Turkey
Asia · Western Asia
Bridge between East and West: high inflation, dramatic landscapes, underrated Istanbul.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Turkey's Human Development Index
0.855
Very High human development#45 of 191 countries worldwide, #9 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 77% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Turkey
Turkey is a country that genuinely bridges continents and civilisations, where the Byzantine grandeur of Istanbul, the carved valleys of Cappadocia, the ancient ruins of Ephesus and Troy, and the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts all form part of a single, complex cultural inheritance. Turkish hospitality is legendary, the food is outstanding, and the country rewards weeks of exploration across its very different regions. Those who engage beyond the famous sights will find layers of culture and landscape that go very deep.
- Only country straddling two continents — Europe and Asia.
- Istanbul is the largest city in Europe by population — more than London or Paris.
- Coffee was first drunk here, not in Ethiopia — Turks refined and spread it westward.
Quick Facts
Capital
Ankara
Language
Turkish
Currency
₺ TRY
Area
769,630 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
78Mbps
Mobile
65Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$3,000/mo
Duration
6 months
Renewable
Unclear
Application Fee
~$190
GDP / Capita
$19K
PPP / Capita
$45K
Inflation
34.9%
Unemployment
8.5%
Innovation (GII)
37.2
GNI / Capita
$16K
Tax Revenue
17.6%
FDI Inflows
0.9%
Education Spend
3.1%
Cost of Living
39.2
Price Level Index
55th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.598 → 0.855 (+0.257)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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Turkey head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Turkey's Human Development Index?
Turkey's Human Development Index is 0.855 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #45 of 191 countries.
Is Turkey safe?
Turkey scores 2.60 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #134 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Turkey?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Turkey at 39.2 (New York = 100); that is #62 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Turkey?
Life expectancy at birth in Turkey is 77.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #65 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Turkey?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Turkey at 142.1, ranked #45 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.