Education in Balıkesir (Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Türkiye): official figures
19.7% of residents aged 15 and over in Balıkesir province held a university or college degree in 2024, 14th highest of 81 provinces (national 19.6%); the share was 18.2% for women and 21.1% for men.
What is the literacy rate in Balıkesir?
17,680 residents of Balıkesir province aged 6 and over could not read or write in 2024, an illiteracy rate of 1.49% (14th lowest of 81 provinces; Turkey 2.25%); the rate was 2.30% among women and 0.66% among men.
Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copyMore figures
- The graduate share in Balıkesir province grew from 12.6% in 2014 to 19.7% in 2024, a rise of 7.0 percentage points. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- 26.5% of adults in Balıkesir province had finished high school (lise) as their highest level in 2024. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- Illiteracy in Balıkesir province fell from 2.79% in 2014 to 1.49% in 2024. Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
- 21,187 people in Balıkesir province held a master’s degree and 3,012 a doctorate in 2024, 22.7 postgraduates per 1,000 adults (37th highest of 81 provinces). Source: Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute) · saved copy
How Balıkesir compares with other provinces in Türkiye
Adults (15+) with a university degree (2024)
Balıkesir ranks 14 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Adults (15+) with a university degree |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Trabzon | 20.3% |
| 12 | Isparta | 20.0% |
| 13 | Bursa | 19.9% |
| 14 | Balıkesir | 19.7% |
| 15 | Erzincan | 19.4% |
| 16 | Karabük | 19.3% |
| 17 | Mersin | 19.2% |
Illiteracy rate, age 6 and over (2024)
Balıkesir ranks 68 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Illiteracy rate, age 6 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Uşak | 1.55% |
| 66 | Kocaeli | 1.53% |
| 67 | İstanbul | 1.52% |
| 68 | Balıkesir | 1.49% |
| 69 | Kütahya | 1.46% |
| 70 | Yalova | 1.45% |
| 71 | Ankara | 1.43% |
Master’s and doctorate holders per 1,000 adults (2024)
Balıkesir ranks 37 of 81, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Master’s and doctorate holders per 1,000 adults |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Denizli | 23.0 |
| 35 | Kütahya | 22.9 |
| 36 | Kırıkkale | 22.9 |
| 37 | Balıkesir | 22.7 |
| 38 | Mersin | 22.7 |
| 39 | Kilis | 22.5 |
| 40 | Nevşehir | 22.4 |
More on Balıkesir: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Balıkesir, Çanakkale · 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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