Pray for Türkiye

About Türkiye

The capital is Ankara. People speak Turkish. The largest faith is Islam.

Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.

Prayer briefing for Türkiye

Last updated November 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.

Current events

In mid-October torrential rain flooded Istanbul. By 19 October eight people had died in Istanbul and neighbouring Kocaeli and one was still missing, officials said about 2,000 homes and 900 businesses were seriously damaged, and the government made emergency payments to thousands of affected residents. On 26 October Turkish officials joined Saudi and Pakistani officials in Tehran for talks aimed at ending the regional war.

We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.

Leadership and politics

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is President of Turkey. On 21 May an Ankara court annulled the 2023 congress of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), removing its chairman Ozgur Ozel and ruling that former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu should replace him. The party also faces many legal cases against its members and elected officials.

We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.

Economic health

Annual inflation was about 30% in September 2026, down from about 31.5% in August and the lowest since 2021. Even so, prices are still rising fast, and the cost of living remains a heavy burden for many families.

We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.

Social and cultural issues

Turkey hosts very many people from other lands. In August 2026 about 2.2 million Syrians were living legally in Turkey, while about 723,000 had returned to Syria since December 2024. The Turkish Federation of Women's Associations reported that at least 201 women were killed in the first half of 2026, most of them in their own homes.

We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.

Spiritual landscape

The government says about 99% of people are Muslim, including Alevis, and a 2021 survey put Sunni Muslims at about 88%. Christian communities are small: about 90,000 Armenian Apostolic, about 25,000 Catholic, about 25,000 Syriac Orthodox and about 7,000 to 10,000 Protestant believers, according to the US State Department (2023). Eastern Orthodox numbers rose to more than 200,000, largely through migration from Russia and Ukraine.

We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.

Religious freedom

The constitution defines Turkey as a secular state and guarantees freedom of worship. The US State Department reports that only Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox and Jewish communities are recognised as minorities, that services may only be held in places the state recognises, and that Protestant churches cannot train clergy in the country. Some foreign Protestants have been deported or barred from entry, and the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary remains closed.

We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.

Historical wounds

In 1915, during the First World War, the Ottoman government deported Armenians from eastern Anatolia, and hundreds of thousands died. Armenians and many others call this genocide, a term the Turkish government rejects, and many Turks also remember their own ancestors' suffering in that era. The earthquakes of February 2023 killed more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria, and the World Bank put damage in Turkey at about 34 billion US dollars.

We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.

Let us pray together

Our Father, we come to You together for Turkey. Comfort the families who lost loved ones in the Istanbul floods, and keep the people safe. Give wisdom, integrity and justice to President Erdogan and to all in authority, in government and in opposition. Provide for every family facing high prices, and give honest stewardship to those who manage the economy. Protect women in their homes, and care for refugees and all who are far from home. Let the hope of Jesus be known in every city, and give every believer courage and freedom to worship. Heal the deep wounds of the past, and lead Turkey and its neighbours in forgiveness and peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sources

More ways to pray

PrayerCast shares short prayer videos for the nations. Watch its video for Türkiye and pray along.

Watch the PrayerCast video for Türkiye

It opens on prayercast.com in a new tab. If it does not open the page for Türkiye, search for the nation on PrayerCast.

Is something on this page not right? Tell us

Share a prayer request for Türkiye

Is there something you would like us to pray for in Türkiye? Tell us, and we will pray with you. You choose whether we may publish it or keep it private.

Choose another nation

🇹🇷 Pray for Türkiye