Why are young, bright minds in Türkiye migrating abroad?
In recent years, a noticeable increase has been observed in the trend of Turkish youth seeking education abroad. The Higher Education Brain Drain Statistics (2021-2023) published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) shows that a new era has begun, particularly in the educational and career journeys of higher education graduates.
While the rate of emigration abroad among higher education graduates was 1.6% in 2015, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data, this rate increased to 2% in 2023. Although this increase may seem small in percentage terms, it actually shows that the trend of qualified and educated young people in Türkiye moving abroad has become permanent. Especially for graduates at the beginning of their careers, options outside of Türkiye are no longer seen as a "possibility," but as a serious alternative.
The data also reveals a striking picture based on gender. While the brain drain rate is 2.4% for male graduates, it is 1.6% for female graduates. This difference suggests that male graduates integrate more quickly and intensively into the international job market, while for female graduates, issues such as access to opportunities, social factors, and working conditions are still decisive.
For graduates seeking to study abroad, the United States is by far the top choice. Alongside this, countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada are also among the top destinations for young talent. These countries stand out due to their strong universities, advanced technology ecosystems, and international career opportunities.
These preferences cannot be explained solely by higher living standards. The variety of career options available to graduates, strong professional networks, research and development opportunities, and long-term future plans are also key factors that make these countries attractive. For young people aiming for careers in technology and information, in particular, these countries offer a fertile ground where they can realize their potential more quickly.
IT and Information Technology Graduates at the Summit
Perhaps the most striking and thought-provoking finding among the data is that brain drain is most intense in the field of information and communication technologies. Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) statistics show that this field far surpasses all other disciplines.
Accordingly, the brain drain rate among information and communication technology graduates is at the level of 6.7–6.8%. This means that approximately 7 out of every 100 young people graduating from this field choose to continue their careers outside of Turkey after completing their education. Engineering fields rank second with 4.4%, while natural sciences and mathematics fields remain in the 2.6–2.7% range.
This table clearly demonstrates how highly demanded and mobile the IT sector is on a global scale. For young people specializing in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity, geographical boundaries are becoming increasingly irrelevant. Remote work opportunities, international projects, and career paths offered by global companies are acting as catalysts accelerating this migration.
Young people in Türkiye who have received education in these fields can easily find jobs in the global labor market thanks to their technical skills. This transforms the trend of IT graduates going abroad from a temporary phenomenon into a strategic and conscious career choice. The issue is no longer just about "going"; it's about finding the right ecosystem, the right projects, and long-term development opportunities.
Why are more IT graduates leaving for other fields?
Global demand: There is a greater need than ever before for IT specialists worldwide.
Wage and quality of life difference: Salaries and benefits for the same position are generally more attractive abroad than in Turkey.
Research and development and innovation environment: High-tech companies/internship programs in Europe, North America, and Asia offer more advanced infrastructure.
Career diversity: A wide range of opportunities, from startups to international technology giants, attracts young talent.
For these reasons , it is not surprising that the field of information and communication technology has a higher rate of brain drain compared to other disciplines .
The data reveals significant trends not only by field of study but also by program. For example, the emigration rate for Molecular Biology and Genetics graduates is very high, at approximately 17.9%, while engineering programs like Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Mathematical Engineering also stand out with high emigration rates. These results show that highly qualified individuals are moving abroad, not only in IT but in STEM fields in general.
Opportunity or Loss?
Data on brain drain in Türkiye gives rise to a multifaceted discussion. From one perspective, the fact that qualified young people are in demand globally and can find a place in international competition can be seen as a strong outcome of Türkiye's education infrastructure. This situation reveals that young people are able to reach world standards in terms of knowledge and skills.
However, on the other hand, the fact that a significant portion of these talents prefer to build their careers outside of Turkey poses a serious risk of a loss of skilled labor for the country. This trend, particularly in strategically important fields such as information technology, could negatively impact local innovation capacity and the pace of digital transformation.
On the other hand, viewing brain drain solely as a loss would be incomplete. The global networks formed by young people who gain experience abroad, along with the transfer of knowledge and technology, carry the potential for long-term return to the country or contributions from afar. The determining factor here is whether this potential can be supported by the right policies and a strong ecosystem.
The trend of young, talented individuals in Türkiye moving abroad is no longer just a statistical data point; it's a multifaceted reality affecting many areas, from education and the economy to technology and public policy. Migration, particularly in the IT sector, highlights both global opportunities and local structural shortcomings.
All this data shows that attracting, retaining, and directing these talents in a way that will contribute sustainably to the country requires more comprehensive national strategies and concrete action plans, beyond individual efforts, for the future of Türkiye.
While the rate of emigration abroad among higher education graduates was 1.6% in 2015, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data, this rate increased to 2% in 2023. Although this increase may seem small in percentage terms, it actually shows that the trend of qualified and educated young people in Türkiye moving abroad has become permanent. Especially for graduates at the beginning of their careers, options outside of Türkiye are no longer seen as a "possibility," but as a serious alternative.
The data also reveals a striking picture based on gender. While the brain drain rate is 2.4% for male graduates, it is 1.6% for female graduates. This difference suggests that male graduates integrate more quickly and intensively into the international job market, while for female graduates, issues such as access to opportunities, social factors, and working conditions are still decisive.
For graduates seeking to study abroad, the United States is by far the top choice. Alongside this, countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada are also among the top destinations for young talent. These countries stand out due to their strong universities, advanced technology ecosystems, and international career opportunities.
These preferences cannot be explained solely by higher living standards. The variety of career options available to graduates, strong professional networks, research and development opportunities, and long-term future plans are also key factors that make these countries attractive. For young people aiming for careers in technology and information, in particular, these countries offer a fertile ground where they can realize their potential more quickly.
IT and Information Technology Graduates at the Summit
Perhaps the most striking and thought-provoking finding among the data is that brain drain is most intense in the field of information and communication technologies. Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) statistics show that this field far surpasses all other disciplines.
Accordingly, the brain drain rate among information and communication technology graduates is at the level of 6.7–6.8%. This means that approximately 7 out of every 100 young people graduating from this field choose to continue their careers outside of Turkey after completing their education. Engineering fields rank second with 4.4%, while natural sciences and mathematics fields remain in the 2.6–2.7% range.
This table clearly demonstrates how highly demanded and mobile the IT sector is on a global scale. For young people specializing in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity, geographical boundaries are becoming increasingly irrelevant. Remote work opportunities, international projects, and career paths offered by global companies are acting as catalysts accelerating this migration.
Young people in Türkiye who have received education in these fields can easily find jobs in the global labor market thanks to their technical skills. This transforms the trend of IT graduates going abroad from a temporary phenomenon into a strategic and conscious career choice. The issue is no longer just about "going"; it's about finding the right ecosystem, the right projects, and long-term development opportunities.
Why are more IT graduates leaving for other fields?
Global demand: There is a greater need than ever before for IT specialists worldwide.
Wage and quality of life difference: Salaries and benefits for the same position are generally more attractive abroad than in Turkey.
Research and development and innovation environment: High-tech companies/internship programs in Europe, North America, and Asia offer more advanced infrastructure.
Career diversity: A wide range of opportunities, from startups to international technology giants, attracts young talent.
For these reasons , it is not surprising that the field of information and communication technology has a higher rate of brain drain compared to other disciplines .
The data reveals significant trends not only by field of study but also by program. For example, the emigration rate for Molecular Biology and Genetics graduates is very high, at approximately 17.9%, while engineering programs like Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Mathematical Engineering also stand out with high emigration rates. These results show that highly qualified individuals are moving abroad, not only in IT but in STEM fields in general.
Opportunity or Loss?
Data on brain drain in Türkiye gives rise to a multifaceted discussion. From one perspective, the fact that qualified young people are in demand globally and can find a place in international competition can be seen as a strong outcome of Türkiye's education infrastructure. This situation reveals that young people are able to reach world standards in terms of knowledge and skills.
However, on the other hand, the fact that a significant portion of these talents prefer to build their careers outside of Turkey poses a serious risk of a loss of skilled labor for the country. This trend, particularly in strategically important fields such as information technology, could negatively impact local innovation capacity and the pace of digital transformation.
On the other hand, viewing brain drain solely as a loss would be incomplete. The global networks formed by young people who gain experience abroad, along with the transfer of knowledge and technology, carry the potential for long-term return to the country or contributions from afar. The determining factor here is whether this potential can be supported by the right policies and a strong ecosystem.
The trend of young, talented individuals in Türkiye moving abroad is no longer just a statistical data point; it's a multifaceted reality affecting many areas, from education and the economy to technology and public policy. Migration, particularly in the IT sector, highlights both global opportunities and local structural shortcomings.
All this data shows that attracting, retaining, and directing these talents in a way that will contribute sustainably to the country requires more comprehensive national strategies and concrete action plans, beyond individual efforts, for the future of Türkiye.