Turkish economy grows 2.5% in first quarter of 2026
01.06.2026 - 10:48 | Last Updated:
Türkiye’s economy expanded by 2.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, extending its streak of uninterrupted growth to 23 consecutive quarters despite weakness in the industrial sector.
Türkiye’s economy grew by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to preliminary data released by Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK).
The latest figures show that the country has now recorded economic growth for 23 straight quarters, highlighting the resilience of domestic economic activity despite ongoing global uncertainties and sector-specific challenges.
Based on chained volume index calculations, gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 2.5% during the January-March period. The result came in slightly below market expectations, as economists surveyed ahead of the release had forecast growth of 2.7% for the quarter.
At current prices, Türkiye’s GDP rose 35.7% year-over-year to 16.99 trillion Turkish lira ($389.6 billion) during the first three months of the year.
A breakdown of the data showed that the strongest growth came from information and communication activities, which expanded by 9.5%. Other services grew by 5.2%, while agriculture increased by 4.6%.
Trade, transportation, accommodation and food services recorded growth of 3.7%, while financial and insurance activities expanded by 3.5%. Construction grew by 3.2%, and real estate activities increased by 3%.
Professional, administrative and support services rose by 1.9%, while public administration, education, healthcare and social services expanded by 1.8%. Taxes on products less subsidies increased by 2%.
The industrial sector was the only major segment of the economy to contract during the quarter, posting a decline of 0.8% compared with the same period last year.
Despite the softer-than-expected quarterly figure, economists remain broadly optimistic about Türkiye’s economic outlook. The average forecast for full-year 2026 growth stands at 3.3%, according to market surveys.
The latest data suggests that services, technology-related industries and agriculture continue to drive economic expansion, helping offset weakness in manufacturing and industrial production as policymakers seek to sustain growth throughout the year.
