Most immigrants from Turkey go to the Gulf countries and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. Only a very small percentage of migrants leave Turkey for Western destinations. Indeed, only 1734 of the 60,000 Turkish workers sent abroad in 1992 went to the EC. Turkish or foreign contracting firms working in Saudi Arabia accounted for 46,467 of these workers. 3,080,274 Turkish nationals were living abroad as of April 1993, 43.3% of whom are workers. This figure does not include illegal workers. Rates of return range 1-2% for Turks in Germany and Holland, while the average duration of stay is increasing. The departure of ethnic Turks from Bulgaria has slowed. Turkish authorities seem not to accept Turkey as a country of immigration, but the country is surrounded by others in which there are serious political tensions and conflict from which people wish to escape. Turkey has therefore been an attractive destination for people seeking refuge, although the inflow has been modest. The migration of Turkish nationals to the oil-exporting Arab countries and to the new republics should be encouraged by the government of Turkey.

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Migrant Workers economics population Migrants demography developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries Asia Middle East Turkey (republic) Western Asia Asia, Western Mediterranean Countries Arab Countries health care manpower Health Manpower Article migration international migration Turkey Demographic Factors Emigration and Immigration Economic Factors Transients and Migrants Human Resources employment Labor Force