Turkey - TR - TUR - TUR - Middle East

Last updated: April 24, 2025

Turkey (Turkiye) Images

Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
Ruins of the Roman Senate (Odeon, or small theater) in Ephesus, Turkey. In Roman times, Ephesus had a population estimated between 250,000 and 500,000, making it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world.
The Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey, was built between A.D. 100 and 110 by Gaius Julius Aquila in memory of his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaneanus, a former governor of Roman Asia, who is buried under the library. An earthquake destroyed the library in A.D. 270, and the façade was reconstructed between 1970 and 1978.
Ruins of the public bath in Ephesus, Turkey. The Romans built several bath complexes in the city, which had one of the most complex aqueduct systems in the ancient world.
The public toilets in Ephesus, Turkey, were located in the public baths and had running water. An inscription on a wall reads: "Close your eyes, count slowly to 10, and it will come."
The Great Theater in Ephesus, Turkey, was built over an existing Greek structure. It was expanded under the reigns of Roman emperors Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). Seating estimates for the theater vary between 25,000 and 44,000. The theater was in continuous use until the 5th century A.D.
Ruins of the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus, Turkey, which dates to the 2nd century A.D. The structure has been partially reconstructed from surviving architectural fragments.
Terrace homes in Ephesus, Turkey, built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. Wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces.
View of the port of Kusadasi, Turkey, on the Aegean Sea. The name Kusadasi means "Bird Island." In Byzantine times, it was called "Ephesus Neopolis," and the Genoese and Venetians dubbed it "Scala Nova." Turkey officially adopted its current name at the beginning of the 20th century.
Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi, Turkey. The fortress dates from the 14th and 15th centuries but was rebuilt in in 1834.
View of the restored castle on Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi, Turkey. The fortress was the center of the town's activities in the late 19th century.
A view of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey through the fog. The highest of its two peaks, Greater Ararat, is the tallest mountain in Turkey at 5,166 m (16,949 ft).
"Fairy chimneys" (also called hoodoos, tent rocks, or earth pyramids) in Turkey’s Göreme National Park are the result of volcanic ash hardening into porous rock, which then erodes to create these capped cone shapes up to 40 m (130 ft) tall.
Centuries of wind and rain eroded soft rock into these volcanic cones in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Many of these cones have been transformed into domestic dwellings.
View of Istanbul, Turkey, from the Topkapi Palace.
The Gate of the Sultan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. Built between 1843 and 1856, the palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from the second half of the 19th century through the early 20th century.
The Hagia Sofia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul, Turkey, is a former Christian Greek Orthodox cathedral that became an Ottoman imperial mosque and is now a museum. Completed in A.D. 537, it was the world's largest building and an engineering marvel of its time, renowned for its vast dome.
A view of the interior of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
The fountain for ritual ablutions was added to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1740.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul is the national mosque of Turkey. Built between 1609 and 1617, during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I, the mosque is known as the “Blue Mosque” due to thousands of blue Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs decorating its interior.
Turkey's Tiled Kiosk Museum is one of three museums that make up the Istanbul Archeology Museums.
The Topkapi Palace courtyard in Istanbul, Turkey. The palace was the official residence of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years. Construction was begun in 1459; in 1924, a governmental decree turned the palace into a museum.
The Imperial Hall in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
The main harem entrance at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Crown Prince's Quarters in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
Tile work in the harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Gate of Felicity at the Third Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Baghdad Kiosk in the Fourth Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
Ruins of the Roman Senate (Odeon, or small theater) in Ephesus, Turkey. In Roman times, Ephesus had a population estimated between 250,000 and 500,000, making it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world.

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Turkey (Turkiye) Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael GOLDMAN (since September 2024)

embassy: 1480 Sokak No. 1, Cukurambar Mahallesi, 06530 Cankaya, Ankara

mailing address: 7000 Ankara Place, Washington, DC 20512-7000

telephone: [90] (312) 294-0000

FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019

email address and website:
Ankara-ACS@state.gov

https://tr.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Istanbul

consulate(s): Adana

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.7% (male 9,358,711/female 8,933,673)

15-64 years: 68.6% (male 29,219,389/female 28,494,315)

65 years and over: 9.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,669,330/female 4,444,113)

This is the population pyramid for Turkey. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 35 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van; landslides; flooding

volcanism: limited volcanic activity; its three historically active volcanoes; Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Texas

slightly larger than Texas

Military service age and obligation

mandatory military service for men at age 20; service can be delayed if in university or in certain professions (researchers, professionals, and athletic, or those with artistic talents have the right to postpone military service until the age of 35); 6-12 months service; women may volunteer (2023)

note 1: after completing six months of service, if a conscripted soldier wants to and is suitable for extending his military service, he may do so for an additional six months in return for a monthly salary; all male Turkish citizens over the age of 20 are required to undergo a one month military training period, but they can obtain an exemption from the remaining 5 months of their mandatory service by paying a fee

note 2: as of 2021, women made up about 0.4% of the military's full-time personnel

Background

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire by reformer and national hero Mustafa KEMAL, known as Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." One-party rule ended in 1950, and periods of instability and military coups have since fractured the multiparty democracy, in 1960, 1971, 1980, 1997, and 2016.

Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and NATO in 1952. In 1963, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; it began accession talks with the EU in 2005. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a US-designated terrorist organization, began a separatist insurgency in Turkey in 1984, and the struggle has long dominated the attention of Turkish security forces. In 2013, the Turkish Government and the PKK conducted negotiations aimed at ending the violence, but intense fighting resumed in 2015.

The Turkish Government conducted a referendum in 2017 in which voters approved constitutional amendments changing Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential system.

Environment - current issues

water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; land degradation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic; conservation of biodiversity

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022)
1.6% of GDP (2021)
1.9% of GDP (2020)

Population below poverty line

14.4% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 34.7% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

garments, cars, gold, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 9%, USA 6%, UK 6%, UAE 5%, Iraq 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Administrative divisions

81 provinces (iller, singular - ili); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond), Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Agricultural products

sugar beets, wheat, milk, tomatoes, barley, maize, potatoes, apples, grapes, watermelons (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

Turkish Armed Forces (TAF; Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri, TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), Turkish Naval Forces (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri; includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Forces (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri)

Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie of the Turkish Republic (aka Gendarmerie General Command), Turkish Coast Guard Command, National Police (2024)

note: the Gendarmerie (Jandarma) is responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of police forces (generally in rural areas); in wartime, the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard would be placed under the operational control of the Land Forces and Naval Forces, respectively

Budget

revenues: $234.92 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $269.146 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Capital

name: Ankara

geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: Ankara has been linked with a second millennium B.C. Hittite cult center of Ankuwash, although this connection is uncertain; in classical and medieval times, the city was known as Ankyra (meaning "anchor" in Greek and reflecting the city's position as a junction for multiple trade and military routes); by about the 13th century the city began to be referred to as Angora; following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the city's name became Ankara

Imports - commodities

gold, refined petroleum, cars, plastics, natural gas (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Coastline

7,200 km

Constitution

history: several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982

amendment process: proposed by written consent of at least one third of Grand National Assembly (GNA) of Turkey (TBMM) members; adoption of draft amendments requires two debates in plenary TBMM session and three-fifths majority vote of all GNA members; the president of the republic can request TBMM reconsideration of the amendment and, if readopted by two-thirds majority TBMM vote, the president may submit the amendment to a referendum; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote

Exchange rates

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
23.739 (2023 est.)
16.549 (2022 est.)
8.85 (2021 est.)
7.009 (2020 est.)
5.674 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 28 August 2014)

head of government: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 9 July 2018)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 14 May 2023 with a runoff on 28 May 2023 (next to be held in 2028)

election results:
2023: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in second round - Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 52.2%, Kemal KILICDAROGLU (CHP) 47.8%

2018: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in first round - Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 52.6%, Muharrem INCE (CHP) 30.6%, Selahattin DEMIRTAS (HDP) 8.4%, Meral AKSENER (IYI) 7.3%, other 1.1%

Flag description

red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening; the flag colors and designs closely resemble those on the banner of the Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern-day Turkey; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for Turkic peoples; according to one interpretation, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors

Roadways

total: 68,526 km (2023)

paved: 24,082 km (2018) (includes 2,159 km of expressways)

unpaved: 43,251 km (2018)

Illicit drugs

a significant transit country for illicit drug trafficking; an increase of heroin and methamphetamine seizures along the Turkiye-Iran border; Syrian drug traffickers play a significant role in Turkiye’s drug trade; domestic Illegal drug use relatively low compared to countries in the region

Independence

29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire)

Industries

textiles, food processing, automobiles, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Waterways

1,200 km (2010)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Anayasa Mahkemesi (consists of the president, 2 vice presidents, and 12 judges); Court of Cassation (consists of about 390 judges and is organized into civil and penal chambers); Council of State (organized into 15 divisions -- 14 judicial and 1 consultative -- each with a division head and at least 5 members)

judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court members - 3 appointed by the Grand National Assembly and 12 by the president of the republic; court president and 2 deputy court presidents appointed from among its members for 4-year terms; judges serve 12-year, nonrenewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Board of Judges and Prosecutors, a 13-member body of judicial officials; Court of Cassation judges serve until retirement at age 65; Council of State members appointed by the Board and by the president of the republic; members serve renewable, 4-year terms

subordinate courts: regional appeals courts; basic (first instance) courts; peace courts; aggravated crime courts; specialized courts, including administrative and audit

Land boundaries

total: 2,816 km

border countries (8): Armenia 311 km; Azerbaijan 17 km; Bulgaria 223 km; Georgia 273 km; Greece 192 km; Iran 534 km; Iraq 367 km; Syria 899 km

Land use

agricultural land: 50% (2022 est.)

arable land: 26.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 4.8% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 19% (2022 est.)

forest: 29.3% (2022 est.)

other: 20.7% (2022 est.)

Legal system

civil law system based on various European legal systems, notably the Swiss civil code

Legislative branch

legislature name: Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M))

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 600 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 5/14/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Justice and Development Party (AKP) (267); Republican People's Party (CHP) (130); Green and the Left Party of the Future (YSGP) (57); Nationalist Action Party (MHP) (50); Good Party (İyi Party) (44); Other (52)

percentage of women in chamber: 19.9%

expected date of next election: May 2028

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.7%

male: 99.1%

female: 94.4% (2019)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea

exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR

12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CPLP (associate observer), D-8, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (candidate country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SCO (dialogue member), SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

note: Turkey is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

National holiday

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Nationality

noun: Turk(s)

adjective: Turkish

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower

Geography - note

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link the Black and Aegean Seas; the 3% of Turkish territory north of the Straits lies in Europe and goes by the names of European Turkey, Eastern Thrace, or Turkish Thrace; the 97% of the country in Asia is referred to as Anatolia; Istanbul, which straddles the Bosporus, is the only metropolis in the world located on two continents; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country

Economic overview

upper-middle-income, diversified Middle Eastern economy; industrializing economy that maintains large agricultural base; key energy, tourism, and construction sectors; high inflation, interest rates, and foreign debt pose risk to financial stability

Pipelines

14,666 km gas, 3,293 km oil (2017)

Political parties

Democracy and Progress Party or DEVA
Democrat Party or DP
Democratic Regions Party or DBP
Felicity Party (Saadet Party) or SP
Free Cause Party or HUDA PAR
Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) or GP
Good Party or IYI
Grand Unity Party or BBP
Justice and Development Party or AKP
Labor and Freedom Alliance (electoral alliance includes YSGP, HDP, TIP)
Nationalist Movement Party or MHP
New Welfare Party or YRP
Party of Greens and the Left Future or YSGP
People's Alliance (electoral alliance includes AKP, BBP, MHP, YRP)
Peoples' Democratic Party or HDP
Republican People's Party or CHP
Workers' Party of Turkey or TIP

Railways

total: 11,497 km (2018)

standard gauge: 11,497 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (1.435 km high speed train)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Turkey continues to develop its capabilities within its telecom sector, becoming one of the relatively few countries able to build and develop its own communications satellites; with the successful launch of the Turksat 5A and 5B satellites in 2021, the country has vastly increased its bandwidth capacity; these satellites will be joined by the Turksat 6A in 2023; the country’s telcos have invested in fiber infrastructure; deployment of fiber-based broadband networks are well established, with fiber accounting for 26.7% of all fixed broadband connections as of early 2022; the DSL sector still dominates, accounting for about 63% of connections, but its share is steadily declining, year-on-year, while the number of fiber connections has grown strongly; improved fixed and mobile infrastructure is underpinning the country’s initiatives relating to Smart City concepts, which have become a key area of focus for the emerging digital economy and the transformation to a knowledge-based economy; Turkey’s National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan runs through to 2023 (2022)

domestic: fixed-line nearly 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 106 telephones per 100 persons (2022)

international: country code - 90; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3 & -5, MedNautilus Submarine System, Turcyos-1 & -2 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2020)

Terrain

high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges

Government type

presidential republic

Military - note

the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have a range of responsibilities, including protecting the country's territory and sovereignty, participating in international peacekeeping operations, fulfilling Türkiye’s military commitments to NATO, providing disaster/humanitarian relief and assistance to domestic law enforcement if requested by civil authorities, and supporting the country's overall national security interests; the TAF also has overall responsibility for the security of Türkiye’s borders; Türkiye is active in international peacekeeping and other security operations under the EU, NATO, and the UN, as well as under bilateral agreements with some countries; the TAF has established expeditionary military bases in northern Cyprus, Qatar, Somalia, and Sudan

Türkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts a considerable NATO and US military presence, including the headquarters for a NATO Land Command and a Rapid Deployment Corps, multiple airbases for NATO and US aircraft, NATO air/missile defense systems, and training centers; the TAF is the second-largest military in NATO behind the US and exercises regularly with NATO partners; Türkiye's geographic location at the southeastern flank of the Alliance give it and the TAF a critical role in regional security

the TAF is a large, well-equipped force comprised of a mix of professionals and conscripts; it has considerable operational experience; in addition to peacekeeping and military assistance operations in recent years in such places as Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Kosovo (NATO), Lebanon (UN), and Somalia (bilateral), it has conducted combat missions of varying duration and scale in Iraq, Libya, and Syria; ; in Syria, it occupies a large swatch of territory and maintain thousands of troops; since the 1980s, the TAF has been involved in a protracted counterinsurgency campaign against the US-designated terrorist group the Kurdistan Worker’s Party or PKK, a Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla movement, which historically operated throughout Kurdistan but is now primarily based in the mountainous Kurdish-majority regions of southeastern Türkiye and northern Iraq; other key areas of concern for the TAF include tensions with fellow NATO member Greece over territorial disputes and Cyprus, tensions between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan, conflict in the Middle East, threats from the terrorist groups al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham, and the Russia-Ukraine war; under a long-range (2033) strategic plan, the TAF continues an effort to modernize its equipment and force structure

Türkiye’s military has a rich history that it traces back to 200 B.C., although the modern TAF was formed following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923); the TAF has traditionally had a significant influence in the country as the “guardian” of Turkish politics, but its political role was diminished after the failed 2016 coup attempt; the military has a substantial stake in Türkiye's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2024)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Turkey

conventional short form: Turkey

local long form: Turkey Cumhuriyeti

local short form: Turkey

etymology: the name means "Land of the Turks"

note: Turkiye is an approved English short-form name for Turkey

Location

Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Map references

Middle East

Irrigated land

52,150 sq km (2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sedat ÖNAL (since 17 June 2024)

chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700

FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744

email address and website:
embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr

T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı - Turkish Embassy In Washington, D.C. (mfa.gov.tr)

consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Internet users

percent of population: 86% (2023 est.)

Internet country code

.tr

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 10,244 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 41,665 (Ukraine) (as of 15 February 2024) (2023); 3,122,899 (Syria) (2024)

IDPs: 1.099 million (displaced from 1984-2005 because of fighting between the Kurdish PKK and Turkish military; most IDPs are Kurds from eastern and southeastern provinces; no information available on persons displaced by development projects) (2022)

stateless persons: 117 (2018)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.118 trillion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BB- (2019)

Moody's rating: B2 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2018)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

211.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years

male: 19 years

female: 18 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) operates multiple TV and radio networks and stations; multiple privately owned national television stations and 567 private regional and local television stations; multi-channel cable TV subscriptions available; 1,007 private radio broadcast stations

(2019)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.1% of population

rural: 98.7% of population

total: 99% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.9% of population

rural: 1.3% of population

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Istiklal Marsi" (Independence March)

lyrics/music: Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR

note: lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932; the anthem's original music was adopted in 1924; a new composition was agreed upon in 1932

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Turkey. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

15.848 million Istanbul, 5.397 million ANKARA (capital), 3.088 million Izmir, 2.086 million Bursa, 1.836 million Adana, 1.805 million Gaziantep (2023)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Physician density

2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2018)

National symbol(s)

vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star; national colors: red, white

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.6 years (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69.8% (2018)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 59.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 31.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -1.9% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 31.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -34.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 49.1

youth dependency ratio: 34.5

elderly dependency ratio: 12.3

potential support ratio: 8.1 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkey

dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from the government

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Population distribution

the most densely populated area is found around the Bosporus in the northwest where 20% of the population lives in Istanbul; with the exception of Ankara, urban centers remain small and scattered throughout the interior of Anatolia; an overall pattern of peripheral development exists, particularly along the Aegean Sea coast in the west, and the Tigris and Euphrates River systems in the southeast

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 11 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 618

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,595,495 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,949,210,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.8% of population

rural: 98.7% of population

total: 99.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population

rural: 1.3% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 19%, other minorities 6-11% (2016 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Languages

Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages

major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, temel bilgi edinmek için vazgeçilmez bir kaynak. (Turkish)

ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Turkish audio sample

Kurdish audio sample

Imports - partners

China 13%, Russia 9%, Germany 9%, Switzerland 6%, USA 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Mount Ararat 5,137 m

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 1,132 m

Current health expenditure

4.6% of GDP (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 480,000 active-duty personnel (380,000 Army; 50,000 Navy; 50,000 Air Force); approximately 150,000 Gendarmerie (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced, European (particularly from Germany), and US weapons and equipment, as well as some Chinese, Russian, and South Korean acquisitions; it is a mix of older and modern weapons systems; Türkiye has a defense industry capable of producing a range of weapons systems for both export and internal use, including armored vehicles, naval vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones; Türkiye's defense industry also partners with other countries for defense production (2024)

Military deployments

approximately 150 (Azerbaijan; monitoring cease-fire, clearing mines); 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); approximately 30-35,000 Cyprus; 800 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL); estimated 500 Libya; up to 5,000 Qatar; approximately 200 Somalia (training mission) (2023)

note: Turkey maintains significant military forces in both Iraq and Syria; size estimates vary as some forces are long-term deployments while others are deployed for specific operations; between 2016 and 2020, Turkey conducted four significant military ground campaigns in northern Syria with the stated purpose of securing its southern border; Turkey also has deployed troops into northern Iraq on numerous occasions to combat the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), including large operations involving thousands of troops in 2007, 2011, and 2018, and smaller-scale operations in 2021 and 2022; Turkey has also conducted numerous air strikes in both Iraq and Syria

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); al-Qa'ida; Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 6.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 1.03 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 54.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 31.283 million tons (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 22.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 2.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 23.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 372.72 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 57.53 megatons (2020 est.)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Beysehir - 650 sq km; Lake Egridir - 520 sq km

salt water lake(s): Lake Van - 3,740 sq km; Lake Tuz - 1,640 sq km;

Major rivers (by length in km)

Euphrates river source (shared with Syria, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris river source (shared with Syria, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 21 (19 cultural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Archaeological Site of Troy (c); Ephesus (c); Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (c); Hierapolis-Pamukkale (m); Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (m); Göbekli Tepe (c); Historic Areas of Istanbul (c); Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (c); Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük (c); Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire (c); Gordion (c); Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği (c); Hattusha: the Hittite Capital (c); Nemrut Dağ (c); Xanthos-Letoon (c); City of Safranbolu (c); Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape (c); Ephesus (c); Archaeological Site of Ani (c); Aphrodisias (c); Arslantepe Mound (c); Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia (c); Turkmenistan (c)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 2%

women married by age 18: 14.7% (2018 est.)

Coal

production: 82.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 124.183 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 685,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 41.119 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 10.975 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 10.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 807.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 50.211 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 896.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 50.484 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 3.794 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 83,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 1.107 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 366 million barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.4% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.09% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.09% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025)

Space program overview

has an ambitious space program with a large focus on satellites, software development, ground station technologies, and building up the country’s space industries; in recent years has also initiated a space launch program with the goal of placing domestically produced satellites into orbit independently and a probe on the Moon; manufactures and operates remote sensing and telecommunications satellites, as well as satellite components; has a space/satellite launch vehicle program; space sector is heavily import-reliant, particularly at the component level; has established relations with more than 25 foreign space agencies and corporations, including those of Azerbaijan, China, France, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US, as well as the European Space Agency; has state-owned rocket development and satellite communications companies, including some under the Ministry of Defense (2025)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space launch site(s)

rocket test launch site on the Black Sea in Sinop Province; constructing a rocket launch facility in Somalia as of early 2025 (2025)

Space agency/agencies

Turkish Space Agency (TUA; established 2018); TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (UZAY; established in 1985 as Ankara Electronics Research and Development Institute) (2025)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

global geoparks and regional networks: Kula-Salihli (2023)

Ports

total ports: 54 (2024)

large: 3

medium: 3

small: 6

very small: 42

ports with oil terminals: 28

key ports: Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Nemrut Limani Bay, Samsun

Labor force

35.59 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 17.6% (2023 est.)

male: 14.8% (2023 est.)

female: 22.9% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 34 years (2024 est.)

male: 33.4 years

female: 34.6 years

Debt - external

$151.844 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$140.858 billion (2023 est.)
$123.735 billion (2022 est.)
$109.535 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

35.25% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.41% (2023 est.)
10.43% (2022 est.)
11.97% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 84,119,531 (2024 est.)

male: 42,247,430

female: 41,872,101

Carbon dioxide emissions

399.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 155.26 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 147.211 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 96.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 783,562 sq km

land: 769,632 sq km

water: 13,930 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

16.09% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.953 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.81 trillion (2022 est.)
$2.662 trillion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

116 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 92.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

44.4 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

53.86% (2023 est.)
72.31% (2022 est.)
19.6% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

-$40.503 billion (2023 est.)
-$46.638 billion (2022 est.)
-$6.433 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$34,600 (2023 est.)
$33,100 (2022 est.)
$31,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 19.6 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 30.7% (2020 est.)

male: 42.1% (2020 est.)

female: 19.2% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.1% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

70.521 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

13.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 106.281 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 285.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 1.993 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 5.892 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 28.964 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1,170 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 43, container ship 43, general cargo 223, oil tanker 134, other 727

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.5% (2018/19)

Imports

$386.666 billion (2023 est.)
$383.7 billion (2022 est.)
$284.019 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$357.025 billion (2023 est.)
$346.21 billion (2022 est.)
$287.318 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

240 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 9.926 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 74.4 years

female: 79.2 years

Real GDP growth rate

5.11% (2023 est.)
5.53% (2022 est.)
11.44% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

2.52% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.2% (2023 est.)

industry: 28.4% (2023 est.)

services: 54.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.61% (2024 est.)

Sources: