Turkey

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.

The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution when traveling to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. On February 6, 2023 a large 7.8 earthquake occurred in the Turkish Southeast, near Gaziantep, affecting several provinces and the broader Central Mediterranean region. Large aftershocks continue and are likely through the coming days. U.S. Citizens should avoid travel to areas affected by the earthquake. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.

[90] (312) 455-5555; US Embassy Ankara, 1480 Sokak No. 1, Cukurambar Mahallesi, 06530 Cankaya, Ankara; Ankara-ACS@state.gov; https://tr.usembassy.gov/

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) travelers can face unique challenges when traveling abroad. Laws and attitudes in some countries may affect safety and ease of travel. Legal protections vary from country to country. Many countries do not legally recognize same-sex marriage . Approximately seventy countries consider consensual same-sex sexual relations a crime , sometimes carrying severe punishment. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/lgbtqi.html

90

Ambulance: 112; Fire: 112; Police: 112

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Türkiye: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, anthrax, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, COVID-19, and influenza. http://www.who.int/

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

Turkish liras (TRY)

230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Turkish, Kurdish, other minority languages

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

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

Opt for bottled water

Suggested

Right

Istanbul (includes Hagia Sofia & Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace); Ephesus; Pamukkale; Sumela Monastery; Mount Nemrut; Goreme National Park & rock sites of Cappadocia; Troy ruins; Catalhoyuk

Soccer, basketball, volleyball

Learn a few basic but polite Turkish words and phrases, such as ‘lütfen’, which means ‘please’, with ‘tesekkür ederim’ meaning ‘thank you.’

Tipping 10-15% in restaurants, cafes, and bars is typical. Hotel staff expect 5-20 liras for their services. Round up taxi fares.

Turkish/Kilim rugs, nargile smoking pipes, evil eye items, Turkish Delight candy, ceramics and pottery, copperwork, inlaid woodwork, chess sets, musical instruments, Turkish coffee sets and coffee, leather items, gold jewelry and onyx and mother-of-pearl items, embroidered items

Döner Kebab — grilled, sliced, or shaved seasoned lamb and/or beef shredded from a vertical skewer and typically folded in flat bread with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and cucumbers; cheese is also occasionally added

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

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

39 00 N, 35 00 E

Middle East

783,562 sq km

769,632 sq km

13,930 sq km

slightly larger than Texas

2,816 km

Armenia 311 km; Azerbaijan 17 km; Bulgaria 223 km; Georgia 273 km; Greece 192 km; Iran 534 km; Iraq 367 km; Syria 899 km

7,200 km

6 nm in the Aegean Sea

in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed on with the former USSR

note: 12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea

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

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

Mount Ararat 5,137 m

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

1,132 m

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

50.1% (2023 est.)

arable land: 26.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 4.8% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 19% (2023 est.)

29.3% (2023 est.)

20.5% (2023 est.)

52,150 sq km (2022)

Lake Beysehir - 650 sq km; Lake Egridir - 520 sq km

Lake Van - 3,740 sq km; Lake Tuz - 1,640 sq 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

(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

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

severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van; landslides; flooding volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the three historically active volcanoes (Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi) have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier

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, reputed to be the landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far-eastern part of the country

84,625,585 (2025 est.)

42,489,277

42,136,308

Turk(s)

Turkish

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

Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages

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.

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

21.7% (male 9,358,711/female 8,933,673)

68.6% (male 29,219,389/female 28,494,315)

9.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,669,330/female 4,444,113)

45.7 (2025 est.)

31.2 (2025 est.)

14.6 (2025 est.)

6.9 (2025 est.)

34.4 years (2025 est.)

33.4 years

34.6 years

0.59% (2025 est.)

13.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

77.5% of total population (2023)

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

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)

1.05 male(s)/female

1.05 male(s)/female

1.03 male(s)/female

0.83 male(s)/female

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

26.6 years (2020 est.)

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

17.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

19.9 deaths/1,000 live births

16.7 deaths/1,000 live births

76.7 years (2024 est.)

74.4 years

79.2 years

1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.92 (2025 est.)

urban: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 96% of population (2022 est.)

total: 97% of population (2022 est.)

urban: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 4% of population (2022 est.)

total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

4.6% of GDP (2021)

10% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

32.1% (2016)

1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

30.1% (2025 est.)

40.1% (2025 est.)

20.1% (2025 est.)

1.5% (2018 est.)

59.6% (2021 est.)

2% (2018)

14.7% (2018)

3.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

11.3% national budget (2022 est.)

97.3% (2021 est.)

99.3% (2021 est.)

95.3% (2021 est.)

20 years (2022 est.)

20 years (2022 est.)

20 years (2022 est.)

Republic of Turkey

Turkey

Turkey Cumhuriyeti

Turkey

the name means "Land of the Turks"

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

presidential republic

Ankara

39 56 N, 32 52 E

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

the name probably derives from the Indo-European root word ang , meaning "bend" and relating to the settlement's original location in a winding gorge; the city was referred to as Angora by the 13th century; the name was officially modified to Ankara in 1923 when the Republic of Turkey was founded

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

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

several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982

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

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

no

at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkey

yes, but requires prior permission from the government

5 years

18 years of age; universal

President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 28 August 2014)

President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 9 July 2018)

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

14 May 2023, with a runoff on 28 May 2023

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%

2028

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

unicameral

600 (all directly elected)

proportional representation

full renewal

5 years

5/14/2023

Justice and Development Party (Ak Party) (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)

19.9%

May 2028

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)

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

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

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

Ambassador Sedat öNAL (since 17 June 2024)

2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

[1] (202) 612-6700

[1] (202) 612-6744

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

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Ambassador Thomas J. BARRACK (since 14 May 2025)

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

7000 Ankara Place, Washington, DC 20512-7000

[90] (312) 294-0000

[90] (312) 467-0019

Ankara-ACS@state.gov https://tr.usembassy.gov/

Istanbul

Adana

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, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

note : Turkey is an EU candidate country and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership

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

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

description: red with a vertical white crescent moon and five-pointed white star centered just outside the crescent's opening meaning: the flag colors and designs closely resemble the Ottoman Empire's flag; 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

vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star

red, white

"Istiklal Marsi" (The March of Independence)

Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR

lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932; the anthem's original music was adopted in 1924

22 (20 cultural, 2 mixed)

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); Archaeological Site of Ani (c); Aphrodisias (c); Arslantepe Mound (c); Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia (c); Turkmenistan (c); Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe (c)

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

$3.018 trillion (2024 est.)

$2.925 trillion (2023 est.)

$2.783 trillion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

3.2% (2024 est.)

5.1% (2023 est.)

5.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$35,300 (2024 est.)

$34,300 (2023 est.)

$32,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$1.323 trillion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

58.5% (2024 est.)

53.9% (2023 est.)

72.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

5.6% (2024 est.)

25.9% (2024 est.)

56.8% (2024 est.)

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

59.4% (2024 est.)

14.7% (2024 est.)

31% (2024 est.)

-5.5% (2024 est.)

28% (2024 est.)

-27.8% (2024 est.)

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

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

2.2% (2024 est.)

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

36.081 million (2024 est.)

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

8.5% (2024 est.)

9.4% (2023 est.)

10.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

15.6% (2024 est.)

12.4% (2024 est.)

21.2% (2024 est.)

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

13.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

44.5 (2022 est.)

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

22.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

2.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

2.1% (2022 est.)

35.2% (2022 est.)

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

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

$330.21 billion (2023 est.)

$382.998 billion (2023 est.)

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

33.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

18.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

-$9.973 billion (2024 est.)

-$39.877 billion (2023 est.)

-$46.283 billion (2022 est.)

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

$372.756 billion (2024 est.)

$357.588 billion (2023 est.)

$346.602 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

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

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

$367.022 billion (2024 est.)

$386.602 billion (2023 est.)

$383.7 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

$154.774 billion (2024 est.)

$140.868 billion (2023 est.)

$128.735 billion (2022 est.)

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

$149.654 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -

32.806 (2024 est.)

23.739 (2023 est.)

16.549 (2022 est.)

8.85 (2021 est.)

7.009 (2020 est.)

100% (2022 est.)

106.281 million kW (2023 est.)

285.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)

1.993 billion kWh (2023 est.)

5.892 billion kWh (2023 est.)

28.964 billion kWh (2023 est.)

57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

10.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

4 (2025)

82.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)

124.183 million metric tons (2023 est.)

685,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

41.119 million metric tons (2023 est.)

10.975 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

83,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

1.107 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

366 million barrels (2021 est.)

807.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

50.211 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

896.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

50.484 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

3.794 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

70.521 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

9.926 million (2023 est.)

11 (2023 est.)

94.3 million (2024 est.)

108 (2024 est.)

Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) operates multiple TV and radio networks and stations; multiple privately owned national TV stations and 567 private regional and local TV stations; multi-channel cable TV available; 1,007 private radio stations (2019)

.tr

87% (2024 est.)

19.6 million (2023 est.)

22 (2023 est.)

TC

116 (2025)

240 (2025)

11,497 km (2018)

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

1,170 (2023)

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

54 (2024)

3

3

6

42

28

Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Nemrut Limani Bay, Samsun

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 General Command (aka Gendarmerie of the Turkish Republic), Turkish Coast Guard Command, General Directorate of Security (National Police) (2025)

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

2.3% of GDP (2025 est.)

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

approximately 495,000 active military personnel; approximately 150,000 Gendarmerie (2025)

the military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and mostly European (such as Germany, Italy, and Spain) or US armaments; other suppliers have included Russia and South Korea; Türkiye's defense industry produces a range of weapons systems for both export and internal use, including armored vehicles, naval vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones; some of its domestically produced armaments are produced jointly with foreign partners or based on imported weapons systems and produced under license (2025)

military service is compulsory for Turkish men 20-41 for a period of 6-12 months; men and women may volunteer (2025)

note: after completing 1 month of basic training, conscripts have the option to opt out of the last 5 months by paying a fee

approximately 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); approximately 30,000 Cyprus; 730 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); Turkiye also has several thousand military personnel deployed to other countries under bilateral agreements, including Azerbaijan, Libya, Qatar, and Somalia (2025)

note: Turkey estimated to maintain several thousand military forces in both Iraq and Syria

the responsibilities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) include 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; it also has overall responsibility for the security of Türkiye’s borders Türkiye is active in international peacekeeping and other military/security operations under NATO and the UN, as well as under bilateral agreements with some countries, such as Azerbaijan, Libya, Somalia, and Qatar; Türkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts 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 the military traces its history 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 traditionally has been viewed as the “guardian” of Turkish politics, but its political role was diminished after the failed 2016 coup attempt; the military has a stake in Türkiye's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, defense, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2025)

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

3,094,818 (2024 est.)

538,105 (2024 est.)

420 (2024 est.)

water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; land degradation; conservation of biodiversity

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

Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification

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

50.1% (2023 est.)

arable land: 26.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 4.8% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 19% (2023 est.)

29.3% (2023 est.)

20.5% (2023 est.)

77.5% of total population (2023)

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

399.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

155.26 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

147.211 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

96.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

23.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

35.374 million tons (2024 est.)

32% (2022 est.)

7.144 billion cubic meters (2022)

1.297 billion cubic meters (2022)

56.127 billion cubic meters (2022)

211.6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

1

Kula-Salihli (2023)

Turkish Space Agency (TUA; established 2018) (2025)

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

has an ambitious national space program with a focus on satellites, satellite components, satellite launch capabilities, software development, ground station technologies, and building up the country’s space industries; manufactures and operates remote sensing and telecommunications satellites; in recent years has initiated a satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) program with the goal of independently placing satellites into orbit and a probe on the Moon; works 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 ESA; has state-owned rocket and satellite development companies, including some under the Ministry of Defense; has a growing private space-industry sector, and the Turkish Government has pledged to increase the country's share of the global space market (2025)

1994 - first commercial communications satellite built jointly with and launched by France 2003 - first domestically built experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (BILSAT) launched by Russia 2018 - launched first domestically produced solid-fuel sounding rocket to an altitude of 135 km (84 mi) 2024 - first Turkish astronaut in space on the International Space Station; first domestically produced communications satellite launched by US 2025 - successfully launched 2-stage hybrid rocket more than 200 km (124 mi) in altitude