Middle East
Living in Turkey
Photo: Hot-air balloons over Cappadocia · Ivankazaryan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A large country bridging Europe and Asia, with Istanbul as its biggest city, Mediterranean coast and snowy central highlands. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate6° to 26°CColdest and warmest month averages, Istanbul · 2020
Average temperature15.2°CIstanbul (whole country 11.6°C) · 2020
Price level45%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$1,885Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$45,300GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment8.5%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides3.2Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy77.4 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air26 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest29%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers89%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue17.6%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Turkish. Limited English in daily life.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Ankara.
Moving to Turkey
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: en.goc.gov.tr.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 45,288.48 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 8.52 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 3.23 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | -0.88 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 0.03 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.42 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 547.81 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 17.62 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 89.49 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 29.48 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 26.4 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.45 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 1,885.3 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 11.6 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 15.2 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 5.8 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 25.5 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 624 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Istanbul are 2001–2020 averages.
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