Istanbul population
Population statistics, historical records, charts, annual changes and source-backed reference information for Istanbul.
About Istanbul
Istanbul is presented in WhereFacts as a city population profile. This page combines the latest approved population value with the complete annual series currently available in the database.
It is part of asia/turkey">Turkey. Population records are kept in geographic hierarchy so readers can move between the place, its parent area, related places and historical years.
Related places in the current directory include Bursa, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Sakarya, Yalova, Edirne. Where a published WhereFacts profile exists, these names are linked automatically in the article.
Istanbul had a population of 15,727,242 in 2026, according to the latest available source data. The latest annual change was +2.24%.
Population in 2026
The population of Istanbul in 2026 is 15,727,242. Compared with the previous year, the population increased by 345,091 people. Across the latest five-year period the change was +11.91%, while the ten-year change was +25.35%.
Historical population
The available annual series covers 2000–2026. Over the full period, Istanbul recorded an overall population change of +78.65%.
Population trend over the last 10 years
This view isolates the most recent decade of approved records so short-term movement can be read separately from the full historical series.
Annual population change
The charts below show the numeric population change and the annual percentage rate. Both are calculated directly from consecutive values in the same approved series.
Change in people
Annual percentage change
Population summary
| Measure | Period / year | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest year | 2026 | 15,727,242 |
| 1-year change | 2025–2026 | +2.24% |
| 5-year change | 2021–2026 | +11.91% |
| 10-year change | 2016–2026 | +25.35% |
| Series change | 2000–2026 | +78.65% |
| Highest recorded | 2026 | 15,727,242 |
| Lowest recorded | 2000 | 8,803,468 |
Population by year
The table contains every approved annual record currently available for Istanbul. Each year links to its own historical population page.
| Year | Population | Numeric change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15,727,242 | +345,091 | +2.24% |
| 2025 | 15,382,151 | +340,135 | +2.26% |
| 2024 | 15,042,016 | +335,016 | +2.28% |
| 2023 | 14,707,000 | +329,524 | +2.29% |
| 2022 | 14,377,476 | +323,510 | +2.30% |
| 2021 | 14,053,966 | +316,894 | +2.31% |
| 2020 | 13,737,072 | +309,675 | +2.31% |
| 2019 | 13,427,397 | +301,921 | +2.30% |
| 2018 | 13,125,476 | +293,765 | +2.29% |
| 2017 | 12,831,711 | +285,384 | +2.27% |
| 2016 | 12,546,327 | +276,983 | +2.26% |
| 2015 | 12,269,344 | +268,772 | +2.24% |
| 2014 | 12,000,572 | +260,951 | +2.22% |
| 2013 | 11,739,621 | +253,681 | +2.21% |
| 2012 | 11,485,940 | +247,080 | +2.20% |
| 2011 | 11,238,860 | +241,209 | +2.19% |
| 2010 | 10,997,651 | +236,067 | +2.19% |
| 2009 | 10,761,584 | +231,595 | +2.20% |
| 2008 | 10,529,989 | +227,687 | +2.21% |
| 2007 | 10,302,302 | +224,197 | +2.22% |
| 2006 | 10,078,105 | +220,955 | +2.24% |
| 2005 | 9,857,150 | +217,788 | +2.26% |
| 2004 | 9,639,362 | +214,534 | +2.28% |
| 2003 | 9,424,828 | +211,054 | +2.29% |
| 2002 | 9,213,774 | +207,247 | +2.30% |
| 2001 | 9,006,527 | +203,059 | +2.31% |
| 2000 | 8,803,468 | — | — |
Population analysis
Istanbul population in 2026
The latest population shown for Istanbul is 15,727,242. Compared with the previous year, the population increased by +2.24%.
Population change over 10 years
Across the most recent ten-year period, Istanbul recorded a upward population movement of +25.35%, based only on the annual population series.
Historical high and low
The highest value in this series is 15,727,242 in 2026. The lowest is 8,803,468 in 2000.
country population ranking
Istanbul is currently listed at #1 in the available country population ranking. Rankings are recalculated when approved source data is updated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Istanbul in 2026?
The population of Istanbul is 15,727,242 in the latest 2026 record shown on this page.
Is the population of Istanbul increasing or decreasing?
The latest annual series indicates that the population is increasing, with a year-over-year change of +2.24%.
What was the population of Istanbul 10 years ago?
Ten years before the latest record, the population was 12,546,327.
Where does Istanbul rank by population?
Istanbul is listed at #1 in the available country population ranking.
Sources and data notes
Population data source: National statistical office — license review required. Reference year: 2026. Reuse information: Pending legal approval.
WhereFacts keeps descriptive geographic facts separate from population calculations. Population charts, tables, changes and analyses on this page are derived from the same approved annual series to keep figures internally consistent.
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Found an incorrect population value, source, place name or broken link? Send it to our review queue. Reports never change published data automatically.