Turkey’s population reached 86.32 million by July 1, 2026, after increasing by more than 228,000 people during the first six months of the year. The latest official figures show continued population growth while also highlighting the changing age structure of the country’s 86 million residents.
Turkey Adds More Than 228,000 People in Six Months
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the population increased by 228,434 during the first half of 2026. Turkey had a population of 86.09 million at the end of 2025, taking the total to 86.32 million by the beginning of July.
Growth also accelerated during the most recent reporting period. Between May 1 and July 1 alone, Turkey added 123,904 people, accounting for more than half of the total population increase recorded during the first six months of the year.
The gender distribution remains almost perfectly balanced. Turkey had 43.17 million male residents, representing 50.01% of the population, while its 43.15 million female residents accounted for the remaining 49.99%.
Young Adults Remain Turkey’s Largest Age Group
People aged between 25 and 29 represented the country’s largest five-year age group, with 6.66 million residents. The figures demonstrate the continued importance of younger adults within Turkey’s demographic profile and its working-age population.
The second-largest group was children aged between 10 and 14, numbering 6.56 million. Those aged 15 to 19 followed closely behind, with around 6.4 million people falling within the five-year age category.
These younger demographic groups represent a substantial part of Turkey’s population, creating long-term demand for education, employment, housing, and other services as younger generations progress through different stages of their lives.
Over-65 Population Approaches 10 Million
Turkey is also experiencing a gradual expansion of its older population. 9.79 million people were aged 65 or above as of July 1, equivalent to around 11.3% of the country's total population.
The growing number of older residents is an increasingly important part of Turkey's demographic outlook, particularly for future planning surrounding healthcare, housing, social services, and the country's working-age population.
Nezir Can 
Operations Manager
Nezir 'Nez' Can is Operations Manager at Property Turkey and a contributor on Turkish culture, lifestyle, and everyday life across the country. Since joining the company, he has helped international readers better understand what it is like to live, work, and settle in Turkey.
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