View source for Mayor of Istanbul

{{short description|None}}

{{Infobox official post
| post = Mayor
| body = Istanbul
| image = Nuri Aslan IBB.jpg
| incumbent = [[Nuri Aslan]]
| acting = yes
| incumbentsince = 26 March 2025
| style = None, ''de facto'' full (given and family) name.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Başkan |url=https://ibb.istanbul/icerik/ibb.istanbul/baskan-ozgecmis |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=ibb.istanbul |language=tr}}</ref>
| termlength = Five years, renewable
| website = {{URL|https://ibb.istanbul/}}
| inaugural = Pepe Salih Paşa<br/>(Ottoman Empire)<br/>Haydar Yuluğ<br/>(Republic of Turkey)
| formation = 13 July 1855<br/>11 July 1958<br/>26 March 1984<br/>(As Metropolitan Municipality)
| native_name = İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı
| department = [[Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality]]
}}

The '''mayor of Istanbul''' is the head of the [[Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality]]. The mayor is elected popularly every five years. [[Nuri Aslan]] has served as interim mayor of Istanbul since 26 March 2025.

This article covers the [[Ottoman Empire]] to the modern day Republic of Turkey, during the Ottoman period and in the [[History of the Republic of Turkey|Republican era]] until {{circa}} 1930.

==Ottoman Empire==

===During 1453–1858===
In the Ottoman Empire, the duty of municipal government was the responsibility of the ''"Şehremini",'' a mayor-like leader, and local religious judges, ''"Kadı".''

The first mayor of Istanbul after the [[Fall of Constantinople|conquest]] on May 29, 1453 was Hızırbey Çelebi. Until 1858, the capital of the Ottoman Empire was governed by a total of 422 kadis.

===Tanzimat period (1858–1876)===
The idea to establish a municipality organization based on Western standards was first discussed in 1854 during the [[Crimean War]] when diplomats and journalists of allied nations came to Constantinople. Later, the parliament accepted a law for the establishment of the office of a mayor and a city council.

Salih Paşa received the first title of the new, modern ''Şehremini'' on July 13, 1858, and governed until November 4, 1858. During the [[Tanzimat]] period, 18 mayors took office.

====First constitutional monarchy (1876–1908)====
In 1876, as First constitutional monarchy was proclaimed, Kadri Paşa was the mayor of Constantinople. During this period 10 mayors governed Constantinople.

====Second constitutional monarchy (1908–1923)====
During the reign of [[Young Turks]], between 1908–1918 and until the foundation of the republic, 23 mayors served in the capital.

==Republic of Turkey==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan=2|{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2|Portrait
! width=130 rowspan=2|Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}} 
! colspan=3|Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2|Political party
! rowspan=2|Notes
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
! colspan="9" |Governors as mayors (1923–1960)
|-
!1
|[[File:Haydar Yuluğ.jpg|80px]]
|'''Haydar Yuluğ<br />{{small|(1878–1937)}}'''
|15 April 1923
|8 June 1924
|{{Age in years and days|15 April 1923|8 June 1924}}
| rowspan=4 style="background:{{party color|Republican People's Party}}" | || rowspan=4 | [[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
|After the proclamation of the republic on October 29, 1923, the governor of the city was charged with the duties as deputy mayor.
|-
!2
|[[File:Erkulseyitoğlu Mehmet Emin Bey.jpg|80px]]
|'''[[Emin Erkul]]<br />{{small|(1881–1964)}}'''
|8 June 1924
|12 October 1928
|{{Age in years and days|8 June 1924|October 12 1928}}
|
|-
!3
|[[File:Muhittin Üstündağ.jpg|80px]]
|'''Mühittin Üstündağ<br />{{small|(1884–1953)}}'''
|14 October 1928
|4 December 1938
|{{Age in years and days|October 12 1928|4 December 1938}}
|With the municipality act of April 3, 1930, the title of mayor was abandoned and the governor of Istanbul province took over the duties of the mayor. The two separate councils of the province and the municipality were unified.
|-
!4
|[[File:Mehmet Lütfi Kırdar.jpg|80px]]
|'''[[Lütfi Kırdar]]<br />{{small|(1889–1961)}}'''
|8 December 1938
|16 October 1949
|{{Age in years and days|December 8 1938|October 16 1949}}
|
|-
!5
| 
|'''[[Fahrettin Kerim Gökay]]<br />{{small|(1900–1987)}}'''
|24 October 1949
|26 October 1957
|{{Age in years and days|Oct 24 1949|October 26 1957}}
!
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|The two councils were reestablished on March 1, 1957
|-
!–
|
|'''Kemal Hadımlı<br />{{small|(1908–19??)}}'''
|12 July 1957
|5 October 1957
|{{Age in years and days|July 12 1957|Oct 5 1957}}
| rowspan=4 style="background:pink" | || rowspan=4 | [[Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–1961)|DP]]
|Deputy [[Governor of Istanbul]], appointed as acting mayor.
|-
!6
|
|'''[[Mümtaz Tarhan]]<br />{{small|(1908–1970)}}'''
|29 November 1957
|11 May 1958
|{{Age in years and days|Nov 29 1957|May 11 1958}}
|
|-
!7
|
|'''Ethem Yetkiner<br />{{small|(1912–1973)}}'''
|14 May 1958
|24 December 1958
|{{Age in years and days|May 14 1958|Dec 24 1958}}
|
|-
!8
|
|'''Kemal Aygün<br />{{small|(1914–1979)}}'''
|25 December 1958
|27 May 1960
|{{Age in years and days|Dec 25 1958|May 27 1960}}
|
|-
! colspan="9" |Mayors during the military rule (1960–1963)
|-
!9
|
|'''Refik Tulga<br />{{small|(1907–1981)}}'''
|[[1960 Turkish coup d'état|27 May 1960]]
|14 June 1960
|{{Age in years and days|May 27 1960|June 14 1960}}
| rowspan=8 style="background: #704311"| || rowspan=8 | [[1960 Turkish coup d'état|Military]]
|
|-
!10
|
|'''Şefik Erensü<br />{{small|(1912–1989)}}'''
|14 June 1960
|24 September 1960
|{{Age in years and days|June 14 1960|September 24 1960}}
|
|-
!{{small|(9)}}
|
|'''Refik Tulga<br />{{small|(1907–1981)}}'''
|24 September 1960
|26 February 1962
|{{Age in years and days|September 24 1960|Feb 26 1962}}
|
|-
!11
|
|'''Turan Ertuğ'''
|27 February 1962
|16 March 1962
|{{Age in years and days|Feb 27 1962|Mar 16 1962}}
|''(Deputy)''
|-
!12
|
|'''Kamuran Görgün'''
|18 March 1962
|30 January 1963
|{{Age in years and days|Mar 18 1962|Jan 30 1963}}
|
|-
!–
|
|'''Kadri İlkay'''
|30 January 1963
|31 January 1963
|{{Age in years and days|Jan 30 1963|Jan 31 1963}}
|''(Deputy)''
|-
!–
|
|'''Niyazi Akı<br />{{small|(1913–1992)}}'''
|31 January 1963
|28 February 1963
|{{Age in years and days|Jan 31 1963|Feb 28 1963}}
|''(Deputy)''
|-
!13
|
|'''[[Necdet Uğur]]<br />{{small|(1923–2004)}}'''
|28 February 1963
|9 December 1963
|{{Age in years and days|Feb 28 1963|Dec 9 1963}}
|
|-
! colspan="9" |Elected mayors of Istanbul Municipality (1963–1980)
|-
!14
|[[File:Haşim İşcan büstü.JPG|80px]]
|'''[[Haşim İşcan]]<br />{{small|(1898–1968)}}'''
|10 December 1963
|11 March 1968
|{{Age in years and days|Dec 10 1963|Mar 11 1968}}
| rowspan=1 style="background:{{party color|Republican People's Party}}" | || rowspan=1 | [[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
|The municipality act of July 27, 1963, enabled the election of the mayor. The polls held on November 17, 1963, were the first regional elections to elect the mayor.
|-
!–
|
|'''[[Faruk Ilgaz]]<br />{{small|(1922–2014)}}'''
|12 March 1968
|6 June 1968
|{{Age in years and days|Mar 12 1968|Jun 6 1968}}
| rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color|Justice Party (Turkey)}}" | || rowspan=2 | AP
|''(Deputy)''
|-
!15
|
|'''Fahri Atabey<br />{{small|(1913–1994)}}'''
|8 June 1968
|9 December 1973
|{{Age in years and days|Jun 8 1968|Dec 9 1973}}
|
|-
!16
|
|'''[[Ahmet İsvan]]<br />{{small|(1923–2017)}}'''
|14 December 1973
|11 December 1977
|{{Age in years and days|Dec 14 1973|Dec 11 1977}}
| rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color|Republican People's Party}}" | || rowspan=2 | [[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
|-
!17
|
|'''[[Aytekin Kotil]]<br />{{small|(1934–1992)}}'''
|14 December 1977
|12 September 1980
|{{Age in years and days|Dec 14 1977|Sep 12 1980}}
|
|-
! colspan="9" |Mayors during the military rule (1980–1984)
|-
!18
|
|'''[[İsmail Hakki Akansel]]<br />{{small|(1924–2016)}}'''
|[[1980 Turkish coup d'état|12 September 1980]]
|30 August 1981
|{{Age in years and days|Sep 12 1980|Aug 30 1981}}
| rowspan=3 style="background: #704311"| || rowspan=3 | [[1980 Turkish coup d'état|Military]]
|
|-
!19
|
|'''[[Ecmel Kutay]]<br />{{small|(1927–1998)}}'''
|30 August 1981
|24 March 1982
|{{Age in years and days|Aug 30 1981|Mar 24 1982}}
|
|-
!20
|
|'''Abdullah Tırtıl<br />{{small|(1923–1996)}}'''
|24 March 1982
|26 March 1984
|{{Age in years and days|Mar 24 1982|Mar 26 1984}}
|
|-
! colspan="9" |Elected mayors of Istanbul Municipality (1984–present)
|-
! 21
| [[File:No image.png|80px]]
| '''[[Bedrettin Dalan]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1941)}}
| 26 March 1984
| 28 March 1989
| {{Age in years and days|1984|3|26|1989|3|28}}
! style="background:{{party color|Motherland Party (Turkey)}}" |
| [[Motherland Party (Turkey)|ANAP]]
|On March 8, 1984, the metropolitan municipality act was put into force and on March 23 the [[Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality|municipality of Greater Istanbul]] was established.
|-
! 22
| [[File:Nurettin Sözen at 30 August Celebrations (cropped).jpg|80px]]
| '''[[Nurettin Sözen]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1937)}}
| 28 March 1989
| 27 March 1994
| {{Age in years and days|1989|3|28|1994|3|27}}
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Populist Party (Turkey)}}" |
| [[Social Democratic Populist Party (Turkey)|SHP]]
|
|-
! 23
| [[File:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkish Prime Minister, in Brussels (cropped).jpg|80px]]
| '''[[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1954)}}
| 27 March 1994
| 6 November 1998
| {{Age in years and days|1994|3|27|1998|11|6}}
! style="background:DarkGreen" |
| [[Welfare Party|RP]]/[[Virtue Party|FP]]
| Elected in the [[1994 Istanbul mayoral election|1994 election]]. Sacked after being sentenced to 10 months in jail.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/erdoganin-baskanligi-hukuken-bitti-39046674|title=Erdoğan'ın başkanlığı hukuken bitti|date=8 November 1998 }}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" |24
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Ali Müfit Gürtuna (cropped).png|80px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Ali Müfit Gürtuna]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1952)}}
| rowspan="2" |12 November 1998
| rowspan="2" |28 March 2004
| rowspan="2" |{{Age in years and days|1998|11|12|2004|3|28}}
! style="background:DarkGreen" |
| [[Virtue Party|FP]]<br />{{nowrap|{{small|(''until 2001'')}}}}
| rowspan="2" |Elected by the city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/the-others/istanbula-yeni-baskan-5342230|title=İstanbul'a yeni başkan|date=13 November 1998 }}</ref>
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}" |
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]<br />{{nowrap|{{small|(''from 2001'')}}}}
|-
! 25
| [[File:Kadir Topbas at 38th Istanbul Vodafone Marathon (2) cropped.jpg|80px]]
| '''[[Kadir Topbaş]]<br />{{small|(1945–2021)}}'''
| 28 March 2004
| 22 September 2017
| {{Age in years and days|2004|3|27|2017|9|22}}
! style="background:{{party color|Justice and Development Party (Turkey)}}" |
| [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]]
| Re-elected twice (in [[2009 Istanbul mayoral election|2009]] and [[2014 Istanbul mayoral election|2014]]). Resigned at the request of [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]] and incumbent [[President of Turkey|President]] [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/kadir-topbas-istifa-etti-40587764|title=Kadir Topbaş istifa etti.. Ak Parti'nin yeni başkan adayı o mu olacak?|first=Fatma AKSU /|last=İSTANBUL|website=www.hurriyet.com.tr|date=23 September 2017 }}</ref>
|-
! 26
| [[File:Mevlüt Uysal (cropped).jpg|80px]]
| '''[[Mevlüt Uysal]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1966)}}
| 22 September 2017
| 17 April 2019
| {{Age in years and days|2017|9|22|2019|4|17}}
! style="background:{{party color|Justice and Development Party (Turkey)}}" |
| [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]]
| Elected by the city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2017/09/28/ibb-baskani-mevlut-uysal-secildi|title=Son dakika: İBB Başkanlığı'na Mevlüt Uysal seçildi!|website=Sabah}}</ref>
|-
! 27
| [[File:Ekrem İmamoğlu June 8 2022.jpg|80px]]
| '''[[Ekrem İmamoğlu]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1970)}}
| 17 April 2019
| 6 May 2019
| {{Age in years and days|2019|4|17|2019|5|6}}
! style="background:{{party color|Republican People's Party}}" |
| [[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
| Elected in the [[March 2019 Istanbul mayoral election|March 2019 election]]. Election [[List of annulled elections|annulled]] by the [[Supreme Electoral Council (Turkey)|Supreme Electoral Council]] (YSK) on 6 May 2019.
|-
!–
| [[File:Ali Yerlikaya and Johannes Hahn in Turkey (cropped).jpg|107x107px]]
| '''[[Ali Yerlikaya]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1968)}}<br />{{small|''Acting''}}
| 7 May 2019
| 27 June 2019
| {{Age in years and days|2019|5|7|2019|6|27}}
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}" |
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| [[Governor of Istanbul]], appointed as acting mayor.
|-
! {{small|(27)}}
| [[File:Ekrem İmamoğlu June 8 2022.jpg|80px]]
| '''[[Ekrem İmamoğlu]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1970)}}
| 27 June 2019
| 23 March 2025
| {{Age in years and days|2019|6|27}}
! style="background:{{party color|Republican People's Party}}" |
| [[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
| Re-elected in the [[June 2019 Istanbul mayoral election|June 2019 re-run election]] and [[2024 Turkish local elections]].
|-
!–
|[[File:Nuri Aslan IBB.jpg|80px]]
|[[Nuri Aslan]]<br />{{small|(born 1969)}}<br />{{small|''Acting''}}
|26 March 2025
|Incumbent
|{{Age in years and days|26 March 2025|||||}}
! style="background:{{party color|Republican People's Party}}" |
|[[Republican People's Party|CHP]]
|Elected by the city council to serve as acting mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-26 |title=Istanbul Municipality elects acting mayor - Türkiye News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-municipality-elects-acting-mayor-207364 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of mayors of Ankara]]

== References ==
<references />
{{Mayors of İstanbul}}
{{Istanbul}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mayors of Istanbul}}
[[Category:Mayors of Istanbul| ]]
[[Category:Lists of mayors of places in Turkey|Istanbul]]
[[Category:Istanbul-related lists]]
[[Category:Lists of mayors]]