Istanbul

For other uses, see Istanbul (disambiguation).

Istanbul İstanbul (Turkish)
Metropolitan municipality and province
Historical peninsula, including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Maiden's Tower İstiklal Avenue and its tram Galata Tower Topkapı Palace Levent, a business district Bosporus, 15 July Martyrs Bridge and Ortaköy Mosque
Flag Emblem of Istanbul
Interactive map of Istanbul
Istanbul Location within Turkey Istanbul Location within Europe Istanbul Location within Asia
Coordinates: 41°00′49″N 28°57′18″E
Country	Turkey
Region	Marmara
Province	Istanbul
Established	11 May 330
Provincial seat	Cağaloğlu, Fatih
Districts	39
Government
• Type	Mayor–council government
• Body	Municipal Council of Istanbul
• Mayor	Nuri Aslan (acting) (CHP)
Area
• Urban	2,576.85 km2 (994.93 sq mi)
• Metro	5,343.22 km2 (2,063.03 sq mi)
Highest elevation	537 m (1,762 ft)
Population  (31 December 2025)
• Metropolitan municipality and province	15,754,053
• Rank	1st in Turkey and Europe 8th in Asia
• Urban	15,382,791
• Urban density	5,970/km2 (15,500/sq mi)
• Metro density	2,948/km2 (7,640/sq mi)
Demonym	Istanbulite (Turkish: İstanbullu)
GDP (nominal, 2024)
• Metropolitan municipality and province	₺13.011 trillion (US$396.3 billion)
• Per capita	₺802,669 (US$24,452)
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code	34000 to 34990
Area codes	+90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
ISO 3166 code	TR-34
Vehicle registration	34
HDI (2022)	0.888 (very high) · 1st
GeoTLD	.ist, .istanbul
Website	ibb.istanbul (Municipality) istanbul.gov.tr (Governorship)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Historic Areas of Istanbul
Criteria	Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
Reference	356
Inscription	1985 (9th Session)
Extensions	2017
Area	765.5 ha (1,892 acres)

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Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, a megacity, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus – one of the world's busiest waterways – in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its area of 5,461 square kilometers (2,109 mi²) is coterminous with Istanbul Province.

The city developed to become one of the most significant cities in history. Byzantium was founded on the (present-day) Sarayburnu promontory by Greek colonists in the seventh century BC. Over nearly 16 centuries following its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, it served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of its caliphate. Although the Republic of Turkey established its capital in Ankara, palaces and imperial mosques still line Istanbul's hills as visible reminders of the city's previous central role. The historic centre of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Istanbul's strategic position along the historic Silk Road, rail networks to Europe and West Asia, and the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean have helped foster an eclectic populace, although less so since the establishment of the Republic in 1923. Overlooked for the new capital during the interwar period, the city has since regained much of its prominence. The population of the city has increased tenfold since the 1950s, as migrants from across Anatolia have flocked to the metropolis and city limits have expanded to accommodate them. The majority of Istanbul’s Turkish citizens are of ethnic Turkish origin, whereas ethnic Kurds represent the largest ethnic minority in the city.

Considered an alpha global city, Istanbul accounts for about thirty percent of Turkey's economy. The Istanbul-İzmit area is one of the main industrial regions in Turkey. In 2025, Euromonitor International ranked Istanbul as the fifth most visited city in the world. Istanbul is home to two international airports, multiple ports, and numerous universities. It is among the top 100 science and technology clusters in the world. The city hosts a large part of Turkish football and sports in general, with clubs such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. Istanbul is vulnerable to earthquakes as it is in close proximity to the North Anatolian Fault.