The purpose of this study was to investigate the statistical literacy of 8th grade students and their attitudes towards statistics. Moreover, the relationship between their statistical literacy and attitudes towards statistics was examined. The study was conducted in Yenimahalle district of Ankara in the Spring semester of 2011-2012 academic year. The sample of this study was obtained through cluster random sampling. Nine schools were randomly selected for the study. A total of 1074 eighth grade students in these schools participated. The scales used in the data collection were Statistical Literacy Test (SLT) adapted from Probability Attitudes Scale previously developed for Turkish students (Bulut, 1994) and Attitude towards Statistics Questionnaire (ATSQ) developed by the researcher based on Watson&rsquo / s (1997) three tier framework. The analysis of the mean scores of statistical literacy in terms of content domains revealed that although sample, graphs, and chance contents had closer mean scores to each other which was around moderate value / average, inference, and variation content domains had lower mean scores. A one-way within subjects ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences between Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 aspects of statistical literacy. The pairwise comparisons indicated that students performed lowest in third tier of statistical literacy where students were required to evaluate inappropriate statistical claims. Although, students performed slightly higher in the first tier where they showed their ability in understanding statistical terminology / their performance was the highest in the second tier which was interpreting statistical claims in context. Eighth grade students&rsquo / attitudes towards statistics were positive with a mean score of 3.52 in five point scale. The correlation analysis indicated that there were positive and significant relationship between students&rsquo / attitudes towards statistics and statistical literacy scores.