Türkiye’s total population has reached 85,664,944 as of December 31, 2024, according to the latest data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute.

The new figures show an increase of 292,567 people from the previous year, reflecting a steady growth rate amid shifting demographic trends across the country.

The report details a nearly equal distribution between genders, with 42,853,110 males (50.02%) and 42,811,834 females (49.98%). The Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS) also noted a decline in the foreign resident population by 89,996, now totaling 1,480,547, with women comprising 51.7% of this group compared to 48.3% men.

The annual population growth rate rose sharply to 3.4 per thousand in 2024 from 1.1 per thousand in 2023. Urbanization continued to intensify, with 93.4% of the population now residing in province and district centers, an increase from 93% in 2023, while those living in towns and villages declined from 7% to 6.6%.

According to a new classification under the Spatial Address Registration System (SARS), 67.2% of Türkiye’s population lives in densely populated areas, 15.5% in intermediate-density areas, and 17.2% in rural areas. Notably, the populations of 40 provinces saw a decrease in 2024, following a decline in 10 provinces during 2023.

İstanbul remains the most populous province, with a population of 15,701,602, representing 18.3% of the national total and marking an increase of 45,678 people over the previous year. Ankara follows with 5,864,049 inhabitants, while İzmir, Bursa, and Antalya host 4,493,242, 3,238,618, and 2,722,103 residents respectively. In contrast, Bayburt was recorded as the least populated province, with 83,676 residents, followed by Tunceli, Ardahan, Gümüşhane, and Kilis.

The report indicates a structural change in Türkiye’s population pyramid, with a growing elderly segment and an increased median age—now 34.4 years, up from 34 in 2023. The median age for males rose from 33.2 to 33.7 years, and for females from 34.7 to 35.2 years. Regional disparities are significant; Sinop recorded the highest median age at 43.4 years, whereas Şanlıurfa had the lowest at 21.4 years. Sinop tops the charts for both genders, with male and female median ages at 42.5 and 44.3 respectively, while Şanlıurfa’s median ages are 21 for males and 21.9 for females.

The proportion of the working-age population (15-64 years) increased to 68.4% from 66.5% in 2007. Conversely, the share of children (aged 0-14) decreased from 26.4% to 20.9%, and the elderly population (aged 65 and over) grew from 7.1% to 10.6%. The total age dependency ratio, which represents the number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals, slightly declined from 46.3% in 2023 to 46.1% in 2024. Child dependency decreased to 30.6%, while the elderly dependency ratio increased to 15.5%.

Türkiye’s overall population density is now 111 persons per square kilometer. İstanbul remains the most densely populated province with 2,934 persons per square kilometer, followed by Kocaeli (623 persons) and Yalova (390 persons). In contrast, Tunceli recorded the lowest density with just 11 persons per square kilometer, followed by Ardahan (19) and Erzincan and Gümüşhane (21 each), while Konya, the largest in terms of area, has a density of 59 persons per square kilometer.

The Turkish Statistical Institute’s comprehensive report not only highlights Türkiye’s ongoing population growth but also underscores important demographic shifts, including increasing urbanization, an aging population, and evolving regional dynamics. These changes have significant implications for national planning, infrastructure development, and social services as Türkiye adapts to its changing demographic landscape. (ILKHA)