Almost 93 per cent of Turkey’s population is urbanised
by Marian Demir

About 7.2 per cent of the population lives in rural areas. Istanbul is the most populous city with more than 15 million inhabitants.


Istanbul (AsiaNews) – The Turkish Statistical Institute has released demographic data indicating that the country’s urban population is growing and now represents 92.8 per cent of the total.

According to last year’s census, the number of Turks rose by 151,115, bringing it to 83,154,997.

About 18 per cent lives in Istanbul, which has a population of over 15.5 million inhabitants, making it the most populous Turkish city (pictured).

Urbanisation is the main demographic trait. People living in towns and villages constitute only 7.2 per cent of the total population.

Turkey has become highly urbanised over the past 70 years. In 1950 the urban population stood only at 25 per cent.