Every score shows how complete our data is - a score is only as good as the data behind it, and we'd rather show our gaps than hide them.
Hand-researched by our team.
| Factor | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey GDP per capita (USD, 2025) | 18610 | — |
| Istanbul share of national GDP (%) | 31 | — |
| Numbeo Purchasing Power Index | 70.28 | — |
| Turkey unemployment rate % (2023) | 8.5 | — |
| GDP growth % (2025) | 3.6 | — |
| High self-employment / SME density (qualitative) | very high - Turkey's commercial capital, dense bazaar/SME economy | — |
Hand-researched by our team.
| Factor | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Metro population (2025) | 16237000 | — |
| Metro annual growth rate % (2025) | 1.18 | — |
| Turkey median age (2025) | 34.9 | — |
| Largest expat/refugee host city in Turkey (qualitative) | highest in country | — |
| Young-adult share (qualitative, below-EU median age) | high - median age under 35 | — |
Hand-researched by our team.
| Factor | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World heritage / historic cultural depth | exceptional - Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, Grand Bazaar | — |
| Café/restaurant/bar density (qualitative) | very high - global top-tier dining scene | — |
| Museums & cultural venues | 100+ museums and galleries | — |
| Nightlife / events scene | major - Beyoglu/Kadikoy nightlife districts | — |
| International tourist arrivals (qualitative) | among world's most-visited cities | — |
Hand-researched by our team.
| Factor | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Numbeo Pollution Index (higher=worse) | 58 | — |
| Numbeo Climate Index | 93.02 | — |
| Bosphorus/coastal natural setting | excellent waterfront geography | — |
| Walkability (qualitative) | mixed - dense core walkable, sprawl and traffic heavy | — |
| Green space per capita (qualitative) | below-average for megacity scale | — |
Hand-researched by our team.
| Factor | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Numbeo Health Care Index | 70.09 | — |
| Numbeo Safety Index | 51.94 | — |
| Medical tourism hub (qualitative) | major destination - hair/dental/cosmetic | — |
| Gym/fitness/yoga density (qualitative) | good in central/affluent districts | — |
| Outdoor activity access (qualitative) | moderate - coastline yes, megacity congestion no | — |
Ask the Istanbul guide anything about this city's energy score — what the pillars mean, how it's computed, or what the data is telling you.
Some things you just can't measure from a satellite or a spreadsheet - they're only knowable by someone who actually lives there. We pull the best data we can find, but local truth beats remote estimates every time. If you know this city and our numbers look off, tell us - local knowledge makes this better for everyone.