Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women and accounts for about 25% of all cancer diagnoses. Survivin is a member of the apoptosis inhibitor protein family of antiapoptotic proteins. In our study, we investigated one of those, the survivin gene promoter 31G/C polymorphism. Included in this study were 111 breast cancer patients who were operated on in our hospital and 101 healthy female subjects. Blood samples from the healthy subjects and paraffin-embedded tissue samples from the patients were used for DNA extraction and subsequent genetic analysis. PCR-RFLP was used for genotype analysis. We established the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients. No significant difference was found between survivin 31G/C promoter polymorphism of tumor characteristics and breast cancer. Between the control and breast cancer groups, survivin promoter polymorphism 31G/C differences were not significantly different (P = 0.058). The risk of developing cancer, having the relevant GC or CC genotype, is 1.413 times higher than those having genotype GG (95% confidence interval: 1.040 to 1.918). Carrying the C allele was statistically significant in terms of susceptibility to breast cancer. In conclusion, the use of survivin gene polymorphism as a risk factor in breast cancer is recommended based on the results of this study.