United Kingdom and Türkiye
Two NATO allies with industrial and tourism ties are expanding trade and defense cooperation. Existing agreements and negotiations to modernize them have different scopes.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Trade continuity after Brexit
The trade agreement signed in December 2020 maintained some access conditions businesses used before Britain's departure from the European Union.
NATO and the Typhoon program
Shared NATO membership provides a security framework, while industrial cooperation requires specific contracts.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 27,329.56 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Goods: United Kingdom to Türkiye | 8,625.12 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Goods: Türkiye to United Kingdom | 18,704.44 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Services trade | 7,900 M GBP | 2025 · Source |
| Export share: United Kingdom to Türkiye | 1.55 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Export share: Türkiye to United Kingdom | ||
| Investment stock: United Kingdom in Türkiye | 9,500 M GBP | 2024 · Source |
| Investment stock: Türkiye in United Kingdom | 1,100 M GBP | 2024 · Source |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: United Kingdom to Türkiye
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Türkiye to United Kingdom
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Services trade
- 2025 · UK DBT / ONS · Services, full calendar year 2025; total published by ONS, seasonally adjusted. It is not added to goods trade in USD or rolling four-quarter data.
- Export share: United Kingdom to Türkiye
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods share: GBR exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
- Investment stock: United Kingdom in Türkiye
- 2024 · UK DBT / ONS · Direct investment stock at the end of 2024; directional basis and immediate counterpart; investment minus disinvestment. September 2026 publication.
- Investment stock: Türkiye in United Kingdom
- 2024 · UK DBT / ONS · Direct investment stock at the end of 2024; directional basis and immediate counterpart; investment minus disinvestment. September 2026 publication.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
Year-on-year inflation: different periods or frequencies; the two figures are not directly comparable.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Türkiye |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 4 trillion USD2025 · World Bank | 1.6 trillion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 57,601.96 USD2025 · World Bank | 18,599.44 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 1.39 %2025 · World Bank | 3.6 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 37 %2026-09-10 · TCMB | |
| Inflation · annual average | 3.88 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank | 34.88 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.1 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · ONS | 29.73 %Headline CPI · 2026-09 · year-on-year · TCMB / TURKSTAT |
| Unemployment | 4.75 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank | 8.52 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -2.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 102.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 23.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -2.43 %2025 · World Bank | -0.77 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 69,487,0002025 · World Bank | 85,878,5562025 · WB |
| Area | 243,610 km²2023 · World Bank | 785,350 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Türkiye: 2026-09-10 · One-week repo auction rate · TCMB · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedUnited Kingdom: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change relative to the same month of the previous year · ONS · Headline CPI, not CPIH or core inflation.Türkiye: 2026-09 · National headline CPI, change from the same month of the previous year · TCMB / TURKSTAT · Official monthly data. Not mixed with the annual average. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited Kingdom: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.Türkiye: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.Türkiye: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Population
- PeopleUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited Kingdom: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Türkiye: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
United Kingdom to Türkiye
Türkiye to United Kingdom
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | United Kingdom to Türkiye | Türkiye to United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,361.6 | 6,274.2 | 15,087.4 |
| 2022 | 23,593.8 | 7,909.5 | 15,684.3 |
| 2023 | 23,693.4 | 8,142 | 15,551.4 |
| 2024 | 26,426 | 8,032 | 18,394 |
| 2025 | 27,329.6 | 8,625.1 | 18,704.4 |
Connections between people
Tourism, business activity and vocational training connect both countries. Pilots and technicians planned under a contract do not represent all educational exchanges or count as students already trained. [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United Kingdom living in Türkiye | ||
| Residents from Türkiye living in United Kingdom | ||
| Study and training: United Kingdom in Türkiye | ||
| Study and training: Türkiye in United Kingdom | ||
| Academic stays: United Kingdom in Türkiye | ||
| Academic stays: Türkiye in United Kingdom | ||
| Travel: United Kingdom to Türkiye | ||
| Travel: Türkiye to United Kingdom |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Trade continuity after Brexit
The trade agreement signed in December 2020 maintained some access conditions businesses used before Britain's departure from the European Union. The relationship does not reproduce every detail of Türkiye's customs union with the EU. British authorities note that additional duties may apply depending on product origin and highlight regulatory changes requiring business follow-up. The current agreement coexists with negotiations begun in 2025 for a broader text. That difference matters to exporters and service providers: an ambitious negotiation does not in itself grant preferences not yet in force. [1] [2] [3]
NATO and the Typhoon program
Shared NATO membership provides a security framework, while industrial cooperation requires specific contracts. The Typhoon agreement reached in October 2025 was followed by a training and support contract signed on 25 March 2026. The British government indicated that ten pilots and around one hundred Turkish technicians would train in the United Kingdom, alongside maintenance and supplies. These are program commitments, not a count of training already completed. Industrial chains involve different Eurofighter partner countries; Britain's role is important, but not the entire aircraft is produced in the United Kingdom. [4]
Businesses, services and tourism
Business ties include finance, energy, telecommunications, consumer goods and manufacturing. Tourism and transport form part of the services connecting both countries and do not appear in the goods table. The British business-risk report identifies the presence of businesses such as Vodafone, BP and other companies, as well as regulatory barriers. Direct investment figures show recorded capital, not all contracts or total visitor expenditure. Understanding the economic relationship requires considering goods, services and subsidiary activity separately; adding traveler counts to the monetary value of trade would not produce a valid indicator. [2]
The scale of the two economies
The United Kingdom's reference nominal GDP is 4002.6 billion USD in 2025, compared with 1597.3 in 2025 for Türkiye. The reference populations are 69.49 million (2025) and 85.88 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, the United Kingdom's nominal GDP was 2.51 times Türkiye's. The figures contextualize market size; they do not in themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or demographic extrapolations retain their markings in the table. A ratio is not calculated when the periods do not match. [8] [9] [10] [11]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Negotiations and contacts in 2026
The fifth trade negotiating round was held in Ankara from June 15 to 23, 2026. They discussed legal services, investment, telecommunications, digital trade and sanitary standards; eleven chapters had been closed according to July's British update. Closing chapters does not equate to signing and applying the entire treaty. In September the leaders agreed to intensify efforts to finalize it and also discussed Ukraine, the Black Sea and climate. The agenda combines bilateral and regional issues. Common positions at a meeting do not necessarily mean agreement on all conflicts or domestic policies. [3] [5]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, recorded goods trade between the United Kingdom and Türkiye totaled 27,329.6 million USD. United Kingdom shipments to Türkiye were USD 8625.1 million; shipments in the opposite direction were USD 18,704.4 million. UK shipments to the partner represented 1.55% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs declaration is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or subsidiaries' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [6]
Cross-border services
Services trade was 7900 million GBP in 2025, according to the total published by ONS in the British profile. Services, full calendar year 2025; total published by ONS, seasonally adjusted. It is not added to goods trade in USD or rolling four-quarter data. [7]
Recorded direct investment
The United Kingdom's direct investment position in Türkiye was GBP 9500 million in 2024. Direct investment stock at the end of 2024; directional principle and immediate counterpart; investment minus disinvestment. September 2026 publication. [7]
Türkiye's direct investment position in the United Kingdom was 1100 million GBP in 2024. Direct investment stock at the end of 2024; directional principle and immediate counterpart; investment minus disinvestment. September 2026 publication. [7]
Milestones and consequences
- 2020-12
Trade continuity agreement
The post-Brexit framework is signed. [2]
- 2025-10
Typhoon agreement
A procurement program is agreed with its own timeline. [4]
- 2026-03-25
Training and support contract
Training for pilots, technicians and maintenance is organized. [4]
- 2026-06
Fifth trade round
An expansion of the existing agreement is negotiated. [3]
- 2026-09-22
Leaders' meeting
Trade and regional security on the bilateral agenda. [5]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- United Kingdom–Türkiye trade treaty
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Business activity and practical barriers
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Fifth trade negotiating round
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Document: 2026-07-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Typhoon training and support contract
UK Ministry of Defence · Institutional source · Document: 2026-03-25 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Leaders' meeting in September 2026
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Document: 2026-09-23 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 826; partners 0,392,792
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Release 24 September 2026; p.4 calendar 2025 services; p.1 and p.16 2024 FDI stock; immediate counterparty
UK DBT / ONS · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 72; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 88; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / GBR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / GBR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / GBR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 72; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / GBR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 88; 2025; reporter 826; partners 392,792; X/M; annual goods.