SYRIANS IN TURKEY: CURRENT NUMBERS AND RETURN TREND 2025

Turkey has hosted the largest number of Syrians in the world since 2011. But after 2021, the number of Syrians in the country started to decrease. This change is linked to new migration policies and also to political developments in Syria.

According to the Presidency of Migration Management, the number of Syrians under temporary protection was 2,371,412 on 27 November 2025. This number was 3.7 million in 2021, so the decrease is quite clear. There are also around 76,367 Syrians living in Turkey with a residence permit.

A major turning point was 8 December 2024, when the Assad government ended and a temporary administration led by Ahmed Shara took power. After this, many Syrians in Turkey began to think about going back. The Interior Minister said that 550,000 Syrians returned to Syria in the last year. Since 2016, the total number of returns has reached 1.29 million.

Syrians are not distributed equally across Turkey. Istanbul has the highest number with 416,768 Syrians. Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adana and Hatay also have large Syrian populations. On the other hand, cities like Hakkari, Bayburt and Tunceli have almost no Syrians. This uneven distribution affects local services and social life.

The demographic structure is also important. Almost half of the Syrians in Turkey are under 18 years old. This means that education, health and social support require long-term planning. A young population also suggests that many Syrians may stay in Turkey for a longer time.

There are also irregular Syrians without legal status. In 2025, around 20,000 irregular Syrian migrants were caught. Their exact number is not known because many move frequently or try to reach other countries.

In conclusion, the number of Syrians in Turkey is decreasing and returns are rising. However, Turkey still hosts a large and young Syrian population, and this will continue to shape social and economic policies in the coming years.

References:                                                                  

https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c75v3kz4r9go

https://en.goc.gov.tr/temporary-protection27

https://www.goc.gov.tr/duzensiz-goc-istatistikler