In 1955, the infant mortality rate in Turkey was 217 deaths per thousand live births; this means that for every child born in Turkey between 1950 and 1955, over one fifth of these would not survive past their first birthday. Since these records began, the rate of infant mortality in Turkey has fallen continuously during each five year period, with the largest rate of decline occurring in the 1980s. This increased rate can largely be attributed to campaigns of mass immunization and vaccination programs launched by the Turkish government. Infant mortality has continued to decline well into the 21st century, and in 2020, it is estimated that over 99 percent of all babies born in Turkey survive past their first birthday.

Historical dataset showing Turkey infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In 2023, the infant mortality rate in deaths per 1,000 live births in Turkey amounted to 9.1. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 170, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Actual value and historical data chart for Turkey Mortality Rate Infant Per 1 000 Live Births

Turkey TR: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 10.000 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.800 Ratio for 2016. Turkey TR: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 59.750 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 172.600 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 10.000 Ratio in 2017. Turkey TR: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Turkey – Table TR.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Turkey Infant Mortality Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2023-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in Turkey was reported at 9.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Turkey - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Turkey TR: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 13.400 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.400 Ratio for 2015. Turkey TR: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 20.300 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.900 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 13.400 Ratio in 2016. Turkey TR: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Turkey – Table TR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Turkey TURKSTAT Forecast: VS: Infant Mortality Rate: per Mille data was reported at 8.650 ‰ in 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.886 ‰ for 2024. Turkey TURKSTAT Forecast: VS: Infant Mortality Rate: per Mille data is updated yearly, averaging 15.400 ‰ from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2025, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.500 ‰ in 1990 and a record low of 8.650 ‰ in 2025. Turkey TURKSTAT Forecast: VS: Infant Mortality Rate: per Mille data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Turkish Statistical Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Turkey – Table TR.G004: Vital Statistics: Forecast: Turkish Statistical Institute.

Abstract

The 2003 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS-2003) is a nationally representative sample survey designed to provide information on levels and trends on fertility, infant and child mortality, family planning and maternal and child health. Survey results are presented at the national level, by urban and rural residence, and for each of the five regions in the country. The TDHS2003 sample also allows analyses for some of the survey topics for the 12 geographical regions (NUTS1) which were adopted at the second half of 2002 within the context of Turkey's move to join the European Union.

Funding for the TDHS-2003 was provided initially by the Government of Turkey, as a project in the annual investment program of the State Planning Organization, and further funding was obtained from the European Union through the Turkey Reproductive Health Program implemented by the Ministry of Health.

The survey was fielded between December 2003 and May 2004. Interviews were completed with 10,836 households and with 8,075 ever-married women at reproductive ages (15-49). Ever-married women at ages 15-49 who were present in the household on the night before the interview or who usually live in that household were eligible for the survey.

The 2003 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS-2003) is the latest in a series of national-level population and health surveys that have been conducted by the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies (HUIPS), in the last four decades. The primary objective of the TDHS-2003 is to provide data on socioeconomic characteristics of households and women, fertility, mortality, marriage patterns, family planning, maternal and child health, nutritional status of women and children, and reproductive health. The survey obtained detailed information on these issues from a sample of ever-married women in the reproductive ages (15-49). The TDHS-2003 was designed to produce information in the field of demography and health that to a large extent can not be obtained from other sources.

Specifically, the objectives of the TDHS-2003 included: - Collecting data at the national level that allows the calculation of demographic rates, particularly fertility and childhood mortality rates; - Obtaining information on direct and indirect factors that determine levels and trends in fertility and childhood mortality; - Measuring the level of contraceptive knowledge and practice by method, region, and urban-rural residence; - Collecting data relative to mother and child health, including immunizations, prevalence and treatment of acute respiratory tract infections among children under five, antenatal care, assistance at delivery, and breastfeeding; - Measuring the nutritional status of children under five and of their mothers; and - Collecting data at the national level on elderly welfare, knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and AIDS, and usage of iodide salt.

The TDHS-2003 information is intended to contribute data to assist policy makers and administrators to evaluate existing programs and to design new strategies for improving demographic, social and health policies in Turkey. Another important purpose of the TDHS2003 is to sustain the flow of information for the interested organizations in Turkey and abroad on the Turkish population structure in the absence of reliable and sufficient vital registration system.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The results show that there have been important changes in various demographic and health indicators in a more positive direction than expected. The fertility data indicate that Turkey is achieving “replacement” fertility. The survey findings also document improvements in infant and child mortality and progress in mother and child health services.

Geographic coverage

The sample was designed to provide estimates for: - Turkey as a whole; - Urban and rural areas (each as a separate domain); - Each of the conventional major five regions of the country, namely the West, South, Central, North, and East regions - The 12 NUTS 13 regions, for selected indicators which are based on sufficient number of observations

Analysis unit

• Household
• Women age 15-49
• Children under five

Universe

The population covered by the 1998 DHS is defined as the universe of all ever-married women age 15-49 in the household who were identified as eligible in the household schedule were interviewed. In addition, some information was collected for households and women in a sub-sample of one-half of all households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data

Sampling procedure

A weighted, multistage, stratified cluster sampling approach was used in the selection of the TDHS-2003 sample. The sample was designed in this fashion because of the need to provide estimates for a variety of characteristics for various domains. These domains, which are frequently employed in the tabulation of major indicators from the survey, are: - Turkey as a whole; - Urban and rural areas (each as a separate domain); - Each of the conventional major five regions of the country, namely the West, South, Central, North, and East regions - The 12 NUTS 13 regions, for selected indicators which are based on sufficient number of observations

The major objective of the TDHS-2003 sample design was to ensure that the survey would provide estimates with acceptable precision for these domains for most of the important demographic characteristics, such as fertility, infant and child mortality, and contraceptive prevalence, as well as for the health indicators.

SAMPLE FRAME

Different criteria have been used to describe "urban" and "rural" settlements in Turkey. In the demographic surveys of the 1970s, a population size of 2,000 was used to differentiate between urban and rural settlements. In the 1980s, the cut-off point was increased to 10,000 and, in some surveys in the 1990s, to 20,000. A number of surveys used information on the administrative status of settlements in combination with population size for the purpose of differentiation. The urban frame of the TDHS-2003 consisted of a list of provincial centers, district centers, and other settlements with populations larger than 10,000, regardless of administrative status. The rural frame consisted of all district centers, sub-districts and villages not included in the urban frame. The urban-rural definitions of the TDHS-2003 are identical with those in the TDHS-1998.

Initial information on all settlements in Turkey was obtained from the 2000 General Population Census. The results of 2000 General Population Census provided a computerized list of all settlements (provincial and district centers, sub-districts and villages), their populations and the numbers of households.

STRATIFICATION

Currently Turkey is divided administratively into 81 provinces. For purposes of selection in prior surveys in Turkey, these provinces have been grouped into five regions. This regional breakdown has been popularized as a powerful variable for understanding the demographic, social, cultural, and economic differences between different parts of the country. The five regions, West, South, Central, North, and East regions, include varying numbers of provinces.

In addition to the conventional five geographic regions, a new system of regional breakdown was adopted in late 2002. In accordance with the accession process of Turkey to the European Union, the State Planning Office and the State Institute of Statistics constructed three levels of NUTS regions, which have since become official (Law No. 2002/4720). "NUTS" stands for "The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics". NUTS is a statistical region classification that is used by member countries of European Union (EU). The 81 provinces were designated as regions of NUTS 3 level; these were further aggregated into 26 regions to form the NUTS 2 regions. NUTS 1 regions were formed by aggregating NUTS 2 regions into 12 regions. Two of the NUTS 1 regions, Istanbul and the Southeastern Anatolia, were given special attention in the sample design process and a comparatively larger share of the total sample was allocated to these regions to ensure that statistically sound estimates for a larger number of indicators would be obtained than would be the case for the remaining 10 NUTS 1 regions. Policymakers, researchers and other concerned circles had voiced interest in information on demographic and health indicators for Istanbul and the Southeastern Anatolian regions in the past. Furthermore, as an add-on study, the Istanbul metropolitan area was designated by UN-Habitat as one of the mega-cities in their International Slum Survey series. In co-operation with UN-Habitat, HUIPS wished to be able to produce estimates for slum4 and non-slum areas within Istanbul; for this reason, the total sample size for Istanbul was kept at a relatively high magnitude.

One of the priorities of the TDHS-2003 was to produce a sample design that was methodologically and conceptually consistent with the designs of previous demographic surveys carried out by the Hacettepe Institute of Population Studies. In surveys prior to the TDHS-1993, the five-region breakdown of the country was used for stratification. In TDHS-1993, a more detailed stratification taking into account subregions was employed to obtain a better dispersion of the sample. The criteria for subdividing the five major regions into subregions were the infant mortality rates of each province, estimated from the 1990 Population Census using indirect techniques.5 Using the infant mortality estimates as well as geographic proximity, the provinces in each region were grouped into 14 subregions at the time of the TDHS-1993. The sub-regional division

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in Turkey stood at ****. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by *****, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

This paper is an attempt to review and integrate international and Turkish research on infant and child mortality. Recent research and multivariate analyses in African, Latin American and Asian countries have revealed that in many countries mother's education is a powerful predictor of child survival. The present review of research in Turkey has indicated that urban/rural and regional differentials in infant mortality have been clearly established as by-products of fertility, contraception, and health surveys covering nationally representative samples. However, there are only a few multivariate explanatory models of infant/child mortality in Turkey to isolate and measure the effects of mother's education in relation to other variables. Nevertheless, existing studies in Turkey seem to suggest that mother's and father's education might link socio-economic, psychocultural, and biomedical variables with each other at community, household, and individual levels, providing clues for the formulation of future research designs and policy decisions.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for Turkey (SPDYNCBRTINTUR) from 1960 to 2023 about birth, Turkey, crude, and rate.

In 1900, the crude birth rate of Turkey was approximately 48 births for every 1,000 people, meaning that just under 4.8% of the population was born in that year. This figure would closely follow the trends in fertility rate in Turkey, gradually falling for much of the first half of the 20th century. As women began having more children in the rapidly developing post-war economy of the 1950s. The crude birth rate also rose during this time, peaking at 49.3 children per thousand people in 1955. However, as Turkey would begin to modernize, the crude birth rate fell, as increased access to education and access to contraception among women would lead to a decline in the number of children the average woman would have. This decline has continued into the 21st century, and in 2020, it is estimated that just over 16 children were born for every thousand people in Turkey, accounting for 1.6% of the population.

Turkey: The number of crude births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from 2023 is 11.2 births per 1000 people, a decline from 12.2 births per 1000 people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 17.86 births per 1000 people, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1960 to 2023 is 27.4 births per 1000 people. The minimum value, 11.2 births per 1000 people, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 45.19 births per 1000 people was recorded in 1961.

Turkey TR: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data was reported at 60.374 % in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 66.756 % for 2008. Turkey TR: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data is updated yearly, averaging 66.756 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.286 % in 2006 and a record low of 60.374 % in 2010. Turkey TR: Completeness of Infant Death Reporting data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Turkey – Table TR.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Completeness of infant death reporting is the number of infant deaths reported by national statistics authorities to the United Nations Statistics Division's Demography Yearbook divided by the number of infant deaths estimated by the United Nations Population Division.; ; The United Nations Statistics Division's Population and Vital Statistics Report and the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects.; ;

The 1993 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) is a nationally representative survey of ever-married women less than 50 years old. The survey was designed to provide information on fertility levels and trends, infant and child mortality, family planning, and maternal and child health. The TDHS was conducted by the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies under a subcontract through an agreement between the General Directorate of Mother and Child Health and Family Planning, Ministry of Health and Macro International Inc. of Calverton, Maryland. Fieldwork was conducted from August to October 1993. Interviews were carried out in 8,619 households and with 6,519 women. The Turkish Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) is a national sample survey of ever-married women of reproductive ages, designed to collect data on fertility, marriage patterns, family planning, early age mortality, socioeconomic characteristics, breastfeeding, immunisation of children, treatment of children during episodes of illness, and nutritional status of women and children. The TDHS, as part of the international DHS project, is also the latest survey in a series of national-level population and health surveys in Turkey, which have been conducted by the Institute of Population Studies, Haeettepe University (HIPS). More specifically, the objectives of the TDHS are to: Collect data at the national level that will allow the calculation of demographic rates, particularly fertility and childhood mortality rates; Analyse the direct and indirect factors that determine levels and trends in fertility and childhood mortality; Measure the level of contraceptive knowledge and practice by method, region, and urban- rural residence; Collect data on mother and child health, including immunisations, prevalence and treatment of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections among children under five, antenatal care, assistance at delivery, and breastfeeding; Measure the nutritional status of children under five and of their mothers using anthropometric measurements. The TDHS information is intended to assist policy makers and administrators in evaluating existing programs and in designing new strategies for improving family planning and health services in Turkey. MAIN RESULTS Fertility in Turkey is continuing to decline. If Turkish women maintain current fertility rates during their reproductive years, they can expect to have all average of 2.7 children by the end of their reproductive years. The highest fertility rate is observed for the age group 20-24. There are marked regional differences in fertility rates, ranging from 4.4 children per woman in the East to 2.0 children per woman in the West. Fertility also varies widely by urban-rural residence and by education level. A woman living in rural areas will have almost one child more than a woman living in an urban area. Women who have no education have almost one child more than women who have a primary-level education and 2.5 children more than women with secondary-level education. The first requirement of success ill family planning is the knowledge of family planning methods. Knowledge of any method is almost universal among Turkish women and almost all those who know a method also know the source of the method. Eighty percent of currently married women have used a method sometime in their life. One third of currently married women report ever using the IUD. Overall, 63 percent of currently married women are currently using a method. The majority of these women are modern method users (35 percent), but a very substantial proportion use traditional methods (28 percent). the IUD is the most commonly used modern method (I 9 percent), allowed by the condom (7 percent) and the pill (5 percent). Regional differences are substantial. The level of current use is 42 percent in tile East, 72 percent in tile West and more than 60 percent in tile other three regions. "File common complaints about tile methods are side effects and health concerns; these are especially prevalent for the pill and IUD. One of the major child health indicators is immunisation coverage. Among children age 12-23 months, the coverage rates for BCG and the first two doses of DPT and polio were about 90 percent, with most of the children receiving those vaccines before age one. The results indicate that 65 percent of the children had received all vaccinations at some time before the survey. On a regional basis, coverage is significantly lower in the Eastern region (41 percent), followed by the Northern and Central regions (61 percent and 65 percent, respectively). Acute respiratory infections (ARI) and diarrhea are the two most prevalent diseases of children under age five in Turkey. In the two weeks preceding the survey, the prevalence of ARI was 12 percent and the prevalence of diarrhea was 25 percent for children under age five. Among children with diarrhea 56 percent were given more fluids than usual. Breastfeeding in Turkey is widespread. Almost all Turkish children (95 percent) are breastfed for some period of time. The median duration of breastfeeding is 12 months, but supplementary foods and liquids are introduced at an early age. One-third of children are being given supplementary food as early as one month of age and by the age of 2-3 months, half of the children are already being given supplementary foods or liquids. By age five, almost one-filth of children arc stunted (short for their age), compared to an international reference population. Stunting is more prevalent in rural areas, in the East, among children of mothers with little or no education, among children who are of higher birth order, and among those born less than 24 months after a prior birth. Overall, wasting is not a problem. Two percent of children are wasted (thin for their height), and I I percent of children under five are underweight for their age. The survey results show that obesity is d problem among mothers. According to Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations, 51 percent of mothers are overweight, of which 19 percent are obese.

Turkey TR: Number of Death: Infant data was reported at 12,868.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13,884.000 Person for 2016. Turkey TR: Number of Death: Infant data is updated yearly, averaging 84,315.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 208,029.000 Person in 1960 and a record low of 12,868.000 Person in 2017. Turkey TR: Number of Death: Infant data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Turkey – Table TR.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Number of infants dying before reaching one year of age.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Sum;

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for Turkey (SPDYNLE00INTUR) from 1960 to 2023 about life expectancy, life, birth, and Turkey.

This scatter chart displays death rate (per 1,000 people) against life expectancy at birth (year) in Turkey. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.