Nuh Çimento Vatan Middle School - TURKEY

MIGRATION IN TURKEY

Country profileLocation: 97% Asia (Anatolian Peninsula),

3% Europe (Balkan Peninsula)Surface: 780.580 sqkm (36th)Population: 78.785.548 (17th)Ethnic structure: 75% Turks, 18% Kurds, 7% Greeks, Armenians, ArabsNet migration rate: 0.5 migrant/1000

population (63rd)

MIGRATION OF TURKEY OVER TIME

Since the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, we have witnessed several movements of its population. They can be divided into 4 stages.

Stage I (1923-1950) Stage II (1950-1970)Stage III (1970-1990) Stage IV (after 1990)

Stage I (1923-1950)Two international migration movements: mass-leaving of the country by the minority non-Muslim

population the return of the Turks from the territories lost by the

Ottoman Empire before and during the first World War

Ethnical structure of the population of Turkey during 1914-1945 (thousands)

Year 1914 1927 1945

Muslims 12,941 13,290 18,511

Orthodox Greeks 1549 110 104

Armenians 1204 77 60

Jews 128 82 77

Others 176 71 38

Total 15,997 13,630 18,790

Percentage of non-Muslims 19,1 2,5 1,5

Stage II (1950-1970)Series of international migrations, an exodus of Turkish citizens

towards Western Europe countriesFirst agreement was signed in 1961 with Germany, fact which

provides us with an explanation why today Germany has the largest Turkish Diaspora community in the world (1.658.083 people in 2009).

Immediately after having signed the agreement with Germany, Turkey has signed one also with UK

In 1964 there were signed agreements with Austria, Netherlands and Belgium

In 1965 with France In 1967 with Sweden and AustraliaThe end of this stage was brought by the oil crisis from 1973 which

pressured Germany and other countries to terminate the agreements with Turkey and several other states; this resulted in closing the migrant workers program

Stage III (1970-1990)This period is characterized by an exodus of Turkish

citizens towards the Arab countriesTwo phases:

the first one, migration towards Libya and Saudi Arabia during 1967-1981

the second one, migration towards Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Jordan and Libya during 1981-1992

A series of immigrants from Iran arrive to Turkey due to the political changes caused by the Islamic Revolution

During the ‘80s, part of the Turkish population found itself too, faced with the need to emigrate due to political conditions

This period ended due to the crisis generated by the Gulf War from 1990-1991

Stage IV (after 1990)

This stage begins after the end of the Cold WarMigration towards the former Soviet Union

membersIn 5 years, towards the ISC, migrated a

population double in size compared to the one that migrated towards the Arab countries in 20 years

After 1995 studies reveal an increase in the migration towards more remote destinations, like Canada, USA, Australia

Turkey also has a sizeable refugee population abroad as well as an internally displaced population, mainly due to the internal conflict mainly due to hostilities opposing the Turkish army since 1984.

Turkey has also long been a country of destination for migrants, either migrants or refugees or asylum seekers.

It has recently emerged as a destination for migrants from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, as these new migrants envisage Turkey as a gateway to a new job, a new life, and a stepping stone to employment in the West.

Migration issues in Turkey are shaped by its efforts to become a member of the European Union (EU), which are creating pressures for an overhaul of its immigration and asylum policies. This is because the alignment of Turkey’s migration policy and practice with the EU migration acquis and policies is one of the conditions for the country’s accession to the EU.

An issue of concern in Europe at present relates to the possible negative consequence of Turkey’s potential membership in the EU, that is, the probability of a massive wave of migration from Turkey to EU’s more prosperous members.

MIGRATION IN TURKEY TODAY Immigrants

Turkey hosts 1.328.405 immigrants, approximately 2% of its population

The immigrants group is balanced, 52.6% being women and 47.4% being men

Turkey hosts approximately 13.000 refugees It is impossible to know the exact number of illegal

immigrants from Turkey, but estimates show that it could be anywhere between 150.000 and 1.000.000

2005 2006 2007

Work 23,184 23,381 24,881

Education 22,650 25,803 28,455

Other reasons 122,284 150,011 171,872

Total 168,118 199,195 225,208

MIGRATION IN TURKEY TODAYEmigrants

has today approximately 4.5 million emigrants the most popular destinations for Turkish migrants are

Germany, France and Netherlands, these three hosting approximately 2.5 million Turkish emigrants, more than half of the total number of worldwide Turkish emigrants

schooling level of those emigrating from Turkey is rather diverse, but the share of those with higher qualification is larger than that of those without qualification

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