FOREIGNERS IN ANKARA: 2026 Demographics, Real Estate & Lifestyle Guide

Let’s take a look at the latest official statistics published by the Directorate General of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi).

As of June 11, 2026, there are exactly 1,241,149 foreigners living in Turkey with official residence permits. When we look at the distribution across the country, here are the most crowded cities for expats:

• Istanbul: 592,991

• Antalya: 145,387

• Ankara: 77,599 (Ankara ranks as the 3rd most popular city for foreigners in Turkey!)

• Bursa: 48,977

• Mersin: 33,965

• Izmir: 33,112

• Muğla: 27,636

Who Lives in Ankara? (2025-2026 Data) Today, people from more than 135 different nationalities live together peacefully in Ankara. Out of the total foreign population here, we know that around 15,000 are students studying in our top-ranked universities.

Here is the sorted list of the largest foreign groups currently living in Ankara:

• Iraq: 50,773

• Afghanistan: 8,850

• Azerbaijan: 7,139

• Iran: 6,375

• Germany: 5,220

• Turkmenistan: 4,608 

• Uzbekistan: 3,456

• Kyrgyzstan: 3,025

• Somalia: 2,040

• Russia: 1,946

• Ukraine: 1,737

• Kazakhstan: 1,687

• Austria: 1,482

• Pakistan: 1,420

• Libya: 1,318

• Morocco: 1,264

• Palestine: 1,243

• Sudan: 1,236

• Egypt: 1,214

• Indonesia: 1,157

• Georgia: 1,113

• Syria: 1,052 

• Philippines: 1,034

• China: 972

• USA: 967

• India: 817

The Real Estate Market: A Balanced Era

If you are planning to rent or buy a property in Ankara, we have great news for you.

After a slight drop in the foreign population during 2025, the numbers have stabilized again as of March 2026. This population shift had a very positive impact on the real estate market. According to property experts, the speculative "price bubbles" and extreme rental pressures we saw in recent years have finally disappeared.

We are now entering a much healthier and balanced period. Both rental and sale prices are stable, making it a safe and predictable time to invest or settle down in the capital.

Why Choose Ankara? The Perfect Lifestyle

Ankara is not just the political capital; it is the capital of peaceful living. Compared to the heavy traffic and chaos of Istanbul, or the seasonal crowds of Antalya, Ankara offers a highly organized, secure, and family-friendly environment.

With its wide roads, massive green parks, low crime rates, and world-class hospitals, it provides a high quality of life. Furthermore, Ankara is Turkey's education hub. Whether you are looking for high-quality international high schools for your children or top-tier universities for higher education, Ankara offers the best academic environment in the country. It is a city where you can safely walk the streets, enjoy a stable economy, and build a peaceful future.