According to the following statistics, the number of Greeks living in the Asiatic portion of the Ottoman Empire (Asia Minor) in the early part of the 20th century was approximately 1,780,000. The official Turkish statistics of 1910 had the figure at 1,777,146. Greek Patriarchate statistics of 1912 had the figure at 1,782,582. C.A Macartney had the figure at 2,000,000. An exact figure however would be difficult to state for various reasons. Many Greeks in the Empire renounced their religion and culture in order to assimilate into the Empire, whereas other Greeks were forced into Islam and practiced Crypto-Christianity, and didn't profess to being Greek for fear of persecution in a predominantly Muslim state.
Due to the geographic isolation of certain parts of Turkey, and the political turmoil within the Ottoman Empire at the time, these population statistics should only be used as a guide.
Distribution of Foreign Νationalities in the Ottoman Empire – Asia
Turkish Official Statistics , 1910
|
Province |
Turks |
Greeks |
Armenians |
Jews |
Others |
Total |
|
Constantinople (Asiatic) |
135.681 |
70.906 |
30.465 |
5.120 |
16.812 |
258.984 |
|
Ismid |
184.960 |
78.564 |
50.935 |
2.180 |
1.435 |
318.074 |
|
Aidin (Smyrna) |
974.225 |
629.002 |
17.247 |
24.361 |
58.076 |
1.702.911 |
|
Brussa |
1.346.387 |
274.530 |
87.932 |
2.788 |
6.125 |
1.717.761 |
|
Konia |
1.143.335 |
85.320 |
9.426 |
720 |
15.356 |
1.254.157 |
|
Angora |
991.666 |
54.280 |
101.388 |
901 |
12.329 |
1.160.564 |
|
Trebizond |
1.047.889 |
351.104 |
45.094 |
|
|
1.444.087 |
|
Sivas |
933.572 |
98.270 |
165.741 |
|
|
1.197.583 |
|
Castamouni |
1.086.420 |
18.160 |
3.061 |
|
1.980 |
1.109.621 |
|
Adana |
212.454 |
88.010 |
81.250 |
|
107.240 |
488.954 |
|
Bigha (Dardanelles) |
136.000 |
29.000 |
2.000 |
3.300 |
98 |
170.398 |
|
Total |
8.192.589 |
1.777.146 |
594.539 |
39.370 |
219.451 |
10.823.095 |
From: Polybius, Greece before the Conference (London:Methuen and Co. Ltd) p.44
Greek Patriarch Statistics, 1912
|
Provinces |
Turks |
Greeks |
Armenians |
Jews |
Others |
Total |
|
Constantinople (Asiatic) |
124.281 |
74.457 |
35.360 |
5.965 |
18.497 |
258.560 |
|
Ismid |
116.949 |
73.134 |
48.635 |
2.500 |
1.115 |
242.333 |
|
Aidin (Smyrna) |
940.843 |
622.810 |
16.419 |
21.781 |
57.676 |
1.659.529 |
|
Brussa |
1.192.749 |
278.421 |
89.966 |
2.854 |
6.134 |
1.570.124 |
|
Konia |
988.725 |
87.021 |
9.729 |
605 |
15.471 |
1.101.549 |
|
Angora |
668.400 |
45.873 |
98.798 |
478 |
8.749 |
822.298 |
|
Trebizond |
957.866 |
353.533 |
50.624 |
|
|
1.362.023 |
|
Sivas |
839.514 |
99.376 |
170.635 |
|
|
1.109.525 |
|
Castamouni |
938.435 |
24.919 |
3.205 |
|
2.087 |
968.646 |
|
Adana |
142.000 |
90.208 |
83.000 |
|
108.292 |
423.500 |
|
Bigha (Dardanelles) |
138.902 |
32.830 |
2.336 |
3.340 |
81 |
177.489 |
|
Total |
7.048.662 |
1.782.582 |
608.707 |
37.523 |
218.102 |
9.695.506 |
Source: Pentzopoulos, D. The Balkan Exchange of Minorities and its impact on Greece. p.29