Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Turkey
Turkey: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 20.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Turkey, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Turkey stood at 20.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Turkey peaked at 22.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 1960.
Turkey ranks 114th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.1% | 15.0% | 15.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 15.5% | 14.7% | 16.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 18.6% | 18.1% | 19.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 20.3% | 19.8% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 21.6% | 21.6% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.5% | 21.2% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.6% | 21.2% | 22.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.6% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More population data for Turkey
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Population density 84.9 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.26 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 2.94 million people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.62 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.6 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Turkey?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Turkey was 20.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 1960.
- How does Turkey rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Turkey ranks 114th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Turkey data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.