27.06.2026 13:43
According to 2025 data published by TÜİK, Sinop had the highest crude death rate, which expresses the number of deaths per thousand people in Turkey, at 10.8 per thousand, while Şırnak, with a high young population rate, recorded the lowest death rate at 2.3 per thousand. In deaths due to heart diseases, Çanakkale ranked first with 47.7 percent, while in cancer-related deaths, Ağrı topped the list with 22.4 percent.
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) published the highly anticipated 2025 "Death and Cause of Death Statistics." According to the data, while the number of deaths in Turkey increased, the leading cause of death was again cardiovascular diseases. Sinop maintained its top position in the crude death rate, while a promising decline was observed in the infant mortality rate.
NUMBER OF DEATHS EXCEEDS 491 THOUSAND ANNUALLY: MALE POPULATION TAKES THE LEAD
According to TurkStat data, the number of deaths in Turkey, which was 489,734 in 2024, rose slightly to 491,684 in 2025. In the gender distribution of deaths, the proportion of males stood out:
- Male deaths: 55.1%
- Female deaths: 44.9%
The crude death rate, which indicates the number of deaths per thousand people, remained unchanged from the previous year at 5.7 per thousand.
SINOP LEADS IN CRUDE DEATH RATE
In line with Turkey's population structure and aging rates, the province with the highest crude death rate was Sinop at 10.8 per thousand. This was followed by Kastamonu at 10.2 per thousand, Giresun at 9.6 per thousand, and Balıkesir at 9.5 per thousand. In contrast, the lowest crude death rate was recorded in Şırnak at 2.3 per thousand, followed by Hakkari at 2.5 per thousand, Van at 3.1 per thousand, and Batman and Şanlıurfa at 3.2 per thousand each.
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
When the causes of death in 2025 were examined, diseases of the circulatory system topped the list by a wide margin.
- 34.7% - Diseases of the Circulatory System (Heart and vascular diseases)
Among these deaths, 42.3% were due to ischemic heart disease, 24.6% to other heart diseases, and 18.2% to stroke (cerebrovascular).
- 16.1% - Benign and Malignant Tumors (Cancer)
- 15.1% - Diseases of the Respiratory System
ÇANAKKALE LEADS IN HEART ATTACKS, AĞRI IN CANCER
- The province with the highest rate of deaths from circulatory system (heart) diseases was Çanakkale at 47.7%. It was followed by Balıkesir (42.8%) and Hatay (42.2%). The lowest rate was in Kilis at 25.4%. (Istanbul ranked lower with 28.9%.)
- In deaths from tumors (cancer), Ağrı ranked first at 22.4%, followed by Van (19.8%) and Kocaeli (19.5%). The lowest rate of cancer deaths was again in Kilis at 9.7%.
BIGGEST ENEMY IN CANCER: LUNG AND TRACHEA TUMORS
When the underlying causes of death from cancer (tumors) were examined, respiratory cancers directly linked to tobacco use and air pollution ranked first:
- 28.9%: Malignant tumors of the larynx, trachea, bronchus, and lung
- 8.0%: Colon (intestinal) cancer
- 7.6%: Lymphoid and hematopoietic (blood) cancers
A PROMISING DECLINE IN INFANT MORTALITY RATE
The most positive development in the 2025 data was seen in infant and child mortality rates. Reflecting improvements in healthcare services, the figures showed a downward trend:
- Number of infant deaths: Decreased from 8,484 in 2024 to 6,988 in 2025.
- Infant mortality rate: Declined from 9.0 per thousand live births to 7.8 per thousand.
- Under-five mortality rate: This rate, indicating the probability of dying within the first five years after birth, fell from 11.1 per thousand to 9.5 per thousand.