Turkey - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Turkey was 64,186,250 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 64,186,250 in 2020 and a minimum value of 8,657,908 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 8,657,908
1961 9,025,025
1962 9,398,926
1963 9,785,807
1964 10,186,270
1965 10,601,130
1966 11,084,950
1967 11,613,810
1968 12,164,220
1969 12,737,060
1970 13,334,600
1971 13,911,390
1972 14,488,560
1973 15,085,610
1974 15,701,120
1975 16,333,840
1976 16,914,580
1977 17,474,310
1978 18,048,180
1979 18,640,070
1980 19,252,680
1981 20,329,810
1982 21,630,560
1983 22,977,500
1984 24,362,120
1985 25,769,760
1986 27,034,330
1987 28,238,880
1988 29,455,660
1989 30,682,120
1990 31,923,300
1991 32,891,200
1992 33,738,150
1993 34,589,980
1994 35,453,800
1995 36,333,540
1996 37,230,460
1997 38,142,790
1998 39,068,840
1999 40,002,830
2000 40,942,340
2001 41,943,210
2002 42,979,000
2003 44,016,860
2004 45,048,100
2005 46,065,710
2006 47,064,040
2007 48,048,360
2008 49,047,270
2009 50,096,870
2010 51,225,590
2011 52,439,950
2012 53,729,340
2013 55,069,490
2014 56,436,830
2015 57,806,290
2016 59,179,590
2017 60,548,560
2018 61,872,820
2019 63,097,810
2020 64,186,250

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization