Turkey

There were 26,500,000 internet users in Turkey (representing 34.5% of the population) in September 2009, according to Internet World Stats. This was up by 1,225% compared to 2000. (Internet World Stats, November 2009)

More than 19.7 million people age 15 and older accessed the internet from a home or work location in Turkey in September 2009, according to comScore's overview of internet usage in Turkey, based on September 2009. They viewed an average of 3,070 pages of content and spent an average of 31.6 hours per person online. (comScore, November 2009) 

Internet users in Turkey spend more time online and consume more pages than users in other European countries.

In April 2009, more than 17 million people in Turkey age 15 and older accessed the internet from a home or work location, consuming on average 3,044 pages per visitor, according to a comScore's first report examining the online behaviour of internet users in Turkey.

Of the 17 European countries individually reported by comScore, Germany's online audience was the largest with 40 million visitors in April 2009, followed by the UK (36.8 million visitors), and France (36.3 million visitors). The internet audience in Turkey was the seventh largest with 17.8 million visitors, making it the second largest country in Eastern Europe behind Russia (31.3 million visitors). Internet users in Turkey were also found to be the most engaged users in Europe, spending an average 32 hours and viewing an average of 3,044 pages of content per month.

Total internet users by country, April 2009 (Total Europe, Age 15+ - Home & Work Locations):
- Turkey: 32 hours (average hours per visitor) / 3,044 pages (average pages per visitor)
- UK: 29 hours / 2,482 pages
- France: 28 hours / 2,971 pages
- Finland: 26 hours / 2,777 pages
- Netherlands: 25 hours / 2,712 pages
- Sweden: 25 hours / 2,712 pages
- Spain: 25 hours / 2,398 pages
- Germany: 22 hours / 2,601 pages
- Norway: 21 hours / 1,921 pages
- Switzerland: 20 hours / 2,011 pages
- Belgium: 19 hours / 2,032 pages
- Italy: 19 hours / 1,790 pages
- Portugal: 19 hours / 1,725 pages
- Denmark: 18 hours / 1,890 pages
- Ireland: 17 hours
- Russia: 15 hours / 2,228 pages
- Austria: 14 hours / 1,562 pages

The online population of Turkey far surpasses the rest of Europe in terms of time spent and content consumed per person. Much of this heavy engagement is driven by usage of social networking and entertainment media sites, which maintain users' attention for extended periods of time. (comScore, May 2009) 

Search Engines and Searches

Google Sites was the most popular property in Turkey in September 2009 with 18.4 million visitors, reaching 93% of the total online population, followed Microsoft Sites, according to comScore's overview of internet usage in Turkey, based on September 2009.  Facebookcom, ranked third having grown 26% in just the past six months. Dogan Online led a total of seven Turkish-based properties that ranked amongst the top 15, including Milliyet Group, Mynet A.S. and Blogcu.com.

The Internet audience in Turkey is one of the most active and engaged audiences in the world, according to comScore. Internet users spend on average more than one hour a day online, ranking it among the five most engaged online populations worldwide. Although global Internet brands like Google, Microsoft and Facebook are among the most visited in Turkey, there is also a vibrant community of home-grown Web properties like Dogan Online and Milliyet Group. Turkey is clearly a market with exciting potential.

Top 10 online properties, ranked by total unique visitors in Turkey, September 2009 (Total Turkey, Age 15+, Home & Work Locations*):
TOTAL INTERNET: TOTAL AUDIENCE: 19,745,000
1. Google Sites: 18,361,000 (93.0%)
2. Microsoft Sites: 17,597,000 (89.1%)
3. Facebook.com: 16,050,000 (81.3%)
4. Dogan Online: 11,148,000 (56.5%)
5. Milliyet Group: 8,785,000 (44.5%)
6. Mynet A.S.: 8,321,000 (42.1%)
7. Blogcu.com: 8,239,000 (41.7%)
8. Hurriyet Internet Group: 7,471,000 (37.8%)
9. Nokta Internet Teknolojileri: 7,072,000 (35.8%)
10. Yahoo! Sites: 6,448,000 (32.7%)
*Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.
(comScore, November 2009) 

UGC and Social Networking

Facebook's position as the third ranked Web property overall in Turkey in September 2009 underscores the rapid emergence of social networking in the market, according to comScore's overview of internet usage in Turkey, based on September 2009. Just six months ago, social networking accounted for 9% of total time spent online in Turkey, but in September social networking represented 15% of all time spent online.

Facebook ranked as the most popular social networking site in September with 16.1 million visitors and accounted for 92% of the total time spent on social networking sites during the month. Window's Live Profile - which provides a gateway to turkey's most popular Instant Messenger, Window's Live Messenger - ranked second, followed by Turkish property Mynet Eksenim and Netlog.com.

Top 10 social networking sites, ranked by total unique visitors in Turkey in September 2009 (Total Turkey, Age 15+, Home & Work Locations*):
SOCIAL NETWORKING: 16,913,000
1. Facebook.com: 16,050,000
2. Windows Live Profile: 7,775,000
3. Mynet Eksenim: 3,232,000
4. Netlog.com: 1,834,000
5. Kalpkalbe.com: 1,801,000
6. Windows Live People: 1,574,000
7. MySpace Sites: 938,000
8. Gecevip.com: 866,000
9. Badoo.com: 854,000
10. Twitter: 804,000
*Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.
(comScore, November 2009)