Balıkesir: Provincial capital and coastal city in Turkey's Marmara–Aegean region
Balıkesir — provincial capital in western Turkey at the Marmara–Aegean transition. Coastal and hilly, with agriculture, light industry, historic sites, and transport links to regional centers.
Balıkesir is a city in western Turkey. It serves as the administrative center of Balıkesir Province and lies within the Marmara Region, while the province extends southwest toward the Aegean coast.
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Overview
The city occupies a transitional zone between the Marmara and Aegean areas, combining coastal plains with nearby hills. Its location has shaped a mixed economy and a long human presence in the surrounding area.
Population
Population counts have changed over time; according to records for 2013 the urban population was 167,549. More recent figures for the metropolitan area and province are larger, reflecting suburban growth and administrative boundaries that include surrounding towns and villages.
Economy and transport
- Agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing are important to the local economy.
- Light industry and service sectors are concentrated in the city centre.
- Road connections link Balıkesir with nearby provincial towns and the broader Marmara and Aegean regions; coastal areas attract seasonal visitors.
History and culture
Balıkesir has been inhabited since ancient times and shows cultural influences from classical, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The city contains historic neighbourhoods and local museums that reflect its regional heritage.
Administrative note
As the seat of the province, Balıkesir hosts municipal and provincial institutions that manage services for the city and surrounding districts.
Climate table
| Balıkesir (110 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Monthly average temperatures and precipitation for Balıkesir (110 m)
Source: MGM, normal period 1991-2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Population development of the city
As of 2009
The figures are based on the address-based population register (ADNKS) introduced in 2007.
| Region | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Core city | Altıeylül + Karesi ⇒ | 232.011 | 240.656 | 241.288 | 244.834 | 246.936 | 252.076 | 253.804 | 255.922 | |||
| Şehir (City) | 259.157 | 265.747 | 263.000 | 267.903 | ||||||||
| BüyükşehirBelediyesi | 1.162.761 | 1.189.057 | 1.186.688 | 1.196.176 | 1.204.824 | 1.226.575 | 1.228.620 | 1.240.285 | ||||
| İl (province) | 808.102 | 825.980 | 833.434 | 843.028 | ⇐ Büyükşehir Belediyesi since 2013 | |||||||
1927 until 2020
The following table provides information on the development of the population figures of the city (Şehir), district (İlçe) and province (İl) of Balıkesir. The figures were taken from the results of the censuses of the years indicated, published as PDF files, available from the library of the TURKSTAT (TÜİK) and from the census page of the (TÜİK) for the years 1965 to 2000 (only in Turkish).
| Year | 2000 | 1990 | 1985 | 1980 | 1975 | 1970 | 1965 | 1960 | 1955 | 1950 | 1945 | 1940 | 1935 | 1927 |
| Şehir | 215.436 | 170.589 | 149.989 | 124.051 | 98.443 | 85.004 | 69.341 | 61.145 | 612.013 | 563.221 | 524.748 | 482.827 | 481.372 | 418.915 |
| İlçe | 287.709 | 245.651 | 222.589 | 195.899 | 169.932 | 153.996 | 136.694 | 128.152 | 106.869 | 132.262 | 114.011 | 164.643 | 154.317 | 134.617 |
| İl | 1.076.347 | 973.314 | 910.282 | 853.177 | 789.255 | 749.669 | 708.342 | 670.669 | 45.685 | 36.005 | 33.894 | 30.010 | 26.699 | 25.448 |
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AlegsaOnline.com Balıkesir: Provincial capital and coastal city in Turkey's Marmara–Aegean region Leandro Alegsa
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