11.02.2026 15:50
According to TÜİK data, the number of single-person households rose to 5 million 523 thousand 321 in 2025. This figure revealed that the number of people living alone has increased by approximately 66.5% over the last 10 years. Istanbul is the province with the highest number of people living alone, while the preference for living alone has significantly increased in metropolitan areas.
The number of people living alone in Turkey continues to rise. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), by 2025, the number of single-person households has increased to 5 million 523 thousand 321. Thus, in the last 10 years (2016-2025), there has been a 66.5% increase in the number of people living alone.
As of last year, the total number of households in Turkey was determined to be 26 million 977 thousand 795. In the household structure, which consists of people living together at the same address, whether or not they are related, the share of single-person households has significantly increased.
MAJOR INCREASE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
The number of people living alone was 3 million 316 thousand 894 in 2016, and this number reached 4 million 62 thousand 576 in 2019. The increase accelerated particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the number of single-person households increased by 342 thousand 421 compared to the previous year, reaching 4 million 404 thousand 997. The highest annual increase occurred in 2021, with 376 thousand 603 people, raising the number to 4 million 781 thousand 600.
Although the growth rate slowed in the following years, the increase continued. The number of single-person households rose to 5 million 67 thousand 331 in 2022, 5 million 192 thousand 825 in 2023, and 5 million 321 thousand 540 in 2024, reaching 5 million 523 thousand 321 with an increase of 201 thousand 781 people in 2025.
CONCENTRATED IN METROPOLITAN CITIES
The data revealed that living alone is particularly concentrated in metropolitan areas. In 2025, 981 thousand 614 people living alone resided in Istanbul, 400 thousand 484 in Ankara, 375 thousand 380 in Izmir, 206 thousand 905 in Antalya, and 192 thousand 914 in Bursa. These five cities were followed by Adana, Mersin, Konya, Balıkesir, and Kocaeli.
The number of single-person households in these 10 metropolitan cities was calculated to be a total of 2 million 768 thousand 625. This figure corresponds to more than half of the people living alone in the country.
The provinces with the least number of people living alone were Bayburt with 6 thousand 128, Ardahan with 7 thousand 157, and Hakkari with 8 thousand 274.
TÜİK data shows that the household structure in Turkey has changed significantly in the last ten years and that single-person living has become increasingly common.