Türkiye’s population reaches 85.7M, foreign residents in decline
File photo shows a densely crowded pedestrian street in Istanbul, Türkiye. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Türkiye’s population reached 85.7 million in 2024, marking a modest increase of 292,567 people from the previous year, according to new data released by Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). The figures reveal significant demographic shifts across urban centers, rural regions, and foreign resident populations.
Türkiye’s population shows a nearly equal gender distribution, with men comprising 50.02% (42.85 million) and women 49.98% (42.81 million) of the total population. The annual population growth rate rose significantly to 3.4 per thousand in 2024, up from 1.1 per thousand in 2023, indicating a reversal of recent slowdown trends.
Metropolitan dominance in Turkish population
Istanbul maintains its position as the country’s most populous city, home to 15.7 million residents — approximately 18.3% of Türkiye’s total population. The metropolitan hub saw an increase of 45,678 residents over the past year. Following Istanbul are Ankara with 5.86 million residents, Izmir with 4.49 million, Bursa with 3.24 million, and Antalya with 2.72 million inhabitants.
The stark contrast in population distribution is evident when comparing these urban centers with the country’s least populated provinces. Bayburt maintains its position at the bottom with 83,676 residents, followed by Tunceli (86,612) and Ardahan (91,354), highlighting the significant demographic disparities between regions.
The trend toward urbanization intensified in 2024, with 93.4% of the population now residing in city centers and district municipalities, up from 93% in 2023. According to the new spatial classification system implemented through the Spatial Address Registration System (MAKS), 67.2% of Türkiye’s population lives in densely populated urban areas, while 15.5% inhabits moderately dense urban regions, and 17.2% resides in rural areas.
Population density statistics further illustrate this urban concentration, with Istanbul leading at 2,934 people per square kilometer, followed by Kocaeli with 623 people. In contrast, Tunceli has the lowest density with just 11 people per square kilometer.
The country’s demographic structure continues to evolve, with the median age increasing to 34.4 in 2024, up from 34 in 2023. Women (35.2) consistently show a higher median age than men (33.7), reflecting broader demographic patterns.
Regional variations in age distribution are significant. Sinop province recorded the highest median age at 43.4 years, followed by Giresun and Kastamonu (both 42.9), while Şanlıurfa maintained the lowest at 21.4 years, followed by Şırnak at 23 years.
Türkiye’s workforce and dependant population
The working-age population (15-64 years) constitutes 68.4% of the total population, marking an increase from 66.5% in 2007. Children (0-14 years) now make up 20.9% of the population, showing a significant decrease from 26.4% in 2007, while the elderly population (65 and above) has increased to 10.6% from 7.1%.
This demographic structure translates to a dependency ratio where every 100 working-age individuals support approximately 31 children and 16 elderly citizens. The total age dependency ratio decreased slightly to 46.1% in 2024 from 46.3% in 2023, showing ongoing changes in the country’s age structure.
A notable trend in 2024 was the population decline in 40 provinces, a significant increase from just 10 provinces showing decline in 2023. This shift suggests changing internal migration patterns and varying regional economic conditions across the country.
Türkiye’s foreign resident population in 2024
The landscape of foreign residents in Türkiye underwent significant changes in 2024, with the total number decreasing by 89,996 compared to 2023, reaching 1.48 million people. This population shows a slightly different gender distribution compared to the national average, with women representing 51.7% and men 48.3%.
The top five countries of origin for foreign residents are:
- Iraq: 177,988 residents
- Afghanistan: 139,251 residents
- Germany: 115,958 residents
- Turkmenistan: 113,762 residents
- Iran: 95,924 residents
