and receiver of internal migrants.

Türkiye has witnessed fluctuating inter-provincial migration rates over the years, with the rate standing at 3.18% during the 2007-2008 period.

By 2023, this figure climbed to 4.04%, reflecting increasing mobility within the country.

Of those who migrated in 2023, 47.9% were men, and 52.1% were women. The largest migration flow was observed among the 20-24 age group, with 647,191 people relocating, 56.6% of whom were women.

Top migration destinations, sources

Istanbul topped the list as the most significant migration destination, followed by Ankara, which attracted 232,700 people, and İzmir, with 147,765 new residents. Conversely, the least popular destinations were Ardahan, Bayburt, and Tunceli, receiving 6,856, 10,202, and 11,806 migrants, respectively.

On the flip side, Istanbul, Ankara and Hatay were the top contributors to inter-provincial migration, with 208,740 and 164,247 people moving out, respectively.

The smallest outflows were from Ardahan, Tunceli and Kilis.