Is Turkey Shiite or Sunni? A Look at Islam in Turkey

Turkey is predominantly a Sunni Muslim country, with Sunnis making up around 80-85% of the Muslim population. The remaining 15-20% are Shiite Muslims, belonging mainly to the Alevi denomination. Let’s take a closer look at the breakdown of Islam in Turkey.

Sunni Islam in Turkey

The majority of Muslims in Turkey identify as Sunnis, following the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Some key facts about Sunni Islam in Turkey:

Around 80-85% of Turkish Muslims are Sunni. This equates to around 70-75% of Turkey’s total population.
Most Turkish Sunnis adhere to the Hanafi madhhab (school of law), which is one of the four main schools within Sunni Islam.
Sunni Islam first spread into what is now Turkey during the Umayyad Caliphate in the 7th and 8th centuries AD, It became firmly established under the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century,
The Ottoman Empire championed Sunni Islam building mosques and madrassas to spread the faith. This legacy continues today.
Sunni Islam is centralized under the “Presidency of Religious Affairs” (Diyanet), a state body that oversees all mosques and appoints imams.
Turkey has thousands of historic and modern Sunni mosques including the famous Sultan Ahmed and Süleymaniye mosques in Istanbul.
Turkish Sunnis are generally moderate and mainstream in their beliefs. More conservative Sunni movements have a limited presence.

Shiite Islam in Turkey

Although the Shiite population is much smaller, Shiite Islam has an important place in Turkey. Here are some key facts:

Shiites make up 15-20% of Turkey’s Muslim population, so around 12-15% of the total population.
Most Turkish Shiites belong to the Alevi sect, which blends Shia Islam with Sufi and Anatolian folk traditions.
There are smaller numbers of Ja’faris and other Twelver Shiites, mainly in eastern Turkey.
Shiism came to Turkey through the Safavids in the 16th century and the Kızılbaş Turkomans. The Ottoman Empire harshly suppressed them.
Alevis faced discrimination and even massacres during the Ottoman and early Republican periods. Tensions have eased in recent decades.
Significant Alevi populations live in central Anatolia and among Kurds and Zaza tribes. Tunceli is Turkey’s only Alevi-majority province.
Unlike Sunnis, the Alevi clergy are not centralized under the Diyanet. Many Alevis criticize it as biased towards Sunnism.

Religious Freedom and Diversity

Despite being predominantly Sunni Muslim, Turkey is officially a secular state with full religious freedom. Some key points:

Religion and state were formally separated in 1928 during Atatürk’s reforms.
The constitution protects freedom of belief and worship for Sunnis, Shiites, and religious minorities.
There are long-established Christian (mostly Orthodox) and Jewish communities recognized under the Treaty of Lausanne.
Shiites were historically repressed but conditions have improved. Tensions remain between Alevis and the Sunni establishment.

So while Turkey’s state and religious institutions are largely Sunni in character, the legal basis exists for all faiths to practice freely. Efforts continue to build a more pluralistic society.

is turkey shiite or sunni

Call to prayer in Turkey

One way that observant Muslims show their devotion is by praying throughout the day.

In every Turkish city, the call to prayer reverberates from mosque speakers five times daily, announcing central tenets of the Islamic faith and reminding Muslims to pray. The first one takes place before sunrise and admonishes the faithful to remember that “prayer is better than sleep.”

When they hear the call, practicing Muslims stop what they’re doing, kneel facing Mecca, and pray. Non-Muslims are not expected to partake in this, but there is some etiquette you should practice when you encounter others who do:

Avoid standing in front of anyone who is praying
Stay silent during the call
Give worshippers their space and refrain from taking pictures of them.

Ramadan, called Ramazan in Turkey, is a month-long period of fasting that Muslims around the world observe each year, usually in May and June. (The actual dates vary according to the Islamic lunar calendar.) Participants eschew food and beverages — this includes water — from sunrise to sunset, breaking their daily fast with a celebratory meal, or iftar.

Taking part in the fast “is a kind of praying,” explains Özkan, and people who do are intentionally “kind of starving” as a way to build empathy. “They are trying to understand what poor people feel. Otherwise, how can we understand that?”

No one expects visiting foreigners to fast – many Turks don’t. But if, during Ramadan, you happen to be traveling in any Muslim country — or even a predominantly Muslim community or neighborhood — you can be courteous by not eating and drinking in public during the day. Opt for indoor seating in restaurants and if you need water, sip it discreetly. At sunset, head to restaurants to sample special bread, dates, and other delicacies that are traditionally served at the meal.

Turkey is 96% Muslim. What does that mean for travelers who may not know much about Islam or the way it’s practiced in Turkey? By

is turkey shiite or sunni

Due in part to how Western media portrays Muslim countries, some travelers may have concerns about visiting Turkey.

In reality, Islam shapes travelers’ experiences in overwhelmingly positive ways — through the indelible impressions it has left on everything from Turkish foodways to the country’s iconic architecture.

Islam in Turkey dates back to the 8th century, when Turkic tribes fought alongside Arab Muslims against Chinese forces at the Battle of Talas in 751 A.D. Spurred by the influence of ruling dynasties, many people converted to Islam over the next few centuries.

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 as a distinctly secular republic — a key difference between Turkey and countries such as Saudi Arabia or Pakistan — but Islam remains inextricably intertwined with Turkish culture.

Turkish children are designated Muslim at birth unless their parents are affiliated with another religion, leading to a population that is 99% Muslim but diverse in how strictly individuals and families observe Islam.

Regardless of where they personally fall on the spectrum, Turkish people tend to approach religion with respect and decorum. We spoke with Fatih Özkan, from the Süleymaniye Mosque Cultural Info Center, about what you should keep in mind while traveling in Turkey so you can do the same.

Religion in Turkey explained | Tips for Foreigners, Non-Muslims

FAQ

Are Turks Sunni or Shia?

Most Muslims in Turkey are Sunni Muslims forming about 90%, and Shia-Aleviler (Alevis, Ja’faris and Alawites) denominations in total form up to 10% of the Muslim population.

Is Saudi Arabia Sunni or Shia?

Between 85 and 90 percent of the approximately 21 million Saudi citizens are Sunni Muslims. Shia Muslims constitute 10 to 12 percent of the citizen population and an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the Eastern Province’s population.

Are Egyptians Shia or Sunni?

Islam is practiced by 90% of Egyptians. Most Egyptian Muslims are Sunni and follow the Maliki school of jurisprudence, though all legal schools are represented. Shi’a Muslims make up a small minority.

Why are Turkish Muslims different?

Islam in Turkey is Islam. In essence, Turkish Islam is no different than Islam anywhere else in the world. Turkey, however, is different from many other Muslim-majority countries in that it is a secular state and therefore religious belief and practice is left up to the individual rather than dictated by society.