Population in largest city in Turkey
Turkey: Population in largest city was 16.24 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in largest city in Turkey, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Turkey stood at 16.24 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Turkey peaked at 16.24 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.45 million, in 1960.
That places Turkey 12th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.97 million | 1.45 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.50 million | 2.77 million | 4.23 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.32 million | 4.40 million | 6.31 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.56 million | 6.55 million | 8.55 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.34 million | 8.74 million | 12.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.93 million | 12.58 million | 14.97 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.73 million | 15.19 million | 16.24 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More urban development data for Turkey
- Population in the largest city 21.1% (2025)
- Population density 110.87 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 33.66 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guidel 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Turkey?
- Population in largest city in Turkey was 16.24 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 16.24 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.45 million in 1960.
- How does Turkey rank for population in largest city?
- Turkey ranks 12th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.