Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK)

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) is a public institution responsible for collecting and producing the data and information needed by Türkiye, as well as publishing and distributing official statistics. It operates as an autonomous body with public legal personality and a special budget, under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

April 25 Turkish Statistics Day and 95th Anniversary Video - TÜİK

Its primary objective is to prepare the Official Statistics Program, taking into account national and international needs, to organize its implementation, and to ensure coordination among relevant institutions.

Historical Development

The tradition of collecting statistical data in the Ottoman Empire dates back to the 14th century; land and population censuses were conducted during the reigns of Sultans Orhan and Murad for military conscription and tax collection purposes.^【2】

In 1389, a unit called “Defterhane” was established to collect these official records. The Ottoman State’s first population census in the modern sense was conducted in 1831.

More institutional steps were taken in 1874 with the establishment of the Statistics Department, followed in 1891 by the activation of the “Bab-ı Ali Statistics Council,” which brought statistical services under a legal framework.

The first general statistical yearbook of the Ottoman Empire was published in 1897, and by 1918 these activities were centralized under the General Directorate of Statistics attached to the Prime Ministry.^【3】

Following the proclamation of the Republic, the foundations of the modern statistical system were laid on April 25 1926 with the establishment of the “Central Statistics Directorate” under the Prime Ministry by Decree No. 3517.

The first general population census of the Republican era was conducted by this directorate in 1927. The institution later adopted the titles General Directorate of Statistics in 1930 and Directorate General of Statistics in 1945.

Law No. 5429 on Turkish Statistics - TÜİK

A law enacted in 1962 renamed the institution the “State Institute of Statistics (DİE)” and strengthened the infrastructure for statistical standards and economic data. On November 18 2005, with the entry into force of Law No. 5429 on Turkish Statistics, the institution adopted its current name: the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK).^【4】

Institutional Presidents

The individuals who have led the institution throughout its history, under its various names, are listed as follows.

• Director of the Central Statistics Directorate (1926–1930): Camille Jacquart (1926–1929), Celal Aybar (1929–1947).
• Director General / General Director of Statistics (1945–1960): Şefik Bilkur (1947–1954), Şefik İnan (1954–1959), Mustafa Fotozoğlu (1960).
• General Directors of Statistics (1960–1962): M. Necati İşcil (1960–1961), Sabahaddin Alpat (1961–1963).
• Presidents of the State Institute of Statistics (DİE) (1962–2005): Sabahaddin Alpat (1963–1971), Osman Zeki Avralıoğlu (1971–1972), Şefik Yıldızeli (1985–1988), Orhan Güvenen (1988–1994), Mehmet Kaytaz (1994–1996), Mehmet Sıddık Ensari (1996–1998), Ömer L. Gebizlioğlu (1998–1999), Şefik Yıldızeli (1999–2002), Mehmet Akif Bakır (2002–2003), Ömer Demir (2003–2005).

Presidents of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) (2005–Present):

• Ömer Demir (10/11/2005 – 24/03/2008)
• A. Ömer Toprak (24/03/2008 – 12/09/2011)
• Birol Aydemir (12/09/2011 – 15/02/2016)
• Mehmet Aktaş (16/02/2016 – 18/04/2019)
• Yinal Yağan (18/04/2019 – 22/05/2020)
• Muhammed Cahit Şirin (22/05/2020 – 15/02/2021)
• Sait Erdal Dinçer (02/03/2021 – 28/01/2022)
• Erhan Çetinkaya (28/01/2022 – ...)^【5】

Mandate, Authority and Responsibilities

Among the institution’s core responsibilities is the determination of statistical methods and classifications in accordance with national and international standards.

TÜİK ensures the implementation of activities defined in the Official Statistics Program and prepares the required Annual Monitoring Reports. The Presidency of TÜİK has the authority to directly request data required for censuses and surveys within its mandate from all statistical units (individuals, legal entities, public institutions) in the required standards and timeframes, and to verify the accuracy of such data.

Under the Constitution, everyone is obligated to provide requested data fully, accurately and free of charge. Individuals or institutions that fail to provide data, or provide incomplete or incorrect data, are subject to administrative fines under the law; however, payment of the fine does not absolve them of their obligation to provide information.

Furthermore, public institutions are required to establish their administrative record systems in accordance with prescribed standards and to provide them free of charge to TÜİK for use.

Organizational Structure and Staffing

TÜİK is organizationally composed of central and regional structures. The central structure in Ankara includes 23 directorates, the Inspection Directorate, the Internal Audit Unit, the Press and Public Relations Advisorship, and the Education and Research Center.

The regional structure consists of 26 Regional Directorates responsible for data collection, quality control, and transmission of data to the central office.

Additionally, the Statistics Council, chaired by the President of the Institution and meeting at least once a year, serves as an advisory body providing recommendations on identifying and developing the institution’s statistical needs.

TÜİK Employment Statistics - TÜİK

As of October 2025, the institution employs a total of 4,464 staff members. Of these, 30.3 percent (1,354 persons) work at the central office and 69.7 percent (3,110 persons) are employed in the field-based regional units responsible for data collection. In terms of educational background, staff include 578 with master’s or doctoral degrees, 2,548 with bachelor’s degrees, 817 with associate degrees, 521 with high school diplomas or lower. The workforce consists of 52.2 percent men and 47.8 percent women.^【6】

International Cooperation

As part of its efforts to align with the European Statistical System, TÜİK signed a Cooperation Protocol with the European Union Statistical Office (Eurostat) in 1993 and has since achieved a high degree of compliance with the European Standards for the Production of Statistics (CoP).

The institution implements cooperation protocols and participates in mutual technical assistance programs with organizations such as the United Nations (UNICEF, UNSD, etc.), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).

In addition, to share its expertise, TÜİK has signed direct memoranda of understanding with statistical institutions of countries such as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Kyrgyzstan.