The Turk diaspora has been established with modern migration, particularly in Western Europe residing in many countries. They are the largest people group in Turkey, as well as by far the largest among the speakers of Turkic languages.

After World War II, West Germany began to experience its greatest economic boom ("Wirtschaftswunder") and in 1961 invited the Turks as guest workers ("Gastarbeiter") to make up for the shortage of workers. The concept of the Gastarbeiter continued with Turkey bearing agreements with Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands in 1964, with France in 1965; and with Sweden in 1967.

An overwhelming majority of Turks are Muslim, most of them being Sunni (Hanafi). A very small percentage (less than 1%) are Christian or Jewish.