Brain drain in Türkiye hits 11-year high

According to the data, the brain drain rate among university graduates rose from 2% in 2024 to 2.2%, reaching its highest level since records began in 2015. The rate stood at 2.7% for men and 1.8% for women, while Istanbul recorded the highest provincial rate at 4%. Graduates of public universities had a brain drain rate of 1.9%, compared with 4.4% among graduates of foundation universities.

By academic discipline, molecular biology and genetics recorded the highest brain drain rate at 13.1%, followed by management engineering at 13%, mathematical engineering at 11%, and electronics engineering at 10.9%. Among broader fields of study, information and communication technologies ranked first with a rate of 7%. Germany was the most popular destination for university graduates moving abroad, while the United States accounted for 16.9%, the United Kingdom for 10.5%, and the Netherlands for 8.3%.