In the first quarter of 2026, Türkiye’s economy exhibited resilience by expanding 2.5 percent, as it navigated through geopolitical tensions, global uncertainties, and rising energy costs. Official data revealed that the gross domestic product (GDP) increased on an annual basis for the January-March timeframe, although it showed a deceleration from the 3.4 percent growth in the preceding quarter. Seasonally adjusted figures indicated a modest 0.1 percent expansion compared to the previous three months.
Despite facing regional instability and volatile energy markets, which intensified inflationary pressures, Türkiye has now marked 23 consecutive quarters of economic growth. Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek emphasized the economy’s resilience amid external shocks and diminished demand from key trading partners. He highlighted that the national income has exceeded $1.6 trillion, underscoring the economy’s underlying strength.
Among the sectors, information and communication led with a robust annual growth rate of 9.5 percent. Other sectors such as services, agriculture, trade, transportation, tourism, finance, and construction also demonstrated solid growth. Household consumption was a major contributor to economic activity, climbing 4.8 percent compared to the same period last year, while government spending saw moderate increases.
However, challenges persisted, particularly within the industrial sector, which shrank by 0.8 percent due to weaker manufacturing activities and global economic headwinds. Economists anticipate that Türkiye will continue to face hurdles from international market uncertainties and energy price fluctuations. Nonetheless, domestic demand and ongoing economic reforms are expected to support growth in the upcoming quarters.