Newsletters
Over the 2021-2025 period, Türkiye maintained robust entrepreneurial activity, with business formations significantly outpacing closures, according to data compiled from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB).
Over the five years, 607,694 companies were established and 129,961 businesses ceased operations. That means nearly five new businesses were launched for every one that closed.
The figures reflect long-term resilience in the Turkish economy, with more startups continuing to enter the market despite cyclical fluctuations and economic challenges, including regional disruptions and global uncertainty.
Between 2021 and 2025, annual business registrations consistently remained above six figures, reaching 109,695 in 2021 before climbing to a peak of 140,229 in 2022. Even following the devastating earthquakes in 2023, new company formations only slightly dipped, with 128,528 registrations recorded, underscoring sustained entrepreneurial confidence.
Limited liability companies remained the dominant type of new business registered during this period, accounting for the vast majority of new entries. Foreign partner participation also continued, with thousands of joint ventures and foreign-partner companies registered annually.
While the five-year trend paints a picture of overall expansion, data specifically for 2025 show a minor contraction in new company launches compared with 2024.
According to TOBB figures, 113,779 new companies were formed in 2025, down 1.5% from 115,463 in 2024, marking a slight year-on-year downturn in startup activity.
At the same time, the number of liquidated companies increased modestly, reaching roughly 32,753 closures, up about 1.8% from the previous year. The rise in liquidations, combined with a slight dip in new registrations, suggests short-term volatility in business confidence and market dynamics.
Monthly data also highlighted sharper fluctuations. In December 2025, startups surged by more than 34% compared with the previous month, while liquidations jumped on a monthly basis as well. These swings indicate that while annual totals declined only marginally, there were notable short-term movements in entrepreneurial activity.
TOBB data noted that the broader trend remains positive, with relatively high levels of new company formations continuing to outweigh closures when viewed over multiple years.
The fact that nearly five new ventures opened for every business that closed over the last five years reflects underlying entrepreneurial dynamism within Türkiye's economy.
However, the slight downturn in 2025 and the uptick in closures could signal emerging pressures, such as rising input costs, tighter financing conditions, or shifts in consumer demand, that may influence startup decisions and business sustainability.
Analysts suggest that policymakers and business support organizations may use these data to refine regulatory frameworks, strengthen access to capital, and encourage innovation-driven sectors.
In summary, Türkiye's business landscape in 2025 exhibited mixed signals, combining a modest annual dip in new company registrations with a longer-term pattern of strong business creation, underpinning sustained entrepreneurial growth over the past half-decade.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
