21.05.2026 12:21
According to TÜİK's 2025 Birth Statistics, the total fertility rate in Turkey fell to 1.42 children, remaining below the population replacement level. The highest fertility was observed in Şanlıurfa, while the rate remained below 2.10 in 76 provinces.
New data has been released regarding the decline in the population growth rate, which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan frequently describes as an "existential threat." The 2025 Birth Statistics published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) reveal that the decline in the fertility rate continues.
895 THOUSAND BABIES BORN IN 2025
According to TurkStat data, the number of live-born babies in 2025 was 895,374.
Of the babies born:
- 51.4% were male
- 48.6% were female, as recorded.
FERTILITY RATE DECLINES TO 1.42
The total fertility rate, which expresses the average number of children a woman could have during her reproductive period, was 1.42 children in 2025.
In Turkey, the total fertility rate:
- Was at 2.38 children in 2001.
- Has been in a continuous downward trend since 2014.
Thus, the fertility rate has remained below the replacement level of 2.10 for the last nine years.
HIGHEST FERTILITY IN ŞANLIURFA
The province with the highest total fertility rate in 2025:
- Was Şanlıurfa with 3.15 children.
Şanlıurfa was followed by:
- Şırnak with 2.53 children
- Mardin with 2.23 children.
The province with the lowest fertility rate was:
- Bartın with 1.09 children.
After Bartın:
- İzmir (1.10)
- Eskişehir (1.11)
- Ankara (1.11)
- Zonguldak (1.11) followed.
FERTILITY BELOW REPLACEMENT LEVEL IN 76 PROVINCES
According to the data, the total fertility rate in 76 provinces of Turkey remained below the 2.10 level in 2025. While only 4 provinces had a fertility rate below 1.50 in 2017, this number increased to 59 in 2025. Additionally, while there were 10 provinces with a fertility rate of 3 children or more in 2017, only Şanlıurfa remained at this level in 2025.
TURKEY ABOVE EU AVERAGE BUT DECLINING
In comparison with European Union countries, Turkey's fertility rate was found to be above the EU average.
Among EU countries:
- The highest fertility rate was recorded in Bulgaria with 1.72 children
- The lowest rate was recorded in Malta with 1.01 children.
Turkey ranked 11th among EU countries with a rate of 1.42 children.
FERTILITY DECREASES AS EDUCATION LEVEL RISES
In the analysis by mother's education level:
- The fertility rate for mothers with primary school education was 2.51 children
- For mothers with higher education, it was determined as 1.24 children.
HIGHER FERTILITY IN RURAL AREAS
In the assessment by urban-rural classification, the fertility rate was found to be higher in rural areas.
In 2025:
- The fertility rate in rural areas was calculated as 1.75 children
- In medium-density urban areas, 1.53 children
- In high-density urban areas, it was 1.33 children.