Turkey
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 55% plant-based · 77.4 yr life expectancy · UHC 77/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 167 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (167/100k) leads, with cancer close behind. Turkey's partly Mediterranean diet (legumes, vegetables, yogurt) competes with rising sugar, refined grains, and very high smoking. A major health-system expansion has improved coverage (UHC ~77).
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Tobacco control and cutting sugar and refined grains are the key levers.
- Strengthen the Mediterranean elements of the diet (legumes, vegetables, olive oil).
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 167 CVD deaths per 100k · 55% plant-based diet