Aegean Region economy shows decline in business formations

Economic indicators for Turkey’s Aegean Region show a decline in new business formations alongside rising individual debt levels. According to data from the TBB Risk Center and August 2026 business statistics, the number of new companies established in the region fell by 9.1% compared to August 2025, with 895 new entities recorded. Conversely, company closures increased by 14.5%, rising from 173 to 198.

In Izmir, the most active city in the region, 527 companies were established while 115 closed and 180 entered liquidation. Individual credit usage remains high; Izmir holds 7% of Turkey’s total individual credit share, with an average debt of 132,000 TL per person. Muğla also ranks among the top ten cities for individual credit, averaging 120,000 TL per person.