Ankara, April 5, 2026 – The number of registered lawyers in Turkey has seen a substantial increase since 2020, rising by 63,348 to reach a total of 206,678 by December 31, 2025. A significant portion of these legal professionals, nearly half, are concentrated in the two major cities of Istanbul and Ankara.
Lawyers’ Day Celebrated Amidst Growing Numbers
Every year on April 5, Turkey observes Lawyers’ Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the vital role of legal representatives in upholding justice, the rule of law, and the right to defense. According to the Attorneyship Law, lawyers are fundamental components of the judiciary, contributing to the regulation of legal relations, the fair and equitable resolution of disputes, and the meticulous application of legal rules at every stage.
Significant Growth in Legal Profession
Data from the official website of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) reveals a 44% increase in the number of lawyers over the past five years. From 143,330 registered lawyers on December 31, 2020, the figure climbed to 206,678 by December 31, 2025. Of this total, 51.6% are male lawyers, and 48.4% are female lawyers.
Concentration in Major Cities: Istanbul and Ankara Lead
The statistics clearly indicate a strong concentration of legal professionals in Turkey’s two largest cities. Approximately 50% of all registered lawyers are affiliated with the bar associations of Istanbul and Ankara.
- Istanbul: A total of 71,442 lawyers are registered in Istanbul. This figure comprises 67,463 lawyers with the Istanbul Bar Association and 3,979 with the Istanbul 2nd Bar Association.
- Ankara: The capital city hosts 29,284 lawyers. The Ankara Bar Association accounts for 26,206 of these, while the Ankara 2nd Bar Association has 3,078 registered members.
Other significant concentrations of lawyers are found in:
- Izmir Bar Association: 14,300 lawyers
- Antalya Bar Association: 8,038 lawyers
- Bursa Bar Association: 6,544 lawyers
- Adana Bar Association: 5,020 lawyers
- Konya Bar Association: 4,239 lawyers
- Mersin Bar Association: 3,915 lawyers
- Diyarbakır Bar Association: 2,596 lawyers
- Trabzon Bar Association: 1,128 lawyers
Minister Gürlek also issued a message on Lawyers’ Day, emphasizing the importance of the profession.
This distribution underscores the pivotal role these metropolitan centers play in the country’s legal landscape, acting as hubs for legal practice and judicial activity.
Source: https://www.trthaber.com/haber/turkiye/turkiyede-avukatlarin-yarisi-istanbul-ve-ankarada-940473.html
