Gaziantep
Gaziantep (Turkish pronunciation: [ɡaːˈziantep]), historically Aintab and still informally called Antep (pronounced [ˈantep]), is a major city in south-central Turkey. It is the capital of the Gaziantep Province, in the westernmost part of Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Region and partially in the Mediterranean Region. It is located approximately 185 km (115 mi) east of Adana and 97 km (60 mi) north of Aleppo, Syria and situated on the Sajur River. The city is thought to be located on the site of ancient Antiochia ad Taurum and is near ancient Zeugma.
Gaziantep | |
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Metropolitan municipality | |
Clockwise from top: Gaziantep Castle, Şirehan, Alaüddevle Mosque, Gaziantep skyline, Büdeyri Hanı and Tahtani Mosque, Liberation Mosque (former St. Mary's Cathedral) | |
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Emblem of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality | |
Gaziantep Location of Gaziantep within Turkey Gaziantep Gaziantep (Asia) Gaziantep Gaziantep (Europe) | |
| Coordinates: 37°03′46″N 37°22′45″E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Region | Southeastern Anatolia |
| Province | Gaziantep |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Fatma Şahin (AK Party) |
| Area | |
| • Metropolitan municipality | 6,819 km2 (2,633 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 2,960 km2 (1,140 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,250 km2 (870 sq mi) |
| Population (31/12/2021 estimation) | |
| • Metropolitan municipality | 2,130,432 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (810/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,808,948 |
| • Urban density | 610/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 1,775,904 |
| • Metro density | 790/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Aintaban: 75 |
| GDP | |
| • Metropolitan municipality | TRY 148.558 billion US$ 16.545 billion (2021) |
| • Per capita | TRY 70,228 US$ 7,819 (2021) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Postal code | 27x xx |
| Area code | 342 & 343 |
| Licence plate | 27 |
| Website | www.gaziantep.gov.tr |
As of the 2021 census, the Gaziantep province (Metropolitan municipality) was home to 2,130,432 inhabitants, of whom 1,775,904 lived in the metropolitan area made of two (out of three) urban districts of Şahinbey and Şehitkamil, as Oğuzeli is not conurbated. It is the sixth-most populous city in Turkey. Gaziantep is a diverse city inhabited mostly by ethnic Turks and a significant minority of Kurds and Syrian refugees. It was historically populated by Turkmens, Armenians, Jews, and a plethora of other ethnic groups.
In February 2023, the city was heavily damaged by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.