Demographic shifts reported in Ardahan and Kars provinces

Recent data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) regarding marital status for the population aged 15 and older reveals shifting demographic trends in the provinces of Ardahan and Kars.

In Ardahan, the total population has decreased from 91,354 to 90,392 due to migration and declining birth rates. Despite this decline, the number of divorced individuals rose by 147 compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 1,830. Ardahan also maintains one of the lowest marriage rates in Turkey, with a crude marriage rate of 4.67 per thousand.

In Kars, the 2025 statistics show that out of a population of 207,012 people aged 15 and older, 121,811 are married and 69,170 have never married. The number of divorced individuals in Kars increased by 390 over the previous year, totaling 4,521. Data also indicates a significant gender gap among those who have never married, with 40,370 men compared to 28,800 women.