Poverty and living standards in İstanbul, Türkiye: official figures
9.9% of people in the İstanbul region (TR10) were in relative poverty in TÜİK's 2025 survey, measured against a regional poverty line of half the regional median income (157,195 lira a year), 11th lowest of 26 regions.
How many poor people live in the İstanbul region?
About 1.53 million people in the İstanbul region lived below the regional poverty line in the 2025 survey.
Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copyHow unequal is income in the İstanbul region?
The richest 20% of people in the İstanbul region received 47.3% of all income in the 2025 survey and the poorest 20% received 6.9%, so the top fifth had 6.8 times the income of the bottom fifth (national ratio 7.5).
Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copyHow expensive is rent in the İstanbul region?
Housing costs (rent, water, electricity and fuel) in the İstanbul region stood at 147.3 on TÜİK's 2024 regional price index (Türkiye = 100), the most expensive of 26 regions.
Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copyMore figures
- With the wider line of 60% of regional median income (188,634 lira), the poverty rate in the İstanbul region was 17.9% in 2025, 12th lowest of 26 regions. Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copy
- The relative poverty rate in the İstanbul region fell from 10.0% in 2024 to 9.9% in 2025 (50% line). Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copy
- In the 2014 survey the poverty rate in the İstanbul region was 10.5% at the 50% line, compared with 9.9% in 2025. Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copy
- On the S80/S20 income ratio, the İstanbul region was 9th most unequal of 26 regions in the 2025 survey. Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) · saved copy
How İstanbul compares with other statistical regions
Relative poverty rate, 50% of the regional median income (%) (2025)
İstanbul ranks 16 of 26, highest first. Poverty line set separately for each region
| Rank | Region | Relative poverty rate, 50% of the regional median income (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Konya, Karaman | 10.2% |
| 14 | Bursa, Eskişehir, Bilecik | 10.2% |
| 15 | Aydın, Denizli, Muğla | 10.1% |
| 16 | İstanbul | 9.9% |
| 17 | Samsun, Tokat, Çorum, Amasya | 9.1% |
| 18 | Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt | 8.6% |
| 19 | Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane | 7.8% |
Relative poverty rate, 60% of the regional median income (%) (2025)
İstanbul ranks 15 of 26, highest first. Poverty line set separately for each region
| Rank | Region | Relative poverty rate, 60% of the regional median income (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | İzmir | 18.2% |
| 13 | Bursa, Eskişehir, Bilecik | 18.1% |
| 14 | Manisa, Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya, Uşak | 18.1% |
| 15 | İstanbul | 17.9% |
| 16 | Adana, Mersin | 17.6% |
| 17 | Samsun, Tokat, Çorum, Amasya | 17.1% |
| 18 | Zonguldak, Karabük, Bartın | 15.9% |
Share of total income received by the richest 20% (%) (2025)
İstanbul ranks 10 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of total income received by the richest 20% (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis | 48.4% |
| 8 | Balıkesir, Çanakkale | 47.5% |
| 9 | Aydın, Denizli, Muğla | 47.4% |
| 10 | İstanbul | 47.3% |
| 11 | Erzurum, Erzincan, Bayburt | 46.4% |
| 12 | Adana, Mersin | 46.3% |
| 13 | Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt | 45.1% |
Income quintile share ratio S80/S20 (richest 20% vs poorest 20%) (2025)
İstanbul ranks 9 of 26, highest first. Computed from quintile shares
| Rank | Region | Income quintile share ratio S80/S20 (richest 20% vs poorest 20%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Samsun, Tokat, Çorum, Amasya | 7.27 |
| 7 | Balıkesir, Çanakkale | 7.14 |
| 8 | Erzurum, Erzincan, Bayburt | 7.00 |
| 9 | İstanbul | 6.83 |
| 10 | Adana, Mersin | 6.69 |
| 11 | Tekirdağ, Edirne, Kırklareli | 6.60 |
| 12 | Aydın, Denizli, Muğla | 6.57 |
Price level of rent, water, electricity and fuels (Türkiye = 100) (2024)
İstanbul ranks 1 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Price level of rent, water, electricity and fuels (Türkiye = 100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | İstanbul | 147.3 |
| 2 | İzmir | 143.9 |
| 3 | Aydın, Denizli, Muğla | 122.7 |
| 4 | Ankara | 121.6 |
| 5 | Balıkesir, Çanakkale | 120.9 |
| 6 | Antalya, Isparta, Burdur | 112.2 |
| 7 | Adana, Mersin | 111.9 |
More on İstanbul: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Türkiye
Sources
- Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK): Income Distribution Statistics 2025: distribution of annual equivalised household disposable income by quintile, Türkiye and NUTS2 regions, 2014-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b49635410b76…)
- Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK): Regional Purchasing Power Parity 2024: regional price level indices by main consumption expenditure group, 26 NUTS2 regions (Türkiye = 100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 61c00aeab8aa…)
- Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK): Poverty and Living Conditions Statistics 2025: relative poor and poverty rate by poverty line calculated separately for each NUTS2 region, 2014-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 433099c43599…)
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