Largest cities in Türkiye, 1975 to 2050

Istanbul leads Türkiye with 15.01 million people in 2025, ahead of Ankara at 3.61 million in the UN city ranking.

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What the data shows

In 2025, Istanbul ranks #1 with 15.01M, ahead of Ankara (3.61M) and Izmir (2.65M).
By 2050, on the UN's projections, Istanbul is projected to rank #1 with 16.30M, ahead of Ankara (3.98M) and Izmir (2.68M).
Istanbul holds #1 for the whole period, 1975 to 2025.
Biggest climber: Antalya, from #16 in 1980 to #6 in 2050.
Istanbul grew 2.8× between 1975 and 2025.

About this chart

Istanbul stands well above the other cities in Türkiye: its 15.01 million people in 2025 are about 4.16 times the 3.61 million in second-place Ankara. Istanbul also led the 1975 ranking, when the UN series put it at 5.31 million. Izmir occupies third place in 2025 at 2.65 million. These are populations of urban areas defined consistently by the UN, rather than administrative city limits.

The UN projects Istanbul to lead in 2050 at 16.30 million people. The figures after 2025 are projections. The Degree of Urbanization identifies contiguous dense settlements, so these totals can differ from municipal and metropolitan statistics. The historical ranking is useful for comparing positions; changing settlement boundaries mean it should not be treated as a measure of growth within fixed city limits.

The data

Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population.

Largest cities in Türkiye, Population in millions, 1975–2050; projected after 2025, 1975–2050
Date	🇹🇷 Istanbul	🇹🇷 Izmir	🇹🇷 Ankara	🇹🇷 Adana	🇹🇷 Bursa	🇹🇷 Gaziantep	🇹🇷 Eskisehir	🇹🇷 Kahramanmaraş	🇹🇷 Mersin	🇹🇷 Kocaeli	🇹🇷 Malatya	🇹🇷 Diyarbakir	🇹🇷 Antalya	🇹🇷 Sincan	🇹🇷 Kayseri	🇹🇷 Konya
1975	5.31M	1.64M	1.30M	0.47M	0.36M	0.22M	0.21M	0.19M	0.17M	0.17M	0.14M	0.13M		0.12M	0.13M
1976	5.49M	1.68M	1.33M	0.49M	0.38M	0.23M	0.21M	0.19M	0.18M	0.17M	0.15M	0.14M		0.14M	0.14M
1977	5.68M	1.72M	1.36M	0.50M	0.40M	0.24M	0.22M	0.19M	0.19M	0.18M	0.16M	0.15M		0.15M	0.14M
1978	5.86M	1.76M	1.39M	0.52M	0.42M	0.25M	0.23M	0.20M	0.20M	0.19M	0.17M	0.16M		0.16M	0.15M
1979	6.05M	1.80M	1.42M	0.53M	0.44M	0.26M	0.24M	0.20M	0.21M	0.19M	0.18M	0.17M		0.17M	0.16M
1980	6.23M	1.84M	1.45M	0.54M	0.46M	0.27M	0.24M	0.20M	0.22M	0.20M	0.20M	0.18M	0.05M	0.18M	0.17M	0.07M
1981	6.48M	1.89M	1.51M	0.57M	0.48M	0.29M	0.25M	0.21M	0.25M	0.21M	0.21M	0.19M	0.07M	0.19M	0.18M	0.08M
1982	6.73M	1.95M	1.57M	0.60M	0.50M	0.31M	0.26M	0.21M	0.27M	0.22M	0.21M	0.20M	0.08M	0.19M	0.19M	0.08M
1983	6.98M	2.00M	1.63M	0.63M	0.52M	0.33M	0.27M	0.22M	0.30M	0.23M	0.22M	0.20M	0.10M	0.20M	0.20M	0.09M
1984	7.22M	2.06M	1.69M	0.66M	0.55M	0.34M	0.28M	0.22M	0.32M	0.24M	0.23M	0.21M	0.11M	0.21M	0.21M	0.10M
1985	7.47M	2.12M	1.75M	0.69M	0.57M	0.36M	0.29M	0.23M	0.35M	0.25M	0.24M	0.22M	0.13M	0.22M	0.22M	0.11M
1986	7.73M	2.17M	1.81M	0.71M	0.60M	0.38M	0.30M	0.23M	0.37M	0.25M	0.25M	0.24M	0.14M	0.22M	0.23M	0.13M
1987	7.99M	2.22M	1.86M	0.72M	0.63M	0.40M	0.30M	0.24M	0.39M	0.26M	0.25M	0.26M	0.16M	0.23M	0.23M	0.14M
1988	8.25M	2.27M	1.92M	0.74M	0.66M	0.42M	0.31M	0.24M	0.41M	0.27M	0.26M	0.27M	0.17M	0.24M	0.24M	0.16M
1989	8.51M	2.32M	1.98M	0.75M	0.69M	0.44M	0.32M	0.25M	0.43M	0.28M	0.27M	0.29M	0.19M	0.25M	0.25M	0.18M
1990	8.77M	2.37M	2.04M	0.77M	0.72M	0.46M	0.33M	0.25M	0.45M	0.28M	0.27M	0.31M	0.21M	0.26M	0.26M	0.19M
1991	8.97M	2.40M	2.07M	0.77M	0.76M	0.49M	0.33M	0.26M	0.46M	0.30M	0.28M	0.32M	0.23M	0.27M	0.26M	0.21M
1992	9.18M	2.42M	2.11M	0.77M	0.79M	0.52M	0.33M	0.27M	0.47M	0.31M	0.29M	0.33M	0.26M	0.28M	0.27M	0.22M
1993	9.39M	2.45M	2.15M	0.77M	0.83M	0.55M	0.34M	0.28M	0.48M	0.33M	0.30M	0.34M	0.28M	0.29M	0.28M	0.23M
1994	9.59M	2.47M	2.18M	0.77M	0.86M	0.58M	0.34M	0.29M	0.49M	0.34M	0.31M	0.35M	0.31M	0.31M	0.29M	0.24M
1995	9.80M	2.50M	2.22M	0.77M	0.89M	0.60M	0.35M	0.30M	0.49M	0.36M	0.32M	0.36M	0.33M	0.32M	0.30M	0.25M
1996	9.97M	2.52M	2.25M	0.76M	0.95M	0.63M	0.35M	0.31M	0.50M	0.37M	0.33M	0.37M	0.36M	0.34M	0.31M	0.27M
1997	10.13M	2.54M	2.29M	0.76M	1.00M	0.66M	0.35M	0.32M	0.51M	0.37M	0.34M	0.38M	0.39M	0.36M	0.32M	0.28M
1998	10.30M	2.57M	2.32M	0.76M	1.05M	0.69M	0.36M	0.33M	0.52M	0.38M	0.36M	0.39M	0.41M	0.38M	0.34M	0.30M
1999	10.47M	2.59M	2.35M	0.75M	1.10M	0.71M	0.36M	0.34M	0.53M	0.39M	0.37M	0.40M	0.44M	0.40M	0.35M	0.31M
2000	10.63M	2.61M	2.38M	0.75M	1.15M	0.74M	0.37M	0.35M	0.54M	0.40M	0.38M	0.41M	0.47M	0.42M	0.37M	0.33M
2001	10.87M	2.61M	2.42M	0.75M	1.20M	0.78M	0.39M	0.36M	0.56M	0.42M	0.38M	0.42M	0.50M	0.45M	0.40M	0.35M
2002	11.10M	2.62M	2.46M	0.74M	1.24M	0.82M	0.41M	0.37M	0.58M	0.43M	0.38M	0.43M	0.53M	0.48M	0.43M	0.36M
2003	11.33M	2.62M	2.50M	0.74M	1.28M	0.85M	0.43M	0.38M	0.59M	0.44M	0.39M	0.44M	0.56M	0.52M	0.46M	0.38M
2004	11.56M	2.63M	2.54M	0.74M	1.32M	0.89M	0.45M	0.39M	0.61M	0.46M	0.39M	0.46M	0.59M	0.55M	0.49M	0.40M
2005	11.79M	2.63M	2.58M	0.74M	1.36M	0.93M	0.47M	0.40M	0.63M	0.47M	0.39M	0.47M	0.62M	0.58M	0.52M	0.42M
2006	12.03M	2.64M	2.64M	0.73M	1.41M	0.97M	0.49M	0.41M	0.64M	0.49M	0.40M	0.48M	0.66M	0.63M	0.55M	0.46M
2007	12.28M	2.65M	2.69M	0.73M	1.46M	1.02M	0.51M	0.41M	0.66M	0.51M	0.40M	0.50M	0.71M	0.67M	0.57M	0.49M
2008	12.52M	2.66M	2.75M	0.72M	1.51M	1.06M	0.52M	0.42M	0.68M	0.52M	0.40M	0.51M	0.75M	0.71M	0.60M	0.53M
2009	12.76M	2.67M	2.81M	0.72M	1.56M	1.11M	0.54M	0.43M	0.69M	0.54M	0.41M	0.53M	0.79M	0.76M	0.62M	0.56M
2010	13.00M	2.68M	2.87M	0.71M	1.62M	1.16M	0.55M	0.43M	0.71M	0.56M	0.41M	0.54M	0.84M	0.80M	0.64M	0.60M
2011	13.17M	2.67M	2.91M	0.70M	1.68M	1.20M	0.57M	0.45M	0.72M	0.57M	0.41M	0.55M	0.87M	0.84M	0.67M	0.62M
2012	13.34M	2.66M	2.95M	0.68M	1.74M	1.23M	0.58M	0.47M	0.72M	0.58M	0.42M	0.56M	0.91M	0.87M	0.69M	0.65M
2013	13.51M	2.65M	2.99M	0.67M	1.80M	1.27M	0.59M	0.48M	0.73M	0.59M	0.43M	0.57M	0.94M	0.91M	0.71M	0.68M
2014	13.67M	2.64M	3.03M	0.66M	1.86M	1.31M	0.60M	0.50M	0.73M	0.60M	0.43M	0.58M	0.98M	0.95M	0.73M	0.71M
2015	13.84M	2.63M	3.07M	0.64M	1.93M	1.35M	0.62M	0.51M	0.74M	0.61M	0.44M	0.59M	1.01M	0.99M	0.76M	0.74M
2016	14.00M	2.63M	3.15M	0.63M	1.98M	1.40M	0.64M	0.52M	0.74M	0.63M	0.45M	0.60M	1.06M	1.01M	0.78M	0.78M
2017	14.15M	2.63M	3.24M	0.62M	2.04M	1.45M	0.66M	0.53M	0.74M	0.65M	0.46M	0.61M	1.11M	1.04M	0.80M	0.83M
2018	14.30M	2.63M	3.33M	0.61M	2.10M	1.50M	0.69M	0.54M	0.74M	0.67M	0.47M	0.63M	1.16M	1.06M	0.83M	0.87M
2019	14.46M	2.63M	3.42M	0.60M	2.15M	1.54M	0.71M	0.55M	0.73M	0.69M	0.48M	0.64M	1.21M	1.09M	0.85M	0.91M
2020	14.61M	2.62M	3.50M	0.59M	2.21M	1.59M	0.73M	0.56M	0.73M	0.71M	0.49M	0.65M	1.26M	1.11M	0.88M	0.95M
2021	14.69M	2.63M	3.52M	0.59M	2.23M	1.59M	0.74M	0.56M	0.74M	0.72M	0.50M	0.66M	1.26M	1.12M	0.88M	0.95M
2022	14.77M	2.63M	3.55M	0.59M	2.24M	1.60M	0.75M	0.56M	0.74M	0.72M	0.50M	0.66M	1.26M	1.13M	0.88M	0.96M
2023	14.85M	2.64M	3.57M	0.59M	2.25M	1.60M	0.75M	0.56M	0.74M	0.73M	0.50M	0.66M	1.27M	1.13M	0.88M	0.96M
2024	14.93M	2.65M	3.59M	0.59M	2.27M	1.61M	0.76M	0.56M	0.75M	0.73M	0.50M	0.66M	1.27M	1.14M	0.88M	0.96M
2025	15.01M	2.65M	3.61M	0.59M	2.28M	1.61M	0.77M	0.57M	0.75M	0.74M	0.51M	0.66M	1.27M	1.15M	0.88M	0.96M
2026	15.09M	2.65M	3.63M	0.60M	2.29M	1.62M	0.77M	0.57M	0.75M	0.74M	0.51M	0.66M	1.28M	1.16M	0.88M	0.96M
2027	15.16M	2.66M	3.65M	0.60M	2.31M	1.62M	0.78M	0.57M	0.76M	0.75M	0.51M	0.66M	1.28M	1.17M	0.88M	0.96M
2028	15.24M	2.66M	3.67M	0.60M	2.32M	1.62M	0.79M	0.57M	0.76M	0.75M	0.51M	0.66M	1.28M	1.18M	0.89M	0.96M
2029	15.31M	2.66M	3.69M	0.60M	2.33M	1.63M	0.79M	0.57M	0.76M	0.75M	0.52M	0.67M	1.28M	1.18M	0.89M	0.96M
2030	15.39M	2.67M	3.71M	0.60M	2.34M	1.63M	0.80M	0.58M	0.77M	0.76M	0.52M	0.67M	1.29M	1.19M	0.89M	0.96M
2031	15.45M	2.67M	3.72M	0.60M	2.35M	1.64M	0.80M	0.58M	0.77M	0.76M	0.52M	0.67M	1.29M	1.20M	0.89M	0.96M
2032	15.52M	2.67M	3.74M	0.60M	2.36M	1.64M	0.81M	0.58M	0.77M	0.77M	0.52M	0.67M	1.29M	1.21M	0.89M	0.96M
2033	15.58M	2.68M	3.76M	0.60M	2.37M	1.65M	0.81M	0.58M	0.77M	0.77M	0.52M	0.67M	1.29M	1.21M	0.89M	0.96M
2034	15.65M	2.68M	3.78M	0.60M	2.38M	1.65M	0.82M	0.58M	0.77M	0.77M	0.52M	0.67M	1.29M	1.22M	0.89M	0.97M
2035	15.71M	2.68M	3.80M	0.61M	2.39M	1.65M	0.82M	0.58M	0.77M	0.78M	0.53M	0.67M	1.29M	1.23M	0.89M	0.97M
2036	15.76M	2.68M	3.82M	0.61M	2.40M	1.66M	0.83M	0.58M	0.78M	0.78M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.23M	0.89M	0.97M
2037	15.82M	2.68M	3.83M	0.61M	2.41M	1.66M	0.83M	0.59M	0.78M	0.78M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.24M	0.90M	0.97M
2038	15.87M	2.69M	3.85M	0.61M	2.41M	1.66M	0.83M	0.59M	0.78M	0.79M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.25M	0.90M	0.97M
2039	15.92M	2.69M	3.86M	0.61M	2.42M	1.66M	0.84M	0.59M	0.78M	0.79M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.25M	0.90M	0.97M
2040	15.97M	2.69M	3.88M	0.61M	2.43M	1.67M	0.84M	0.59M	0.78M	0.79M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.26M	0.90M	0.97M
2041	16.02M	2.69M	3.89M	0.61M	2.44M	1.67M	0.84M	0.59M	0.78M	0.79M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.27M	0.90M	0.97M
2042	16.07M	2.69M	3.90M	0.61M	2.44M	1.67M	0.85M	0.59M	0.79M	0.80M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.27M	0.90M	0.97M
2043	16.11M	2.69M	3.91M	0.61M	2.45M	1.67M	0.85M	0.59M	0.79M	0.80M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.27M	0.90M	0.97M
2044	16.16M	2.69M	3.92M	0.61M	2.46M	1.67M	0.86M	0.59M	0.79M	0.80M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.28M	0.90M	0.97M
2045	16.20M	2.69M	3.93M	0.62M	2.46M	1.67M	0.86M	0.59M	0.79M	0.80M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.28M	0.90M	0.97M
2046	16.22M	2.69M	3.94M	0.62M	2.47M	1.67M	0.86M	0.59M	0.79M	0.81M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.28M	0.90M	0.96M
2047	16.24M	2.69M	3.95M	0.62M	2.47M	1.67M	0.86M	0.60M	0.79M	0.81M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.29M	0.90M	0.96M
2048	16.26M	2.69M	3.96M	0.61M	2.48M	1.67M	0.87M	0.60M	0.79M	0.81M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.29M	0.89M	0.96M
2049	16.28M	2.68M	3.97M	0.61M	2.48M	1.67M	0.87M	0.60M	0.79M	0.81M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.29M	0.89M	0.96M
2050	16.30M	2.68M	3.98M	0.61M	2.48M	1.67M	0.87M	0.60M	0.79M	0.81M	0.53M	0.67M	1.30M	1.29M	0.89M	0.96M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Türkiye?

Istanbul is the largest city in Türkiye in the UN 2025 series, with about 15.01 million people. Ankara follows at 3.61 million. These figures use the UN Degree of Urbanization definition, not municipal boundaries.

Which city is projected to be largest in Türkiye in 2050?

The UN projects Istanbul to rank first in 2050, with about 16.30 million people. This is a projection, not an observed population count.

Was Istanbul also the largest city in 1975?

The 1975 ranking was led by Istanbul, with 5.31 million people. The table preserves every city that reached the top ten in any year shown, including cities outside the top ten today.

Where does this data come from?

UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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