Turkey Extends Its Growth Streak, Climbing High in OECD and G20 Rankings

Turkey continued to demonstrate economic resilience in the third quarter of 2025, posting another period of expansion that further extended its long-running growth streak. Newly published data show that Turkey not only sustained momentum but also secured one of the highest growth performances among major global economies, including OECD and G20 members.

Turkey Records 3.7% Annual Growth in Q3 2025

According to official figures, the Turkish economy grew 3.7% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025. With this result, Turkey has now logged 21 consecutive quarters of economic expansion, marking one of the longest uninterrupted growth episodes among emerging markets.

This performance also positioned Turkey as the fourth fastest-growing economy among OECD countries with available data, reinforcing its strong comparative standing across advanced and developing economies.

Strong Standing Among OECD Members

The report highlights striking contrasts among OECD countries in Q3. While some economies accelerated sharply, others contracted, revealing a wide divergence in growth paths across the bloc.

Ireland led the OECD, recording a remarkable 10.5% expansion, driven mainly by multinational activity and strong export flows. It was followed by Denmark, which posted 3.9% growth, supported by its robust services and technology sectors.

Poland ranked third with 3.8%, reflecting solid domestic demand. Turkey’s 3.7% placed it just behind Poland, securing the fourth spot, while Colombia followed with 3.6%.

At the opposite end, several OECD members reported contraction.
• Japan recorded the sharpest decline, shrinking 1.8%, reflecting persistent structural challenges and weakening consumption.
• Finland contracted 0.6%, influenced by industrial slowdown and softening European demand.
• Mexico saw a marginal decline of 0.1%, marking a mild but notable reversal in activity.

This wide dispersion underscores Turkey’s relatively strong performance, especially during a period marked by global monetary tightening and external uncertainties.

Turkey’s Position in G20 Growth Rankings

The data also shed light on how Turkey compares with the broader group of G20 economies, which includes both advanced and emerging-market giants.

Turkey ranked fifth among G20 economies, again illustrating its solid trajectory.

India took the top position with 8.2% growth, maintaining its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, driven by investment, manufacturing gains, and domestic consumption.
It was followed by:
• Indonesia with 5.04% growth,
• Saudi Arabia with 5%, buoyed by non-oil sector expansion,
• China with 4.8%, supported by stimulus measures and industrial output.

Turkey’s 3.7% placed it immediately after these countries, well above several large G20 members that posted more modest growth or experienced contraction.

What Sustains Turkey’s Momentum?

Turkey’s sustained expansion through 21 consecutive quarters reflects a combination of structural factors and cyclical dynamics.
Key contributors include:
• Resilient domestic demand, supported by rising employment and consumption
• Ongoing investment activity, particularly in manufacturing and services
• Export performance, benefiting from regional demand and competitive pricing
• Adaptability of the private sector, which has demonstrated agility in high-volatility environments

Additionally, Turkey’s growth continues despite global headwinds, including inflationary pressures, tightening financial conditions, and geopolitical risks. This indicates underlying economic flexibility and a capacity to sustain performance even under challenging external conditions.

Global Context Highlights Turkey’s Relative Strength

When framed against global trends, Turkey’s third-quarter outcome underscores the country’s ability to remain competitive within major international economic groupings. While some advanced economies face stagnation or contraction, and some emerging markets experience deceleration, Turkey’s balanced, consistent growth profile is particularly notable.

Its ranking within both the OECD’s top performers and the upper tier of G20 economies reinforces this comparative advantage.