10.07.2026 11:30
In Istanbul, the burial rate in urban cemeteries exceeding 90 percent and rising grave plot prices have led citizens to bury their deceased in their hometowns. As space in the city center runs out, new burials are made in areas like Kilyos, Silivri, and Çekmeköy, while the price of an empty grave plot in first-group cemeteries has surpassed 334,000 lira. Similar cemetery and cost issues are also being experienced in Ankara and Izmir.
The occupancy rate in inner-city cemeteries in Istanbul exceeding 90% makes it increasingly difficult to find space for new burials every day. Due to the lack of space in the city center, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Cemetery Department directs funerals to cemeteries on the outskirts of the city, such as Kilyos, Silivri Çanta, and Çekmeköy. This situation also brings about transportation problems for families who wish to visit graves, especially during holidays and special occasions.
CITIZENS TAKE THEIR DECEASED TO THEIR HOMETOWNS
According to a report by the newspaper Türkiye, due to the difficulties experienced, many citizens prefer to bury their deceased in their hometowns. Citizens express the reasons for their preference by saying, "Rather than being buried here in Kilyos or Silivri and remaining like a stranger, let them at least rest in peace in their ancestral lands."
The IMM's provision of free services such as mortuary washing, shrouding, coffins, and transportation of the deceased to their hometowns is also effective in increasing this preference.
PRICES IN CENTRAL CEMETERIES EXCEED 334 THOUSAND LIRAS
In addition to the difficulty of finding space in city center cemeteries, prices are also noteworthy. According to the 2026 tariff, the cost of purchasing an empty grave plot while alive in 1st Group cemeteries such as Zincirlikuyu, Karacaahmet, Aşiyan, and Ulus has risen to 334,896 liras.
Currently, Aşiyan, Edirnekapı, Eyüpsultan, Karacaahmet, Nakkaştepe, Zincirlikuyu, and Avcılar Central Cemetery are completely full.
Cemeteries in Çekmeköy, Hekimbaşı, Ayazağa, Bahçeköy, Beylikdüzü Yakuplu, Gürpınar, Büyükçekmece Yeni, Göktürk, Kemerburgaz, and Kurtköy are approaching their occupancy limits.
The main areas where burials can still be made are listed as Kilyos, Silivri Yeni, Çanta, Pendik Yeni, Tuzla Şifa, and Kısırkaya cemeteries.
"IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY CANNOT FIND A GRAVE FOR THEIR DEAD"
City Planner and Urban Strategy Specialist Ramazan Kuloğlu stated that the root of the problem lies in unplanned urbanization and high land costs.
Kuloğlu said, "The return on residential and commercial areas is so high that public lands that could be allocated as cemetery areas in city centers have been surrendered to concrete over the years. In a scenario where square meter values have risen so much, it is not surprising that cities that cannot find a house for the living cannot find a grave for the dead."
THE SITUATION IS SIMILAR IN ANKARA AND İZMİR
Similar problems are not only experienced in Istanbul. In Izmir, while 30 cemeteries in the city center are completely full, family grave fees have increased to approximately 200 thousand liras as of 2026.
In Ankara, the per-person fee requested for family graves in central cemeteries such as Karşıyaka, Gölbaşı, and Cebeci has reached up to 75 thousand liras.