Quick answerAnkara is the capital of Turkey, with 5,910,320 people inside the city limits in 2025. It is best known for the Anıtkabir, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Capital of Turkey. Its official language is Turkish, and its currency is the Turkish lira.
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and its second-largest city, with 5,910,320 people (31 December 2025). It stands on the Central Anatolian plateau and is home to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Key facts
| Country | Turkey |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 5,910,320 (2025) |
| Elevation | 938 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Istanbul |
| Language | Turkish |
| Currency | Turkish lira (TRY, ₺) |
| Coordinates | 39.9289° N, 32.8547° E |
Overview
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second-largest city, with 5,910,320 people at the end of 2025. It stands on the Central Anatolian plateau, about 938 metres above sea level, in the middle of the country. Ankara has been the capital since 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed, and it is the seat of the government, the parliament and most foreign embassies.
Ankara's history goes back much further than the Republic: the city was a Roman and Byzantine centre, and the Temple of Augustus still stands near the old castle. Its best-known sights are Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which holds finds from the Hittites and other peoples of ancient Anatolia.
Today Ankara is a city of government, universities and industry, quieter and more spread out than Istanbul. Its old citadel and the Kocatepe Mosque stand beside modern ministries and boulevards, and the city is a transport crossroads for the whole of central Turkey.
What Ankara is known for
- Anıtkabir
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Capital of Turkey
- Ankara Castle
- Turkish government
Landmarks
- Anıtkabir
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Ankara Castle
- Temple of Augustus
- Kocatepe Mosque
- Gençlik Park
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ankara?
About 5.9 million people live in Ankara (5,910,320 at the end of 2025, according to TurkStat). That makes Ankara Turkey's second-largest city, after Istanbul. The urban core alone has about 5.3 million people, and the rest live in the surrounding districts of Ankara Province.
What is Ankara famous for?
Ankara is famous as the capital of Turkey and the home of Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It is also known for the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara Castle, the Temple of Augustus, and its universities and government ministries.
Where is Ankara located?
Ankara is in central Turkey, on the Central Anatolian plateau, about 350 kilometres south-east of Istanbul. It is the capital of Turkey and of Ankara Province. Its coordinates are 39.93° N, 32.85° E, and its time zone is Turkey Time (UTC+3).
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- Turkey — the country Ankara is in
- Istanbul — another city in Turkey
- Izmir — another city in Turkey
- Bursa — another city in Turkey
- All cities in Turkey
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Ankara
- TurkStat, via Wikipedia — Ankara (Address Based Population Registration System, 31 December 2025)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.