Turkey is one of the 20 most populous countries in the world. The first census of 1927 recorded a total population of 13.8 million whereas a total of 67.8 million was returned by the last census in 2000. Although the population growth rate is falling, it remains significantly higher than other OECD member countries, developed countries and transition countries. The total population in 2007 is estimated as 74 million and it is expected to have exceeded 80 million by 2015, the target year for achieving the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ).

The geographical distribution of the population has shifted over the last eighty years from being three quarters rural in 1927 to being two thirds urban at present. A pattern of increasing internal migration from villages to urban centres can be traced back to the 1950s and the development of Turkey's industrial base in the Northwest and Western regions. However, rural to urban migration increased markedly during the 1970s and reached a peak between 1980 and 1985 when the urban/rural balance tipped. The actual size of the rural population has not changed significantly since that time, remaining constant at just under 24 million.

The phenomenon of migration has had a marked effect on development where provision of basic services in rural areas continues to be hindered by problems of access and security, particularly in the Southeast. The high rate of migration to urban centres also puts increasing pressure on municipal councils, straining resources for social services and housing.

The economy has been unstable throughout the short history of the Republic and a major financial crisis in 2001, the third and most significant in a decade, led to the overnight devaluation of the Turkish Lira by 40%. A system of IMF -backed reforms helped to restore stability and the economy has grown by a third since the crisis. Maintaining economic stability has been a national priority since -- along with the introduction of a package of political, social, economic and institutional reforms in preparation for EU accession.

Resources:

State of the World's Children, UNICEF