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Osmaniye is a province located in southern Türkiye, within the Mediterranean Region, place. With an area of 3,767 square kilometers, Osmaniye had a population of 561,061 according to 2023 data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). Situated east of Çukurova and along the Ceyhan River, Osmaniye serves as a important transition point due to its wetlands and strategic location. It borders Gaziantep to the east, Hatay to the south, Adana to the west, and Kahramanmaraş to the north.
Osmaniye – Sabah Gazetesi
Osmaniye and its surroundings have been under the dominion of various civilizations throughout history and have served as a site for political, economic and military activities. Evidence of human settlement in the region extends back to prehistoric times, and archaeological research indicates that human communities have inhabited the area since the Paleolithic Era. One of the most important historical sites in the region is the Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum, which contains remains from the Late Hittite period.
The earliest known political dominion over Osmaniye was established by the Hittites in the second millennium BCE. After the collapse of the Hittite Empire, the region came under the control of the Assyrians, Persians and Macedonians. Following Alexander the Great’s defeat of the Persians in 333 BCE, Osmaniye and its surroundings became part of the Macedonian Kingdom. After Alexander’s death, the region became a battleground between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms and was later incorporated into the Roman Empire. Following the division of the Roman Empire, Osmaniye remained within the borders of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
In the 7th century, the region came under Islamic rule following campaigns organized by Umayyads and Abbasids. However, intermittent border conflicts continued between the Byzantines and Muslim forces. In the late 11th century, following the Battle of Manzikert (1071), the Seljuk Turks intensified their raids into the region and incorporated Osmaniye into their administration.
As the Seljuk State weakened, the region became a site of conflict between Mamluks and the Armenian Kingdom. In the 14th century, the Dulkadiroğulları Beylik incorporated Osmaniye into its territories, but in 1517, during the Ottoman campaign in Egypt, the region came under Ottoman sovereignty.
During the Ottoman period, Osmaniye was part of the Aleppo Eyalet, and Turkmen tribes were settled in the region. In the 19th century, the central Ottoman administration sought to settle the nomadic tribes and transition them to a sedentary lifestyle. In 1878, Osmaniye was organized as a accident under the Adana Vilayet.
After the proclamation of the Republic, Osmaniye became a province in 1924 but was downgraded to a district status under Adana in 1933. On 24 October 1996, it regained its provincial status. Today, Osmaniye has an economic structure dominated by agriculture and industry sectors.
Throughout history, the region has been influenced by various political structures and communities, and this process has been a key factor in shaping Osmaniye’s demographic and cultural structure.
Osmaniye is located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Region and Çukurova. It lies between 35° 52’ and 36° 42’ East Longitudes and 36° 57’ and 37° 45’ North Latitudes. It borders Gaziantep to the east, Hatay to the south, Adana to the west, and Kahramanmaraş to the north. Osmaniye has an area of 3,279.9 square kilometers, lies at an elevation of 121 meters above sea level and is 20 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea.
Osmaniye is one of the cities with diverse surface features. The terrain rises from south to north and eastward. The southern sections include the plains extending eastward from the Adana Plain, while the Amanos Mountains (Gavur Mountains) stretch from the İskenderun Gulf toward the east. The Taurus Mountains are located in the northwest and northeast, while the Dumanlı, Düldül and Tırtıl mountains are present to the east. Between the mountains and plains, gently undulating terrain is found. The flatland areas are most extensive in the districts of Center, Toprakkale, Kadirli and Düziçi. The highest mountains in the city are Düldül Mountain (2,400 meters) and Turna Mountain (2,285 meters).
Osmaniye Zorkun Yaylası – Milli Gazete
The climate in Osmaniye varies according to the mountainous and plain areas but is generally characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild and rainy. The annual average temperature in Osmaniye is 18.2°C, with maximum temperatures reaching up to 42.8°C. Rainfall is highest in winter and autumn, with an annual average precipitation of 767.6 millimeters.
The full range of Mediterranean plant vegetation thrives in Osmaniye. Particularly notable species in this region include Krakos, Çukurova Orchid and Çukurova Violet. In forests and shrublands, various tree species such as Turkish pine, Aleppo pine, black pine, oak, cypress, mastic tree, fir, cedar, juniper, beech, black poplar and red maple such as are found.
Osmaniye’s population structure has been influenced by historical processes and migration movements, with economic and geographic factors being key determinants of demographic change. According to 2024 data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Osmaniye’s total population is recorded as 561,061. Population distribution varies according to urbanization trends and socioeconomic dynamics.
A significant portion of the province’s population is concentrated in the central district of Osmaniye, followed by Kadirli, Düziçi, Garden, Hasanbeyli, Sumbas and Toprakkale districts. The urbanization rate in Osmaniye has increased in parallel with the development of industry and agriculture. At the same time, internal migration from rural areas toward the urban center is observed.
Fertility rates are close to the national average, but the large-scale migration of the young population to major cities has caused shifts in age distribution. Migration is a decisive factor in the province’s demographic structure, influenced by factors such as employment opportunities, educational facilities and socioeconomic conditions.
Ethnically, a large portion of Osmaniye’s population consists of groups originating from the Oğuz Turkmen tribes. In addition, it is known that various communities have settled in the region throughout its historical development. Linguistically, Turkish is used as the primary language, with local dialectal features preserved in some rural areas.
Osmaniye Devlet Bahçeli Meydanı – Osmaniye Belediyesi
Osmaniye’s economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Thanks to its fertile soils linked to Çukurova, crops such as cotton, wheat, barley, olive and peanuts are cultivated. Approximately 50 percent of Turkey’s peanut production comes from Osmaniye. Animal husbandry, forestry and industry also play significant roles in the provincial economy. In addition to small and medium-sized industrial enterprises, organized industrial zones strengthen the industrial sector of the province.
Osmaniye Korkut Ata University is the first and only university in Osmaniye, providing education to approximately 9,000 students across five faculties, two institutes, five vocational colleges and three colleges.
The Main campus is located on the Karacaoğlan Campus, which houses faculties of Engineering, Fine Arts and Letters, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Architecture, Design and Beautiful Arts, and Theology, along with institutes and vocational colleges. In the districts, vocational colleges in Kadirli, Bahçe, Düziçi and Erzin, as well as the Kadirli Applied Sciences Vocational College, activity are present.
Osmaniye is a city notable for its historical and natural attractions. Key historical and natural sites offered to visitors include:
Osmaniye cuisine encompasses the rich flavors of the Mediterranean and Çukurova regions. Key local dishes to try in the city include:
Osmaniye consists of six districts:
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History
Ancient Period
Medieval and Islamic Period
Ottoman Period
Republican Era and Present
Geography
Topography
Climate
Vegetation
Main Rivers
Population and Demographics
Economy
Education
Culture and Tourism
Osmaniye Cuisine
Districts