Over 466,000 people immigrated to Turkey in 2017: TÜİK

ANKARA

At least 466,333 people immigrated to Turkey in 2017, a 22.4 percent rise compared to the previous year, Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data showed on Sept. 5.

While 52.3 percent of the population were men, 47.7 percent were women, TÜİK said.

Some 12.3 percent of the immigrant population belonged to the 25-29 age group, the official data said, following the 20-24 age group with 11.6 percent and 30-34 age group with 10.8 percent, respectively.

When analyzed by provinces, Istanbul topped the list for the highest immigration population in 2017, with 166,044 people, TÜİK said. Istanbul was followed by Ankara with 46,475 people, the Mediterranean province of Antalya with 21,888, and the Aegean province of İzmir with 12,031.

26.6 percent of foreign immigrants Iraqi citizens

The vast majority of the immigrants who came to Turkey in 2017 were Iraqis, topping the list with 26.6 percent. The group was followed by Afghans with 10.4 percent, Syrians with 7.7 percent, Azerbaijani citizens with 5.7 percent and Turkmens with 5.6 percent, respectively.

As for the number of people who emigrated from Turkey in 2017, the figure was recorded as 253,640, the official data said, having increased significantly by 42.5 percent compared to the previous year. Some 54 percent were men and 46 percent were women.

When analyzed by age, people aged between 25-29 topped the list with 15.5 percent, followed by the 20-24 age group with 14.4 percent and 30-34 age group with 12.3 percent, respectively.

Istanbul saw the highest number of people leaving, as 75,849 people left the country’s largest city. Istanbul was followed by Ankara with 27,379 people, Antalya with 15,056 people and the Marmara province of Bursa with 13,946 people.

Iraqi citizens once again took the first place in the foreign emigrant population with 20.4 percent. They were followed by Azerbaijani citizens with 7.5 percent, Syrians with 6.7 percent, Afghans with 4.6 percent and Chinese citizens with 4.5 percent, respectively.