Pray for Turkey
Learn about and pray for Turkey in just 5 minutes per week!
Receive one email per week for 13 weeks about Turkey’s history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.
WEEK 1
Prayercast
Pray along with a local believer for their nation.
WEEK 2
Operation World
Pray through Operation World's country profile.
WEEK 3
World Watch List
Pray through the country's persecution profile.
WEEKS 4-13
People Groups
Pray for the country's 10 largest unreached people groups.
Introduction
Turkey is a nation of contrasts, blending modern industry and traditional agriculture to become the sixteenth largest global economy.
Positioned between Europe and Asia, it bridges two worlds while remaining distinct. Economic growth faces challenges, with a high deficit and dependence on short-term investments.
Ethnic tensions persist, particularly with the Kurdish population, leading to conflicts over cultural recognition.
Despite a historical Christian presence, modern Turkey sees strong persecution of Christians. The predominant Islamic identity discourages conversions, and evangelism is met with resistance. Amidst these challenges, a call to embrace God’s love and peace echoes across the nation, bridging the cultural and religious divides with hope and faith.
Fast Facts
Capital City: Ankara
Population: 86 million (99% unreached)
People Groups: 85
10/40 Window: Yes
Major People Groups: 62% Turk; 17% Northern Kurd; 7% Crimean Tatar
Major Religions: Islam 98%
Language: Turkish
GDP Per Capita: $28,400
Literacy Rate: 97%
Did you know? St. Peter’s Cave Church in Antioch is believed to be the world’s first Christian church.
Pray for the unreached people groups of Turkey
The Turks are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. Turkey is also home to 56 other unreached people groups and 36 frontier people groups.
Below are the 10 largest unreached people groups in Turkey:
| Name | Religion | Population |
| 1. Turk | Islam | 61,482,000 |
| 2. Kurd, Kurmanji | Islam | 9,252,000 |
| 3. Kurd, Turkish-speaking | Islam | 6,412,000 |
| 4. Zaza-Dimli | Islam | 1,316,000 |
| 5. Kabardian | Islam | 1,203,000 |
| 6. Arab, North Iraqi | Islam | 590,000 |
| 7. Alawite | Islam | 564,000 |
| 8. Yoruk | Islam | 473,000 |
| 9. Deaf | Islam | 429,000 |
| 10. Pomak | Islam | 396,000 |
Pray for Christians being persecuted
Turkey is ranked #50 on the 2024 World Watch List published by Open Doors.
Religious nationalism is very strong in Turkey. Anyone who is not a Muslim is considered disloyal and unpatriotic.
Since religious affiliation is still recorded on ID cards, it is easy to discriminate against Christian job applicants. Although conversion from Islam to Christianity is not illegal, converts are put under pressure by their families and communities to return to Islam. If their faith is discovered, they may be threatened with divorce and the loss of inheritance rights.
World Watch List
You can learn about Christian persecution and pray for our brothers and sisters who being persecuted around the world by praying through the Open Doors’ World Watch List.
Pray for Turkey
“Slow drip” your learning and prayers for Turkey: its history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.