Quick facts
Istanbul overview
Istanbul (orange) and the other large cities of Turkey
Istanbul lies in Turkey at 41.01°N, 28.95°E, about 39 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Istanbul (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Turkey: the next largest cities are Ankara (3,517,182), Bursa (3,101,833), İzmir (2,938,292). Together, the three largest cities hold 25.4% of the national population.
The national capital, Ankara, is about 352 km away; the nearest large city is Gebze, 47 km from Istanbul.
Turkey as a whole has a live population of 88,006,552 (+0.3% a year) and ranks #18 of 238 countries — see the Turkey population page for the full statistics and the Turkey atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Istanbul
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Gebze Kocaeli | 47 km | 281,436 |
| Derince Kocaeli | 78 km | 125,485 |
| İzmit Kocaeli | 87 km | 196,571 |
| Bursa Bursa Province | 91 km | 3,101,833 |
| Çorlu Tekirdağ | 98 km | 202,578 |
| Bandırma Balıkesir | 110 km | 107,631 |
| Tekirdağ Tekirdağ | 121 km | 122,287 |
| Adapazarı Sakarya | 125 km | 286,787 |
Largest cities in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Istanbul?
Istanbul has about 15,701,602 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Istanbul the capital of Turkey?
No. The capital of Turkey is Ankara (3,517,182 people), about 352 km away. Istanbul is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Istanbul compared with the rest of Turkey?
Its 15,701,602 residents are 17.8% of the 88,006,552 people living in Turkey today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Istanbul?
In Turkey, at latitude 41.01 and longitude 28.95, 39 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Gebze (47 km), Derince (78 km), İzmit (87 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Istanbul Population 2026 — Turkey. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/turkey/istanbul/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/turkey/istanbul/">Istanbul Population 2026 — Turkey</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.