‘Tunceli First’: These Are Turkey’s Least Densely Populated Provinces

Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) showed that Tunceli topped the list of Turkey’s least densely populated provinces, while Istanbul ranked first among the most densely populated.

According to the data, Turkey’s average population density stood at 112 people per square kilometer, while Tunceli recorded just 11 people per square kilometer, significantly below the national average.

Tunceli ranked first among the provinces with the lowest population density, at 11 people per square kilometer, followed by Ardahan in second place, while Erzincan and Gümüşhane ranked third and fourth, respectively.

On the other hand, Istanbul maintained its position as Turkey’s most densely populated province, with a population density of 2,943 people per square kilometer.

Kocaeli ranked second, with 633 people per square kilometer, followed by Yalova, with around 395 people per square kilometer.

The significant gap between Istanbul and Tunceli highlights the stark differences in population distribution across Turkish provinces, particularly as a large share of the population is concentrated in major cities and industrial areas.