Turkey is a country of migration. Especially after the 1950s, migration waves began from rural to urban areas such as Istanbul and have continued without ceasing for 60 years. And it is not likely to end, either. Today, migration is still ongoing mostly from the Black Sea, the eastern, southeastern and Central Anatolian regions to western and Mediterranean provinces.

The aspects of migration are striking, especially in the eastern and southeastern regions, which are the least developed regions in Turkey. One of the things that is currently drawing interest is this: Are the migrations from the eastern and southeastern regions still ongoing? Why are people wondering about that? First of all, has the population of the region, mostly composed of Kurdish people, given up on the idea of migrating for security reasons when Turk-Kurd polarization has reached its peak? Especially in Southeast Anatolia, where Kurds are densely populated, will scenarios such as “autonomous administrations” or “a federal structure” deter the population from migrating?

Since 2007, data on population movements are updated each year with an address-based population registration system. According to this data, the place where one resides and the place of registry is divided. For example, let’s say you are registered in Van province but you are living in Istanbul. According to this data, you could count how many people are registered in Van and how many of them reside in Van or other provinces. This provides information on the “cumulative migration of a population.”

So, between 2007 and 2012, is there a change in the distribution of the population registered in the 21 eastern and southeastern regions, where Kurds mostly live?

It is seen that between 2007 and 2012, the number of those born and registered in these 21 provinces increased from 18 million to 20 million. So, over the last six years, the number of citizens from these cities has increased by 11 percent, or 2 million. The increase in other regions over the same period is 5.5 percent.

Also, it is known that fertility rates are higher in eastern and southeastern regions.

The second result is, at the end of 2007, 44 percent of those registered in these 21 provinces were not residing in the place they were born. At the end of 2012, we see that this rate had reached 47 percent.

Cities Kurds migrate more

Following Istanbul as “the biggest Kurdish city,” İzmir unsurprisingly receives the second most migrants from eastern Turkey. About 9 percent of eastern migrants reside in İzmir, and the Aegean province’s eastern population has increased by 15 percent since 2007, meaning that easterners now account for more than one-fifth of İzmir’s overall population. Also, another Aegean province Manisa, Bursa and Kocaeli are other industrial provinces where Kurds are densely populated.

The Çukurova is a more traditional destination for eastern migrants.

Also, the Mediterranean province of Antalya has become another center of attraction in recent years thanks to its job opportunities in the agricultural, construction and tourism sectors. Within the last five years, the eastern population in Antalya has increased by 36 percent, a rate which surpasses all other areas in Turkey.

Source: here

I thought we were all Turks and I wonder why only KURDs relocate in their OWN country? What is forcing them?

ps: We know that in 1923 we, everybody on Turkey in every area, were almost at the same level as far as wealth distribution is concerned. Why are they still so poor is the question.

It´s not just in Turkey, it´s all over. In the USA people are relocating to the cities due to more services availability. Things like transportation, entertainment, shopping. When living in a more rural areas one has to be more self sufficient. As famlies are getting smaller, and there are less people to keep the home fires burning, city services become more appealing. 

Sad, because too much of very important control of is given up, more things vital to life become commodified....and the corruption too often creeps in.