Türkiye’s cultural expenditures increased by 84.7% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching a total of ₺276.3 billion ($7.95 billion) and sharing 1% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) reports.
TurkStat released the 2023 Cultural Economy and Employment Statistics on Monday, revealing key insights from the culture sector in Türkiye. According to data, public sector spending played a key role in cultural expenditures, contributing 64.3%.
General government cultural spending surged by 98.1%, amounting to ₺177.6 billion, with 67.9% funded through the central state budget. Among these, architectural projects claimed the largest share at 24.4%.
Household contributions were notable as well, with spending primarily on information technology equipment (22%), televisions and accessories (21%) and books (15%).
Significant increase in exports and imports
The cultural sectors generated a value-added increase of 94%, amounting to ₺108.2 billion. Key contributors included printed media (22.2%), film and television production (13%) and jewelry manufacturing (12.1%).
Cultural goods exports grew by 47.7%, reaching ₺263.7 billion, while imports rose by 87.5%, totaling ₺149.6 billion. Cultural exports represented 4.3% of total goods exports, with imports making up 1.8% of the national total.
Cultural employment on the rise
Employment in the cultural sector grew by 9%, with 743,000 individuals employed in 2023. The majority, 60.8%, were aged between 30 and 54, while 28.8% were in the 15–29 age group.
Among those employed in cultural fields, 89.3% worked in specialized cultural professions. Handicrafts workers made up 38.5%, followed by architects, planners and designers at 18.7%, and creative and performing artists at 9.9%. Writers, journalists, and linguists comprised 9.3% of the workforce.
Breaking it down by field, architecture and specialized design activities accounted for 11.1% of total cultural employment, while creative and performing arts activities contributed 5.6%. Broadcasting and publishing activities represented 4.3%.
