Updated
Overview
Turkey (Türkiye) has 24% more people than the United Kingdom: 85.88 million against 69.49 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 2.5 times the size of Turkey (Türkiye)'s, at $4.00T versus $1.60T.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $18,599 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Turkey (Türkiye) | United Kingdom | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $1.60T | Higher: $4.00T | 2025 | $1.32T / $3.64T |
| GDP per capita | $18,599 | Higher: $57,602 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 34.9% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | 58.5% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 8.5% | Lower: 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 89 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,001 | Higher: $3,567 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $659 | Higher: $2,532 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.91 | $7.40 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 85.88 million | 69.49 million | 2025 | 84.63 million / 68.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.5 yrs | 40.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 90% | Higher: 95% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 783,562 km² | 242,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 109.6/km² | 286.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 513 Mt | Lower: 313 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 5.9 t | Lower: 4.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.98B | $81.76B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 512,000 | 153,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Turkey (Türkiye) is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.4%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Turkey (Türkiye) at 34.9%, while the other economy sits at 3.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Turkey (Türkiye): a price level of 41 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $1,001 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Turkey (Türkiye) is the younger society: median age 33.5 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 4.0 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 77.4).
Geography
By land area, Turkey (Türkiye) is 3.2 times the size of the United Kingdom: 783,562 km² versus 242,900 km².
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 110.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 3.3 times as much on defence as Turkey (Türkiye): $81.76B versus $24.98B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Turkey (Türkiye) fields the larger armed forces: 512,000 personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) bigger than the United Kingdom?
- Turkey (Türkiye) is larger by land area. Turkey (Türkiye) covers 783,562 km² while the United Kingdom covers 242,900 km², so Turkey (Türkiye) is 3.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Turkey (Türkiye) or the United Kingdom?
- Turkey (Türkiye) has the larger population: 85.88 million versus 69.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) richer than the United Kingdom?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $18,599. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.60T for Turkey (Türkiye) versus $4.00T for the United Kingdom.
- Who spends more on their military, Turkey (Türkiye) or the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $24.98B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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