Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
The regional breakdown of the Member States in the regional demographic tables is done under the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS. For more information on the versions in force, please see Eurostat NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
One of the following definitions is used by a country when explaining the statistical concepts:
Usually resident population means all persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time; for more information see the Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
Legal residence population is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities.
Registered residence population is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once.
See the table 3.4.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
See the table 3.4.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
See the table 3.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.7. Reference area
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
For population, data is available annually since 2007 with the reference date of 31 December.
Death statistics are available from 1957 onwards.
Causes of death statistics are available from 2009 onwards (internationally comparable).
Birth statistics are available from 2001 onwards.
Marriage statistics are available from 1982 onwards.
Divorce statistics are available from 1967 onwards.
International migration statistics are being produced annually based on two consecutive ABPRS data dated 31 December. Annual data is available since 2016.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year during which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Turkish Statistical Institute
The compilation and dissemination of the data are governed by the Turkish Statistical Law No. 5429 of 10 November 2005.
The purpose of this law is to determine basic principles and standards concerning the production and organisation of official statistics; and to regulate the formation, duties, and authorities of the Turkish Statistical Institute (Turkstat) which is to compile and assess data and information, produce, publish, and disseminate statistics on the areas that country needs, and to ensure coordination among institutions and organizations that are involved in the statistics process prescribed in the Official Statistics Programme(Article 1).
The Official Statistics Programme establishes the framework for official statistics that shall be produced on subjects required at national and international level. Censuses and surveys are carried out within the framework of this Programme. Taking into account the existing resources, the burden on the respondents and the cost-benefit analysis, the Programme covers statistics needed to determine and monitor the situations of the country in the fields of economy, social issues, demography, culture, environment, science, technology and any other required areas(Article 3).
The Presidency, institutions and organisations taken part in the Programme shall take the measures to ensure the easy and equal access to the official statistics by all users.
Population and Migration Statistics
Data on population and housing are compiled according to the responsibilities stated in Paragraph (a) of Article 29 of the Turkish Statistical Law on collecting the required statistical information on population, housing, education, culture, tourism, health, sports, justice, media, politics and other social subjects, analyzing them and calculating related indicators.
Population Services Law No. 5490 charged TurkStat for establishing the ABPRS, and Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs (GDCRC) for developing and maintaining the system. Changes in usual residence addresses are entered to the system by the Provincial and District Directorates of Population of the GDCRC. Updated information on population size and the basic characteristics of population is obtained from the system and announced by the TurkStat. Governmental organizations and establishments for their administrative works access the registers in the system by a protocol with GDCRC according to the Law.
Official population and migration statistics are produced by TurkStat based on the Official Statistics Programme prepared in accordance with the Turkish Statistical Law No. 5429 and the Presidential Decree No 4.
Vital Statistics
Vital events including births, deaths, marriages and divorces are obtained from the central civil registration system-MERNIS database, which is kept and updated by the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship of the Ministry of Interior, statistics are produced. MERNIS was converted to the online system in 2001. After that, birth statistics has been produced since 2001 from population registers. While birth statistics has been published according to the place of event (the place of birth occurred) in 2001-2008, it has been published according to the usual residence after 2009. Death statistics has been produced from MERNIS database since 2009. Death data taken from MERNIS database are matched with the causes of death data of TurkStat. So, death events not included in MERNIS database are added to the statistics. Main fertility and mortality indicators have been produced by NUTS-3 level since 2009.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
According to the Turkish Statistical Law with Article 12, access to statistical results are given as follows:
Article 12 - The Presidency, institutions and organisations taken part in the Programme* shall take the measures to ensure the easy and equal access to the official statistics by all users by obeying the standards and release calendar specified in the Programme. The statistical information compiled by the TurkStat cannot be given to any person or authority before this information is made open to public.
*Programme: The Official Statistics Programme.
Population Statistics
Population Services Law No. 5490 charged TurkStat for establishing the ABPRS, and Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship (GDCRC) of the Ministry of Interior for developing and maintaining the system.
For population statistics, agreements and protocols made for data sharing, exchange and coordination are listed below:
Protocol on Data Exchange between the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality affiliated to the Ministry of Interior and the Turkish Statistical Institute - (07 February 2006)
Protocol on Data Sharing between the Presidency of Migration Management affiliated to the Ministry of Interior and the Turkish Statistical Institute - (22 December 2017)
Protocol on Data Transfer and Usage Principles between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Turkish Statistical Institute - (20 October 2020)
Ministry of Justice, Directorate General of Prisons and Detention Houses (26 Januray 2024)
Ministry of Family and Social Services (21 July 2022)
Protocol on Data Transfer and Usage Principles between the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Turkish Statistical Institute (09 August 2023)
International Migration Statistics
Annual immigration and emigration flow statistics were calculated based on Address Based Registration System, where the records of Turkish Republic (T.R.) citizens and foreigners residing in Türkiye are kept, and the database on T.R. citizens living abroad. Both these two systems are updated by the Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship (GDCRC). The main data sources are ABPRS, records of Turkish Republic citizens living abroad, residence permits, work permits, Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) records dated 31 December, and birth/death records.
Within this scope, agreements and protocols made for data sharing, exchange and coordination are listed below:
Protocol on Data Exchange between the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality affiliated to the Ministry of Interior and the Turkish Statistical Institute - (07 February 2006).
Protocol on Data Sharing between the Presidency of Migration Management affiliated to the Ministry of Interior and the Turkish Statistical Institute - (22 December 2017).
Protocol on Data Transfer and Usage Principles between the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Turkish Statistical Institute (09 August 2023).
Vital Statistics obtained from the MERNIS database;
The protocol for data sharing, exchange and coordination is below:
Protocol on Data Exchange between Republic of Türkiye The Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs and the Presidency of the Turkish Statistical Institute-(07 February 2006)
e-Report records of births:
Protocol on Data Exchange between Republic of Türkiye The Ministry of Health and the Presidency of the Turkish Statistical Institute-(06 November 2020)
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidential data
Data privacy and confidential data security regarding the statistics produced by Turkish Statistical Institute are guaranteed with the Turkish Statistical Law No. 5429 and the Regulation about Procedures and Principles of Data Privacy and Confidential Data Security of Official Statistics. Statistics are also prepared in accordance with the regulation published by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) on March 11, 2009 with the number 223/2009 and the European Statistics Code of Practice, within the scope of harmonization with the European Union.The collection of data solely for statistical purposes and the confidentiality of the individual responses are guaranteed with the related legislation and regulations.
According to the Turkish Statistical Law (Article 13), confidential data can be accessed only by those involved in the production of official statistics, to the extent that they need for performing their duties properly. If the number of the statistical unit in any cell of the data table formed by aggregating the individual data is less than three or one or two of the statistical units are dominant even if the number of units is three or more, the data in the concerned cell is considered confidential. The confidential data are compiled, processed and preserved for the production of official statistics cannot be delivered to any administrative, judiciary or military authority or person, can not be used for purposes other than statistics or as an instrument of proof. Civil servants and other staff in charge of compiling and processing these data are obliged to comply with this rule. This obligation continues after the related personnel leave their duties and positions. The rulers of the institutions and organizations producing official statistics shall take all measures to prevent any illicit access, use or revelation of the confidential data. Data or information obtained from sources that are open to all people shall not be deemed confidential.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
For vital statistics published this procedure is not available.
For vital statistics which are not published and subject to official information requests in detailed breakdowns (single age, district etc.) if the number of statistical units in any cell of the data table created by aggregating individual data is less than three, the data in the relevant cell cannot be provided as it is considered confidential (According to Article 13 of Law No. 5429).
But for population statistics and international migration:
"confidential value" flag is put for the necessary conditions. Values at country level less than 250 are aggregated as "Other".
8.1. Release calendar
The data release calendar for statistical outputs is prepared on an annual basis and it is publicly announced on the National Data Release Calendar section of the website.
8.2. Release calendar access
Publication dates and times of the press releases published by the Turkish Statistical Institute are available at National Data Release Calendar.
8.3. Release policy - user access
The principles, standards and procedures regarding the publication and dissemination of statistics produced by Turkish Statistical Institute are determined by the Publication and Dissemination Board. In order to ensure that statistics are delivered to users in accordance with the principles of confidentiality and equal access, and in an accurate, reliable, consistent, timely, and transparent way, the publishing dates of the press releases are determined within the framework of the Directive on the Procedures and Principles Regarding the Working Calendars of the Presidency of the Turkish Statistical Institute and announced to the public via the institutional website at the beginning of each year.
Annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Data Portal (Population and Demography Statistics): Data website
Population:
ABPRS annual results are presented to the public with a press release in every January or February.
Information requests are met at national and international level. In addition, the information requested by international organizations such as Eurostat are provided.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
See the table 10.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP) European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP) are the quality principles and standards established by the European Union. CoP; It consists of 3 main sections: institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical outputs. There are 16 quality principles and 84 quality indicators under these principles. TurkStat carries out its activities in accordance with the CoP's quality principles and indicators. The CoP is available on the Eurostat's website.
Institutional Quality Reports Institutional quality reports are prepared for annual studies. The relevant quality report can be accessed under the Metadata tab on the Statistics Data Portal. For population, vital statistics and international migration statistics, institutional quality reports are published at website within 45 days after the press release published.
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Documentation Quality-related documents were created within the scope of the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management standard. Procedures, guides, instructions, plans, lists, and forms are included in the quality management system along with the standard coding system. There is a "Document Control Procedure" for the creation and updating of the documents. In addition, all studies are detailed on the basis of the articles of the standard in the "Quality Handbook", prepared within the scope of the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management standard.
11.1. Quality assurance
See the table 11.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
See the table 11.2.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
There are sections on the website of our institution for users who want to access both general and detailed information. After selecting the topic interested in from the "Subcategories" part of the "Statistics" section and clicking on the "Search" button, "Press Release", "Statistical Tables", "Databases", "Reports" and "Metadata" contents can be reached.
Data at international and regional level can be accessed through the "Regional Statistics", "Provincial Indicators", "International Selected Indicators", and "Turkstat Library" applications in the "E-Services" section.
Data requests which cannot be replied are compiled regularly and data production process are addressed in the light of this information.
If the requested data cannot be accessed from the website; it is possible to make a data request via this website.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Statistics produced by the Turkish Statistical Institute are presented to users through various channels, and a number of studies are carried out to increase service quality and meet user needs. The user satisfaction survey, which is one of these studies, is conducted through the corporate website in order to determine the profile, needs, and expectations of the users. The results of the survey are reported annually. User Satisfaction Survey.
12.3. Completeness
Population statistics: 100%.
Vital statistics: 95%-100%.
For vital statistics:
90% of the obliged tables required to be submitted to Eurostat are met. The completeness rate is at a high level. Also, the completeness and registration rates of vital events within the legal period (which are the sources of vital statistics) are 90% and above. This points to the importance of punctuality.
International migration statistics: 100%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy and special cases (inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister, etc.).
See the table 13.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.1.1 Accuracy - unknown values
See the table 13.1.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.2. Sampling error
See the table 13.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.3. Non-sampling error
See the table 13.3 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
14.1. Timeliness
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS) is a centralized nationwide system, which provides comparability for the whole country. For statistics produced by the Statistical Regions (SR) classification, there is no comparability problem between geographical regions. Cross-country comparability is also possible.
Comparability processes are performed between geographical areas (only provinces and districts) also for vital statistics. There is no comparability problem between geographical regions for statistics produced according to the Classification of Statistical Regions. Cross-country comparability is also possible.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See the table 15.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Population and international migration statistics:
Population and international migration statistics are produced by TurkStat based on Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS). Statistics on residence permits, refugees and asylum seekers are published by Ministry of Interior Presidency of Migration Management. The main differences across these domains are as follows:
Individuals who renounced the Turkish citizenship with the authorization of Turkish Republic (i.e. blue card holders) are not obliged to apply for residence permit or work permit. However, they are accepted as foreigner and included in official foreign population statistics provided that they are residing in the country with a valid address declaration at the reference day.
In Türkiye, work permits substitute for residence permits based on the related law. Thus, individuals holding work permits do not apply for residence permit.
Individuals with international protection status (refugees, conditional refugees, persons under subsidiary protection) are issued a document equivalent to the residence permit. Hence, this group do not apply for residence permit. On the other hand, they are included in official foreign population statistics provided that they are residing in the country with a valid address declaration at the reference day.
Balance analyses and comparisons are carried out through aggregated tables of external data sources such as residence permit and work permit statistics which are produced by other institutions.
Marriage and divorce statistics: Not applicable.
Birth statistics: Performing coherence with Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS), the Ministry of Health Birth Notification System and Death Notification System, and the Central Civil Registration (MERNIS) data.
Death and causes of death statistics: Death statistics are compatible with the Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS), the Ministry of Health Death Notification System and Birth Notification System, and the Central Civil Registration (MERNIS) data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Population Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. The data is self-consistent.
International Migration Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. The data is self-consistent.
Marriage and Divorce Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain.
Birth Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain.
Death and Causes of Death Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain.
Cost calculation or respondent burden analysis are not available statistically.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revision Policy For reliable, comparable, compatible and consistent production of the current statistics by ensuring data integration; strategies have been specified in "Directive on Methods and Principles Regarding Revisions on Statistical Data Produced by Turkish Statistical Institute" . In this context, the general framework with regard to which statistics are to be revised, why, how long and how deep.
Current Revision Plan Information about routine/major revisions to be implemented in the current period is crucial for statistics users in the sense of determining the validity of data. In this context, TurkStat has adopted the principle of releasing the routine and/or major revision status of all statistical topics to be published in the beginning of each calendar year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Population Statistics : Published data are final and not subject to revisions.
International Migration Statistics: Published data are final and not subject to revisions.
Marriage and Divorce Statistics: Marriage and divorce data were revised 1 year retrospectively due to delayed registrations in the administrative records. Detailed information on the revision policy of the data published in the press release can be found at this website.
Birth Statistics: Birth data were revised 5 years retrospectively due to delayed registrations in the administrative records. Information form on revisions for the birth statistics can be accessed at this website.
Death and Causes of Death Statistics: Death data were revised 3 years retrospectively, causes of death and suicide data were revised 1 (one) year retrospectively due to delayed registrations in the administrative records. Detailed information on the revision policy of the data published in the press release can be found at this website.
18.1. Source data
See the table 18.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Population and International Migration Statistics: annually.
Vital Statistics: annually.
18.3. Data collection
National Address Database (NAD): It covers all addresses within the boundaries of the country. Numbering studies, which were the source for the NAD, were carried out by municipalities in localities having municipal organizations, and by special provincial administrations in villages. After infrastructural studies of the NAD were implemented by the TurkStat, the database was established in 2006.
Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS): ABPRS was established in 2007 by the Turkish Statistical Institute and subsequently transferred to the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs (GDCRC), which is responsible for maintaining and updating the system.
The Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS):It is a database within the Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship (GDCRC) which includes population registers in the form of family ledgers. Birth, death, marriage and divorce events, citizenship and other vital events are registered by local population directorates of the GDCRC. Population registers are kept in the form of family ledgers which is arranged according to the father for each family.
Causes of death data: Death certificate is filled out by the physicians in the hospitals, family health centers, institutions of municipal medicine, institutions of forensic medicine and other health institutions via Death Notification System (DNS). Coding the diseases at the sections for the determination of causes of death are done according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and underlining causes of death are determined in TurkStat Regional Offices.
Residence/work permits: In terms of international migration, records of residence permits are kept by Ministry of Interior Presidency of Migration Management and records of work permits are kept by Directorate General of International Labour Force.
Records of foreigners and Turkish Republic citizens living abroad: Records of foreigners and Turkish Republic citizens living abroad are kept and maintained by GDCRC. These records are transferred to Turkstat simultaneously.
All of administrative registers mentioned above are obtained via web services or electronically from the data holders as of the reference date.
18.4. Data validation
Population Statistics : Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. Time series analysis are conducted by tables.
At the administrative division level, population sizes are compared with previous year figures. Basic indicators such as population growth rate, age and sex distribution, and changes in birth and death numbers are checked. The distribution of the institutional population and the effect of changes in the foreign population size on the total population are analyzed in detail. In addition to the analyses related to the household structure, the compatibility with the administrative division on the reference date is checked. Besides, cross validations, comparisons and aggregated data checks were conducted by using external data.
International Migration Statistics :Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. Time series analysis are conducted by tables.
At the administrative division level, migration sizes and characteristics are compared with previous year figures. The effect of changes in the international migration on the total population are analyzed in detail. Besides, cross validations, comparisons and aggregated data checks were conducted by using external data.
Marriage and Divorce Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. Time series analysis are conducted by tables.
Birth Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. Time series analysis are conducted by tables.
Death and Causes of Death Statistics: Cross validations are carried out to check consistency among the different tables for each domain. Time series analysis are conducted by tables.
For vital statistics: The consistency of the forecasts produced with the values of the previous period and statistics produced from other data sources for the current period is checked.
18.5. Data compilation
Population Statistics:
It is calculated by taking into account the population registered in the ABPRS updated by the GDCRC, the population residing in institutional places and the foreign population residing in the country.
Institutional population: Information on institutional population in the ABPRS is obtained from the administrative registers of all institutions/organizations that host institutional population (Ministry of National Defense, Directorate General of Prisons and Detention Houses, Directorate General of Security, Higher Education Student Loans and Dormitories Institution, Directorate General of Services for the Elderly and Disabled, Directorate General of Child Services, University Rectorates). Administrative registers obtained from the institutions are analyzed with those obtained in previous years by locality and population size. Final institutional population are obtained for each locality after these analyses.
According to the international definition, those residing in institutional places are included in the population of the place where the institutional places are located, not in the population of the place where their residence address is located.
Foreign population: Persons who have a valid residence/work permit for at least 90 days on the reference date, obtained from the Ministry of Interior Presidency of Migration Management, Ministry of Labor and Social Security Directorate General of International Labor Force and Ministry of Culture and Tourism Administration for Turks Living Abroad and Related Communities, are added to the foreign population already registered in the ABPRS on the reference date.
International Migration Statistics:
Immigration covers Turkish Citizens and foreign nationals who were registered in the reference year ABPRS but not registered in the previous year. Emigration covers Turkish citizens and foreign nationals who were not registered in the reference year ABPRS but registered in the previous year.
In addition to births occurred inside the country and deaths in the reference period, cases such as late registration of births and deaths in the previous years, naturalization processes, changes in the legal status of migrants, delays in address declaration inside the country or abroad, residence and work permit application processes and compulsory military service abroad are excluded from the migration calculations.
Immigration and emigration statistics are calculated in line with the criteria used for determination of foreign population in the ABPRS. The main data sources are the ABPRS, NAD, records of foreign nationals, records of Turkish citizens residing abroad, residence permits, work permits, Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) records dated 31 December, and birth/death records.
Statistics on annual migration flows to/from Türkiye were produced for the first time for the years of 2016 and 2017 in 2018 by the analysis of the administrative records of Turkish citizens and foreign nationals. In the following years, the results as of the December 31st of the reference year have been announced to the public in the second half of the following year with a press release. Annual migration flow statistics are shared by sex, age groups, country of citizenship, country of birth and 81 provinces.
Vital Statistics
From 2009 onwards, information related to vital events (births, deaths, marriages, divorces) in Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) database are derived and statistically processed, edited, analysed and prepared for dissemination. The additional data sources are explained below:
Birth Notification System: It is the system where all women who give birth within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye by receiving service from the Ministry of Health are recorded. It is used to add to the birth data of babies who are not included in the MERNIS records due to being foreign nationals and to control the multiple births of Turkish citizens.
Death Notification System: It is the system where all death events of persons within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye by receiving service from the Ministry of Health are recorded. It is used to add to the death and cause of death data of deceased persons who are not included in the MERNIS records due to being foreign nationals.
Cause of Death Data: It is the data explaining the death events of Turkish citizens or foreign nationals (with residence permit or work permit) residing in Türkiye taken from Death Notification System. It is used to add the birth and death data of babies who die without being recorded after the live birth event and death and cause of death data of deceased persons which are not included in MERNİS.
Foreign population (For vital events of): Persons who have a valid residence/work permit for at least 90 days on the reference date, obtained from the Ministry of Interior Presidency of Migration Management, Ministry of Labor and Social Security Directorate General of International Labor Force and Ministry of Culture and Tourism Administration for Turks Living Abroad and Related Communities, are added to the foreign population already registered in the ABPRS on the reference date. In this context, births and deaths of this population is also included by deriving and checking (validity at the time of event) from ABPRS.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
One of the following definitions is used by a country when explaining the statistical concepts:
Usually resident population means all persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time; for more information see the Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
Legal residence population is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities.
Registered residence population is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once.
See the table 3.4.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
See the table 3.4.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Number of persons.
See the table 3.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year during which the migration occurred.
Overall accuracy and special cases (inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister, etc.).
See the table 13.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.1.1 Accuracy - unknown values
See the table 13.1.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
Population Statistics:
It is calculated by taking into account the population registered in the ABPRS updated by the GDCRC, the population residing in institutional places and the foreign population residing in the country.
Institutional population: Information on institutional population in the ABPRS is obtained from the administrative registers of all institutions/organizations that host institutional population (Ministry of National Defense, Directorate General of Prisons and Detention Houses, Directorate General of Security, Higher Education Student Loans and Dormitories Institution, Directorate General of Services for the Elderly and Disabled, Directorate General of Child Services, University Rectorates). Administrative registers obtained from the institutions are analyzed with those obtained in previous years by locality and population size. Final institutional population are obtained for each locality after these analyses.
According to the international definition, those residing in institutional places are included in the population of the place where the institutional places are located, not in the population of the place where their residence address is located.
Foreign population: Persons who have a valid residence/work permit for at least 90 days on the reference date, obtained from the Ministry of Interior Presidency of Migration Management, Ministry of Labor and Social Security Directorate General of International Labor Force and Ministry of Culture and Tourism Administration for Turks Living Abroad and Related Communities, are added to the foreign population already registered in the ABPRS on the reference date.
International Migration Statistics:
Immigration covers Turkish Citizens and foreign nationals who were registered in the reference year ABPRS but not registered in the previous year. Emigration covers Turkish citizens and foreign nationals who were not registered in the reference year ABPRS but registered in the previous year.
In addition to births occurred inside the country and deaths in the reference period, cases such as late registration of births and deaths in the previous years, naturalization processes, changes in the legal status of migrants, delays in address declaration inside the country or abroad, residence and work permit application processes and compulsory military service abroad are excluded from the migration calculations.
Immigration and emigration statistics are calculated in line with the criteria used for determination of foreign population in the ABPRS. The main data sources are the ABPRS, NAD, records of foreign nationals, records of Turkish citizens residing abroad, residence permits, work permits, Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) records dated 31 December, and birth/death records.
Statistics on annual migration flows to/from Türkiye were produced for the first time for the years of 2016 and 2017 in 2018 by the analysis of the administrative records of Turkish citizens and foreign nationals. In the following years, the results as of the December 31st of the reference year have been announced to the public in the second half of the following year with a press release. Annual migration flow statistics are shared by sex, age groups, country of citizenship, country of birth and 81 provinces.
Vital Statistics
From 2009 onwards, information related to vital events (births, deaths, marriages, divorces) in Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) database are derived and statistically processed, edited, analysed and prepared for dissemination. The additional data sources are explained below:
Birth Notification System: It is the system where all women who give birth within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye by receiving service from the Ministry of Health are recorded. It is used to add to the birth data of babies who are not included in the MERNIS records due to being foreign nationals and to control the multiple births of Turkish citizens.
Death Notification System: It is the system where all death events of persons within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye by receiving service from the Ministry of Health are recorded. It is used to add to the death and cause of death data of deceased persons who are not included in the MERNIS records due to being foreign nationals.
Cause of Death Data: It is the data explaining the death events of Turkish citizens or foreign nationals (with residence permit or work permit) residing in Türkiye taken from Death Notification System. It is used to add the birth and death data of babies who die without being recorded after the live birth event and death and cause of death data of deceased persons which are not included in MERNİS.
Foreign population (For vital events of): Persons who have a valid residence/work permit for at least 90 days on the reference date, obtained from the Ministry of Interior Presidency of Migration Management, Ministry of Labor and Social Security Directorate General of International Labor Force and Ministry of Culture and Tourism Administration for Turks Living Abroad and Related Communities, are added to the foreign population already registered in the ABPRS on the reference date. In this context, births and deaths of this population is also included by deriving and checking (validity at the time of event) from ABPRS.
See the table 18.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Annually.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS) is a centralized nationwide system, which provides comparability for the whole country. For statistics produced by the Statistical Regions (SR) classification, there is no comparability problem between geographical regions. Cross-country comparability is also possible.
Comparability processes are performed between geographical areas (only provinces and districts) also for vital statistics. There is no comparability problem between geographical regions for statistics produced according to the Classification of Statistical Regions. Cross-country comparability is also possible.
See the table 15.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
