Europe is spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful cities.

London, Paris, and Rome are just a few of the most popular capitals attracting millions of people to visit and live.

Also among the most in-demand European cities is Istanbul, the capital of Turkey.

Straddling Europe and Asia, the city is famous for its diverse cultures and stunning buildings, including the incredible Blue Mosque.

A lesser-known fact about Istanbul is that its 15 million residents mean the city has a larger population than 41 European countries.

Among them are Belgium, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Hungary and Austria.

Just 11 European countries (aside from Turkey) have a larger population than Istanbul.

They are Russia, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Kazakhstan, and the Netherlands.

Globally, Istanbul has a larger population than 131 countries.

Despite its size, Istanbul’s population has decreased in recent years.

In 2023, the city’s population dropped by 252,000, marking the second consecutive year of decline.

Turkstat data says the population of Turkey in 2023 was 85,372,377, up 92,824 from the previous year.

Istanbul remains Turkey’s most densely populated city, with over 3,000 people per square kilometre.

The Turkish capital saw its highest population growth in 2019 when the number of people in the city increased by 451,000.

About 93% of Turkey’s population lives in cities and urban centres, while only 7% live in towns and villages.

There are three villages in Turkey with just one registered resident.

They were Kayalıbağ in Bitlis, Çattepe in Siirt, and Ağaçyurdu in Şırnak.