Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, with Islam being the largest religion. However, the country also has a small but notable non-Muslim population. Here is an overview of the main religions found in Turkey:
Islam
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Islam is by far the largest religion in Turkey, with over 99% of the population being Muslim.
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Within Islam, approximately 90-95% of Muslims belong to the Sunni branch. The majority follow the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam.
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The remaining 5-10% of Muslims belong to Shia sects, mostly the Alevi faith The Alevi faith has aspects of Shia Islam but is also quite distinct in its beliefs and practices
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Other smaller Muslim groups include Bektashis (a Sufi order), Alawites, and Twelver Shias (Ja’faris).
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Islam spread to what is now Turkey in the 7th century AD The Seljuk Turks brought Sunni Islam when they began migrating to Anatolia in the 11th century
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Under the Ottoman Empire, Hanafi Sunni Islam was fully consolidated and organized under the state. This legacy continues today, with Turkey’s religious affairs still overseen by the government.
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There are around 90,000 mosques across Turkey, including notable historical mosques in Istanbul, Bursa, Konya, and Edirne.
Christianity
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Christians make up around 0.2% of Turkey’s population today. The number of Christians used to be much higher but declined substantially over the 20th century.
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The main Christian groups are:
- Armenian Apostolic Church (Oriental Orthodox) – around 40,000 adherents
- Greek Orthodox Church (Eastern Orthodox) – around 2,500
- Syriac Orthodox Church (Oriental Orthodox) – around 15,000
- Roman Catholic Church – around 20,000
- Protestant denominations – around 5,000
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Additionally, there are very small numbers of Turkish Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and Syriac Catholic Christians.
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Istanbul has been the seat of the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople since the 4th century AD. The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople is also based in Istanbul.
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There are important Christian heritage sites across Turkey, such as churches in Istanbul, Iznik, Antakya, and Tur Abdin. Several have been converted to mosques over the centuries.
Judaism
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There are around 15,000 Jews in Turkey. In the past, the Jewish population was much larger, numbering over 100,000 in the early 20th century.
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Most Turkish Jews are Sephardi, descended from Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. There are also Ashkenazi Jews, as well as small numbers of Romaniote Jews.
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The majority of Jews live in Istanbul, with smaller communities in Izmir and Adana.
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There are 17 active synagogues in Turkey, including historic synagogues in Istanbul and Edirne.
Other Religions
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There are very small numbers of adherents of other minority religions such as:
- Yazidism – an ancient monotheistic religion
- The Baha’i Faith
- Tengrism – the ancient Turkic shamanistic religion
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
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These religious communities each have an estimated 1,000 followers or less in Turkey. They do not have official state recognition.
Irreligion
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The number of atheists, agnostics, and people who do not identify with any religion has been gradually increasing.
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Recent surveys indicate that 4-8% of the population consider themselves irreligious, mostly among the younger generation.
Religion in Turkey Today
Islam may be the dominant religion in Turkey, but it is neither the oldest nor the only one. Long before Islam entered the country, religion included Buddhism, Christianity, and lesser-known sects like Tengrism and Manichaeism. This is why the country is home to religious sites of so many different faiths.
In fact, a trip through the country’s Golden Triangle of culture reveals a wealth of historical landmarks that far predate Islam. So, what changed?
The influx of Islam also introduced many of Turkey’s stunning cultural practices. The most famous of these is the whirling dervishes performing their ancient Sufi dance.
Even with the growing popularity of Islam, Turkey still maintained an incredible level of religious tolerance. For instance, the Jewish communities with roots in Anatolia and those that immigrated from Spain and Portugal were autonomous in their domestic affairs. The same applied to the Christian communities, which consisted of Roman Catholics, the Assyrian Orthodox church, and small groups of protestants. This tolerance resulted in large thriving communities of non-Muslim Turkish citizens in the country.
In the 19th century, this relatively peaceful coexistence was put under threat with the coming of ethnic-religious nationalism.
Therefore, many non-Muslim Turkish citizens emigrated to Bulgaria, Israel, Greece, and Armenia: leaving small minorities in Turkey.
Today, around 99% of the country’s population practices Islam. More than 70% of the Muslim population in Turkey is Sunni, a branch of Islam that gets its name from the word “sunnah” which is a reference to the prophet Mohammed. You’ll find way more Sunnis than any other religious group in Turkey today because this branch of Islam was introduced in the region way back during the Ottoman Empire’s reign.
The other branch is Shia, whose first practitioners came from nearby Arab countries like Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. As a result, this faith was introduced later in the country’s timeline by immigrants from elsewhere in the region. In fact, during the Ottoman Empire, Shia believers were even persecuted by Sunnis’ majority population.
Nonetheless, these statistics tell you more about Turkey’s culture than religion. You will be surprised to learn that rather than being a strictly religious country, the majority of Turkish Muslims are liberal. These practitioners identify more with the culture of Islam than its religion. Therefore, they may identify as Muslims, but they don’t wear traditional clothing or adhere to strict religious practices. Don’t be surprised if you meet plenty of people who practice Islam at home but walk around in jeans and t-shirts just like you.
The rest of Turkey’s population belongs to religious groups like Christianity and Judaism. As Turkey has moved into modern times, more and more religious groups have come to call the country home. Major cities and cultural centers like Istanbul are globalizing quickly and are home to large ex-pat populations. In these areas, you can expect to encounter religions from all over the world.
For a taste of religion in Turkey now, pay a visit to any city center where you will feel the mix of different cultures right away. If you really want to understand the diversity of this cultural melting pot, add some of the region’s Jewish and Christian sites to your travel itinerary.
Now that you have a basic understanding of religion in Turkey, you’re ready to start planning your adventure. Start by considering which parts of the country you want to visit and which cultural and religious landmarks you can’t miss.
No vacation in this country is complete without a trip through the mosques, bustling markets, museums, and crowded public squares of Istanbul. This cultural hub is also a great place to sample Turkish cuisine, coffee, and its famous drink of choice, raki.
If you’re a traveling photographer, keep in mind that some museums and monuments will ask you to purchase a photography pass.
Remember that you should always ask for permission before photographing locals, especially while visiting religious sites. And, it helps to learn a few words and phrases in Turkish, too! Most people find it hard, and don’t worry if you can’t, as even the mimics will do it.
Our top tip for making the most of your time in Turkey is to arrive with an open mind.
On the whole, Turkey is a progressive country. Adherence to Islam is more evident in its dress, cuisine, and culture than its laws and politics. Its modern government offers protection to religious, ethnic, and sexual minorities just like any developed nation. And it’s a highly safe destination for foreign travelers!
Secular Islam is growing in popularity, especially among Turkey’s younger generations. Secular practitioners identify more with the culture of Islam than its religion. So, they don’t wear traditional clothing or adhere to strict religious practices.
Of all the countries where Islam is practiced, Turkey is quickly becoming one of the most secular! Don’t be surprised if you meet plenty of people who practice Islam at home but walk around in jeans and t-shirts just like you. The reason for this note is, both on movies and other media types, they give the message it is a religious country with a predominantly Muslim population. Such things, especially for those who follow the truth through these channels, end up with prejudice. After they visit Turkey, they quickly realize that what shown was not the same as what they saw.
The rest of Turkey’s population belongs to religious groups like Christianity and Judaism. But, major cities and cultural centers like Istanbul are globalizing quickly and are home to large ex-pat populations. In these areas, you can expect to encounter religions from all over the world.
Things to Know Before Arrival
- For centuries, Turkey has served as the bridge between Europe and Asia, a place where east meets west. So, don’t plan your trip expecting only to encounter Islam.
- Dress respectfully when visiting any religious site, no matter what faith it represents. For men, this means wearing long pants. For women, covered legs and shoulders are a must, and some attractions may request that head coverings are worn.
- If you’re worried about packing extra layers, don’t stress. Most of the country’s prominent religious attractions offer rented or borrowed coverings to make your visit worry-free. But keep in mind that pants and long sleeves are an excellent way to protect yourself from the region’s powerful sun.
- Dressing appropriately is a great way to honor Turkey’s religion and culture. It will help you earn respect with local people and allow you to blend in with the crowd.
- On the whole, Turkey is a progressive country. Adherence to Islam is more evident in its dress, cuisine, and culture than its laws and politics.
- Its modern government offers protection to religious, ethnic, and sexual minorities just like any developed nation. And it’s a highly safe destination for foreign travelers!
From the first temple of human being Gobeklitepe to the first Christian church in Antioch (Antakya), Turkey has been a crossroads for religion and there are numerous sites and landmarks you can add to your bucket list no matter what religious monuments you would like to visit.
Religion in Turkey explained | Tips for Foreigners, Non-Muslims
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