Fertility rate in Turkey and Sivas drops below replacement level

While the decline in birth rates continues across Turkey, the picture in Sivas remains below the national average. TURKSTAT 2025 data shows that the fertility rate is moving away from the population's replacement level.

Rates in Turkey and Sivas

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute's 2025 Birth Statistics data, the total fertility rate across Turkey was 1.42 children. In the same period, this indicator was recorded at the level of 1.24 children in Sivas. Sivas's rate remained approximately 12.7 percent below the national average.

Below Replacement Level

Neither Turkey nor Sivas reached the 2.10 children level accepted as the reference for the population to renew itself naturally. Sivas's fertility rate was about 41 percent below this critical replacement level. In 76 out of the 81 provinces across Turkey, this ratio also remained below the 2.10 limit.

Live Birth Numbers in Sivas

Annual live birth numbers in Sivas showed a steady downward trend over the years. The number of live births in the city, which was 7,598 in 2020, dropped to 5,523 in 2025. The decline rate experienced over the five-year period was calculated as approximately 27.3 percent.

Gender Distribution and 2025 Data

The total fertility rate in Sivas, which was 1.64 children in 2020, fell to 1.24 in 2025. Of the 5,523 babies born in the city in 2025, 2,884 were boys and 2,639 were girls. Across Turkey, the fertility rate has remained below 2.10 for the past nine years.

General Turkey Table

The total fertility rate across Turkey experienced a continuous decline starting from 2014. The number of provinces where the fertility rate was below 1.50 rose from 4 in 2017 to 59 in 2025. In 2025, the highest rate was seen in Şanlıurfa with 3.15 children, and the lowest rate was seen in Bartın with 1.09 children.