Türkiye hosts 4 million migrants as 200,000 return to Syria since December: Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday stated that Türkiye is currently home to approximately 4.03 million migrants, while highlighting that 200,000 individuals have voluntarily returned to their home countries since Dec. 9.

Türkiye’s current migration numbers and measures

Speaking at the “Türkiye’s Migration Management in the Century of Türkiye” program organized by the Directorate General of Migration Management at Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul, Erdogan outlined the country’s current migration landscape.

Addressing domestic debates, Erdogan said, “Contrary to exaggerated claims by the opposition, especially some racist circles, there has never been an exaggerated migrant population in our country.”

“There are 4,033,000 migrants in Türkiye,” Erdogan said, specifying that this figure includes:

• Some 2.768 million Syrians are under temporary protection.
• Some 1.09 million individuals with residence permits.
• Some 176,000 are under international protection.

Erdogan also mentioned the country’s efforts in education diplomacy, hosting around 340,000 international students from more than 190 countries, most of whom finance their education independently.

The president emphasized that, contrary to exaggerated claims, Türkiye has managed the migration issue with a clear, consistent policy rooted in humanitarian values.

200,000 voluntary returns since December

Erdogan also shared that since Dec. 9, about 200,000 migrants have voluntarily returned to their countries of origin, reflecting ongoing efforts to facilitate safe, dignified returns under international law.

Highlighting the decreasing trend in migrant numbers, Erdogan stated, “Thanks to the measures we have taken, this number continues to decline day by day.”

He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to humanitarian principles, noting that the country views helping displaced persons as a historical responsibility rather than a burden.

Global migration trends: 281 million migrants worldwide

Speaking at the event, Erdogan cited data from the United Nations International Organization for Migration, stating that there are currently more than 281 million migrants globally, including over 165 million migrant workers.

“Due to wars over the last three or four years, the number of refugees has approached 120 million,” Erdogan said, adding that “data shows that every minute at least 20 people are forced to migrate because of conflict, persecution, and terrorism.”

Erdogan also reflected on Türkiye’s policy toward Syrian refugees, recalling opposition pledges to repatriate them and stressing that Türkiye treated displaced people as guests, not burdens.

Western nations criticized over refugee responsibility

President Erdogan criticized Western countries for not sharing the burden of global displacement despite often being implicated in the root causes of forced migration.

“Although the policies that force people into migration mostly originate from Western powers, you see none of them around when it comes to sharing the burden,” Erdogan stated.

“Seventy-five percent of the world’s refugees are hosted not by wealthy nations, but by low- and middle-income countries.”

He emphasized that Türkiye, located at a strategic crossroads between continents, has historically been a refuge for the oppressed, noting that its humanitarian approach continues today.

Crackdown on illegal migration continues

On efforts to curb illegal migration, Erdogan noted that over the past two years:

• 270,000 irregular migrants were prevented from entering Türkiye.
• 263,000 illegal residents were deported.
• Some 14,400 operations were conducted against human smugglers, resulting in
• The seizure of 9,867 vehicles and
• The detention of 23,780 individuals.

“Migration and migrant issues are approached through the lens of our ancient civilization, history, and enduring values,” Erdogan added, stressing the government’s clear and consistent migration policy.