Türkiye
Waiting for the first voice
No advice from here yet. Know an elder from this country? Your recording could be the first: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Did you know
Istanbul stands on two continents at once, Europe and Asia. (source)
Elders in numbers
- of people are 65 or older
- 10.6%
- people aged 65 or older
- 9.1M
- will be 65 or older in 2050
- 22.1%
- is how long people live after 60, on average
- 22.1 years
- of people 65+ live alone
- 12.6%
- women 18.1%, men 6.3%
- of people 65+ live in collective quarters: care homes, hospitals, hostels and the like
- 1.5%
Sources: World Bank, 2025; World Bank projection for 2050; WHO, 2023; UN, 2018; UN, 2000 census
Languages
40 languages, 17 of them endangered
- HértevinSeverely endangered
- Mardin Sign LanguageSeverely endangered
- Ashurian AramaicDefinitely endangered
- Balkan GagauzDefinitely endangered
- Cappadocian GreekDefinitely endangered
- Chaldean Neo-AramaicDefinitely endangered
- AbazaVulnerable
- AbkhazVulnerable
- AdygheVulnerable
- AvarVulnerable
- Crimean TatarVulnerable
- HomshetsiVulnerable
Show all 40
- KabardianVulnerable
- KurmanjiVulnerable
- LazVulnerable
- Southern ZazaVulnerable
- TuroyoVulnerable
- Balkan Romani
- Bulgarian
- Carpathian Romani
- Eastern Armenian
- Georgian
- Gilit Mesopotamian Arabic
- Iranian Persian
- Judaeo-Spanish
- Levantine Arabic
- Modern Greek
- Najdi Arabic
- North Azerbaijani
- North Mesopotamian Arabic
- Northern Zaza
- Pontic Greek
- Serbisk
- South Azerbaijani
- Southern Uzbek
- Turkish
- Turkish Sign Language
- Turkmen
- Vlax Romani
- Central Taurus Sign Language
Languages and their status: Glottolog v5.3, CC BY 4.0. Names: Wikidata.
UNESCO intangible heritage
- Antep İşi, drawn thread embroidery of Gaziantep2025
- Traditional bagpipe (Gayda/Tulum) making and performing2024
- Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz2024
- Iftar/Eftari/Iftar/Iftor and its socio-cultural traditions2023
- Traditional knowledge, methods and practices concerning olive cultivation2023
- Art of illumination: Təzhib/Tazhib/Zarhalkori/Tezhip/Naqqoshlik2023
- Craftsmanship of mother of pearl inlay2023
- Craftsmanship and performing art of balaban/mey2023
Show all 32
- Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving2022
- Telling tradition of Nasreddin Hodja/ Molla Nesreddin/ Molla Ependi/ Apendi/ Afendi Kozhanasyr Anecdotes2022
- Traditional Ahlat stonework2022
- Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction2022
- Hüsn-i Hat, traditional calligraphy in Islamic art in Turkey2021
- Art of miniature2020
- Traditional intelligence and strategy game: Togyzqumalaq, Toguz Korgool, Mangala/Göçürme2020
- Traditional Turkish archery2019
- Heritage of Dede Qorqud/Korkyt Ata/Dede Korkut, epic culture, folk tales and music2018
- Spring celebration, Hıdrellez2017
- Whistled language2017
- Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka2016
- Traditional craftsmanship of Çini-making2016
- Ebru, Turkish art of marbling2014
- Turkish coffee culture and tradition2013
- Mesir Macunu festival2012
- Ceremonial Keşkek tradition2011
- Kırkpınar oil wrestling festival2010
- Traditional Sohbet meetings2010
- Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi ritual2010
- Karagöz2009
- Âşıklık (minstrelsy) tradition2009
- Arts of the Meddah, public storytellers2008
- Mevlevi Sema ceremony2008
List and years: ich.unesco.org
Know an elder from this country?
Record their advice in their native language: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Record your elder