Key features of human rights in Turkey
Turkey: Key features of human rights was 0.402 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Key features of human rights in Turkey, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 0.402 for key features of human rights in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of human rights in Turkey peaked at 0.716 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.139, in 1915.
That places Turkey 136th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.
Key features of human rights in Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.176 | — |
| 1790 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.174 | -1.1% |
| 1809 | 0.168 | -3.4% |
| 1810 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.168 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.173 | +3.0% |
| 1831 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.294 | +69.9% |
| 1840 | 0.317 | +7.8% |
| 1841 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.317 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.325 | +2.5% |
| 1858 | 0.326 | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 0.326 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.349 | +7.1% |
| 1861 | 0.349 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.349 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.349 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.349 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.342 | -2.0% |
| 1866 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.345 | +0.9% |
| 1868 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.371 | +7.5% |
| 1877 | 0.21 | -43.4% |
| 1878 | 0.226 | +7.6% |
| 1879 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.191 | -15.5% |
| 1881 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.18 | -5.8% |
| 1888 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.174 | -3.3% |
| 1891 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.175 | +0.6% |
| 1901 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.174 | -0.6% |
| 1908 | 0.238 | +36.8% |
| 1909 | 0.366 | +53.8% |
| 1910 | 0.343 | -6.3% |
| 1911 | 0.301 | -12.2% |
| 1912 | 0.269 | -10.6% |
| 1913 | 0.198 | -26.4% |
| 1914 | 0.151 | -23.7% |
| 1915 | 0.139 | -7.9% |
| 1916 | 0.143 | +2.9% |
| 1917 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.163 | +14.0% |
| 1919 | 0.209 | +28.2% |
| 1920 | 0.259 | +23.9% |
| 1921 | 0.259 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.254 | -1.9% |
| 1923 | 0.25 | -1.6% |
| 1924 | 0.283 | +13.2% |
| 1925 | 0.252 | -11.0% |
| 1926 | 0.256 | +1.6% |
| 1927 | 0.256 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.266 | +3.9% |
| 1929 | 0.269 | +1.1% |
| 1930 | 0.254 | -5.6% |
| 1931 | 0.268 | +5.5% |
| 1932 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.271 | +1.1% |
| 1941 | 0.255 | -5.9% |
| 1942 | 0.255 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.268 | +5.1% |
| 1944 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.283 | +5.6% |
| 1946 | 0.34 | +20.1% |
| 1947 | 0.353 | +3.8% |
| 1948 | 0.357 | +1.1% |
| 1949 | 0.357 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.421 | +17.9% |
| 1951 | 0.458 | +8.8% |
| 1952 | 0.472 | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 0.486 | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 0.478 | -1.6% |
| 1955 | 0.462 | -3.3% |
| 1956 | 0.459 | -0.6% |
| 1957 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.366 | -20.3% |
| 1961 | 0.406 | +10.9% |
| 1962 | 0.474 | +16.7% |
| 1963 | 0.509 | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 0.515 | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 0.519 | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 0.533 | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 0.533 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.533 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.533 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.5 | -6.2% |
| 1971 | 0.441 | -11.8% |
| 1972 | 0.448 | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 0.479 | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 0.501 | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.489 | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 0.49 | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 0.489 | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 0.297 | -39.3% |
| 1981 | 0.237 | -20.2% |
| 1982 | 0.237 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.299 | +26.2% |
| 1984 | 0.381 | +27.4% |
| 1985 | 0.379 | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 0.388 | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 0.405 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 0.416 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 0.416 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.467 | +12.3% |
| 1991 | 0.462 | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 0.47 | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 0.472 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 0.472 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.471 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 0.484 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 0.494 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 0.492 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 0.514 | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 0.557 | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 0.568 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 0.668 | +17.6% |
| 2003 | 0.705 | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 0.716 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 0.711 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 0.711 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.699 | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 0.68 | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 0.678 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.645 | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 0.647 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.638 | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 0.54 | -15.4% |
| 2014 | 0.538 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.507 | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 0.35 | -31.0% |
| 2017 | 0.333 | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 0.357 | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 0.372 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 0.364 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 0.361 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.358 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 0.388 | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 0.4 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 0.402 | +0.5% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 0.402 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7345, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 0.402 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8795, 46% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.176 | 0.176 | 0.176 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.176 | 0.176 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.175 | 0.168 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.168 | 0.168 | 0.168 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.168 | 0.168 | 0.168 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.1851 | 0.173 | 0.294 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.317 | 0.317 | 0.317 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.3196 | 0.317 | 0.326 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.3464 | 0.342 | 0.349 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.3103 | 0.21 | 0.371 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.1877 | 0.18 | 0.191 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.174 | 0.174 | 0.174 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.2003 | 0.174 | 0.366 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.2059 | 0.139 | 0.343 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.2604 | 0.25 | 0.283 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2666 | 0.254 | 0.268 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.3007 | 0.255 | 0.357 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.4613 | 0.421 | 0.486 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.4921 | 0.366 | 0.533 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4839 | 0.441 | 0.501 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3455 | 0.237 | 0.416 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4798 | 0.462 | 0.514 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6693 | 0.557 | 0.716 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4927 | 0.333 | 0.647 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3788 | 0.358 | 0.402 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More social development data for Turkey
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 149,405 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0017 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 149,405 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of human rights in Turkey?
- Key features of human rights in Turkey was 0.402 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of human rights recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 0.716 in 2004.
- What is the lowest key features of human rights recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.139 in 1915.
- How does Turkey rank for key features of human rights?
- Turkey ranks 136th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of human rights rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Turkey data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of human rights. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture, political killings, and forced labor, they have property rights, and enjoy the freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association.