Economy, jobs and prices in Kars (Ağrı, Kars, Iğdır, Ardahan, Türkiye): official figures
GDP per person was 16,600 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 42% of the EU average (69% for Türkiye); 66th highest of 81 provinces in Türkiye.
How big is the economy of Kars?
The local economy produced €2.3 billion of output (GDP) in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Kars?
GDP per person in Kars province was $9,203 (302,089 lira) in 2024, 40% below the national figure of $15,325; it ranked 16th lowest of 81 provinces.
Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Kars?
Kars province had 8,137 registered enterprises in 2024 (29.9 per 1,000 residents, 14th lowest of 81 provinces), 0.17% of all firms in Turkey; 568 were in manufacturing and 48 in information and communication.
Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copyHow much does Kars export?
Firms based in Kars province exported goods worth $4.39 million in 2024 ($16 per resident, 3rd lowest of 81 provinces) and imported $1.71 million, a trade surplus of $2.68 million; that was 0.00% of Turkey’s exports.
Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copyHow many tourists visit Kars?
Hotels and other ministry-licensed accommodation in Kars province recorded 193,707 guest arrivals and 346,009 nights in 2024; 3.0% of arrivals were foreign visitors, 37th lowest of 81 provinces for arrivals.
Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Kars?
The largest part of the economy of Kars in 2024 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 34.6% of gross value added, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing (33.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Kars?
Factories, mines and energy produced 4.5% of the value added in Kars in 2024, against 22.2% for Türkiye.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Kars growing?
Gross value added rose from €1.4 billion in 2015 to €2.1 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 54% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Measured in US dollars, GDP per person in Kars province went from $5,876 in 2014 to $9,203 in 2024, a change of +57%. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- The number of enterprises registered in Kars province changed by +13% between 2014 (7,232) and 2024. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- Airports in Kars province handled 584,512 passengers in 2024. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- Electricity use in Kars province came to 1,182 kWh per person in 2023 (7th lowest of 81 provinces; national 3,390 kWh), with industry taking 15.0% of the total. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- 14,502 cars were registered in Kars province at the end of 2024, 53 per 1,000 people against 189 nationally. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
How Kars compares with other provinces in Türkiye
GDP per person (US dollars) (2024)
Kars ranks 66 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | GDP per person (US dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Şırnak | $9,326 |
| 64 | Hakkari | $9,284 |
| 65 | Yozgat | $9,233 |
| 66 | Kars | $9,203 |
| 67 | Ordu | $8,949 |
| 68 | Gümüşhane | $8,757 |
| 69 | Bingöl | $8,429 |
Registered enterprises per 1,000 residents (2024)
Kars ranks 68 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered enterprises per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Gümüşhane | 35.3 |
| 66 | Ardahan | 34.4 |
| 67 | Erzurum | 33.4 |
| 68 | Kars | 29.9 |
| 69 | Şanlıurfa | 29.5 |
| 70 | Bitlis | 29.1 |
| 71 | Iğdır | 28.6 |
Exports per resident (US dollars) (2024)
Kars ranks 79 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Exports per resident (US dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Ardahan | $56 |
| 76 | Van | $24 |
| 77 | Bitlis | $23 |
| 78 | Bingöl | $22 |
| 79 | Kars | $16 |
| 80 | Bayburt | $6 |
| 81 | Tunceli | $5 |
Home sales per 1,000 residents (2024)
Kars ranks 26 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Home sales per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Denizli | 18.2 |
| 24 | İzmir | 17.9 |
| 25 | Kilis | 17.5 |
| 26 | Kars | 17.5 |
| 27 | Yozgat | 17.2 |
| 28 | Isparta | 16.6 |
| 29 | Bursa | 16.5 |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Kars ranks 78 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Şırnak | 6.1% |
| 76 | Ağrı | 5.3% |
| 77 | Iğdır | 4.6% |
| 78 | Kars | 4.5% |
| 79 | Tunceli | 4.1% |
| 80 | Hakkari | 4.0% |
| 81 | Bayburt | 3.9% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Kars ranks 56 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Karaman | 13.5% |
| 54 | Ağrı | 13.4% |
| 55 | Düzce | 13.2% |
| 56 | Kars | 13.1% |
| 57 | Tunceli | 13.1% |
| 58 | Hatay | 12.9% |
| 59 | Çanakkale | 12.9% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Kars ranks 11 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ağrı | 37.5% |
| 9 | Iğdır | 35.9% |
| 10 | Şırnak | 35.5% |
| 11 | Kars | 34.6% |
| 12 | Muş | 32.0% |
| 13 | Gümüşhane | 31.0% |
| 14 | Erzurum | 30.6% |
More on Kars: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Ağrı, Kars, Iğdır, Ardahan · Türkiye
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- 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…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
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