Education in Mersin, Türkiye: official figures
19.2% of residents aged 15 and over across the province that contains the city of Mersin held a university or college degree in 2024, 11th highest of 33 big-city provinces (national 19.6%); the share was 18.6% for women and 19.8% for men.
What is the literacy rate in Mersin?
30,839 residents of the province of Mersin aged 6 and over could not read or write in 2024, an illiteracy rate of 1.76% (16th lowest of 33 big-city provinces; Turkey 2.25%); the rate was 2.77% among women and 0.73% among men.
Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copyMore figures
- The graduate share across the province that contains the city of Mersin grew from 12.6% in 2014 to 19.2% in 2024, a rise of 6.6 percentage points. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- 27.2% of adults across the province that contains the city of Mersin had finished high school (lise) as their highest level in 2024. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- Illiteracy across the province that contains the city of Mersin fell from 2.66% in 2014 to 1.76% in 2024. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- 30,132 people across the province that contains the city of Mersin held a master’s degree and 3,764 a doctorate in 2024, 22.7 postgraduates per 1,000 adults (12th lowest of 33 big-city provinces). Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
How Mersin compares with other cities in Türkiye
Adults (15+) with a university degree (whole province) (2024)
Mersin ranks 11 of 33, highest first. Province-wide figures for the 33 cities with pages.
| Rank | City | Adults (15+) with a university degree (whole province) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Trabzon | 20.3% |
| 9 | Bursa | 19.9% |
| 10 | Balıkesir | 19.7% |
| 11 | Mersin | 19.2% |
| 12 | Kayseri | 19.1% |
| 13 | Aydın | 18.8% |
| 14 | Samsun | 18.7% |
Illiteracy rate, age 6 and over (whole province) (2024)
Mersin ranks 18 of 33, highest first. Province-wide figures for the 33 cities with pages.
| Rank | City | Illiteracy rate, age 6 and over (whole province) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Kayseri | 1.91% |
| 16 | Samsun | 1.86% |
| 17 | Sakarya | 1.82% |
| 18 | Mersin | 1.76% |
| 19 | Bursa | 1.73% |
| 20 | Hatay | 1.71% |
| 21 | Konya | 1.68% |
Master’s and doctorate holders per 1,000 adults (whole province) (2024)
Mersin ranks 22 of 33, highest first. Province-wide figures for the 33 cities with pages.
| Rank | City | Master’s and doctorate holders per 1,000 adults (whole province) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Bursa | 23.3 |
| 20 | Denizli | 23.0 |
| 21 | Balıkesir | 22.7 |
| 22 | Mersin | 22.7 |
| 23 | Diyarbakir | 20.6 |
| 24 | Batman | 20.6 |
| 25 | Gaziantep | 20.4 |
More on Mersin: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · all cities in Türkiye
Sources
- Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute): Bölgesel İstatistikler (Regional Statistics database): 114 indicators for the 81 provinces, 2014-2024 (CSV export), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 54a60ac62f7a…)
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