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. 

land

769,632 sq km

total

783,562 sq km

water

13,930 sq km

slightly larger than Texas

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

7,200 km

highest point

Mount Ararat 5,137 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

1,132 m

39 00 N, 35 00 E

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

52,150 sq km (2020)

border countries

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

total

2,816 km

agricultural land

49.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 26.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 19% (2018 est.)

forest

14.9% (2018 est.)

other

35.4% (2018 est.)

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

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;

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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

Middle East

exclusive economic zone

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

note

12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea

territorial sea

6 nm in the Aegean Sea

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

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

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

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

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)

beer

0.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

women married by age 15

2%

women married by age 18

14.7% (2018 est.)

1.5% (2018/19)

69.8% (2018)

4.6% of GDP (2020)

65.4% (2023 est.)

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

elderly dependency ratio

12.3

potential support ratio

8.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.1

youth dependency ratio

34.5

improved: rural

rural: 98.7% of population

improved: total

total: 99% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.1% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

0.92 (2024 est.)

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

16.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

19.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

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.

female

79.2 years

male

74.4 years

total population

76.7 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.4% (2019)

male

99.1%

total population

96.7%

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)

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

female

34.6 years

male

33.4 years

total

34 years (2024 est.)

26.6 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Turkish

noun

Turk(s)

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

32.1% (2016)

1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

41,872,101 (2024 est.)

male

42,247,430

total

84,119,531

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

0.61% (2024 est.)

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

improved: rural

rural: 98.7% of population

improved: total

total: 99.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population

female

18 years (2020)

male

19 years

total

18 years

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

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

female

19.2% (2020 est.)

male

42.1% (2020 est.)

total

30.7% (2020 est.)

1.9 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

77.5% of total population (2023)

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

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

geographic coordinates

39 56 N, 32 52 E

name

Ankara

time difference

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

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

amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2017

history

several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982

conventional long form

Republic of Turkey

conventional short form

Turkey

etymology

the name means "Land of the Turks"

local long form

Turkey Cumhuriyeti

local short form

Turkey

note

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

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael GOLDMAN (since September 2024)

consulate(s)

Adana

consulate(s) general

Istanbul

email address and website

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

embassy

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

FAX

[90] (312) 467-0019

mailing address

7000 Ankara Place, Washington  DC 20512-7000

telephone

[90] (312) 294-0000

chancery

2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Sedat ÖNAL (since 17 June 2024)

consulate(s) general

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

email address and website

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

FAX

[1] (202) 612-6744

telephone

[1] (202) 612-6700

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (chief of state since 28 August 2014; head of government since 9 July 2018)

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%

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)

head of government

President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (head of government since 9 July 2018; chief of state since 28 August 2014)

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

presidential republic

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

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

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

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

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; note - a constitutional amendment in 2017 abolished military courts unless established to investigate military personnel actions during war conditions

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

description

unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkey Buyuk Millet Meclisi (600 seats); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote, with a 7% threshold required to win a seat; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party/coalition - People's Alliance 49.9% (AKP 35.6%, MHP 10.1%, YRP 2.8%, BBP 1%), Nation Alliance 35.4% (CHP 25.3%, IYI 9.7%), Labor and Freedom Alliance 10.7% (YSGP 8.9%, TIP 1.8%); seats by party/coalition - People's Alliance 323 (AKP 268, MHP 50, YRP 5), Nation Alliance 212 (CHP 169, IYI 43), Labor and Freedom Alliance 65 (YSGP 61, TIP 4); composition - men 480, women 119, percentage women 19.9%

elections

last held on 14 May 2023 (next to be held in 2028)

lyrics/music

Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR

name

"Istiklal Marsi" (Independence March)

note

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

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)

total World Heritage Sites

21 (19 cultural, 2 mixed)

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

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

Democracy and Progress Party or DEVADemocrat Party or DPDemocratic Regions Party or DBPFelicity Party (Saadet Party) or SPFree Cause Party or HUDA PARFuture Party (Gelecek Partisi) or GPGood Party or IYIGrand 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 HDPRepublican People's Party or CHP Workers' Party of Turkey or TIP

18 years of age; universal

milk, wheat, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, maize, potatoes, apples, grapes, watermelons (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

3.3% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

25.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$269.146 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

revenues

$234.92 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

BB- (2019)

Moody's rating

B2 (2020)

note

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

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2018)

Current account balance 2021

-$6.433 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$45.799 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$44.961 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

Debt - external 2022

$133.882 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

upper middle-income, diversified Middle Eastern economy; heightened inflation and currency depreciation triggered by expansionary monetary and fiscal policy ahead of 2023 elections, now being reversed; industrializing economy that maintains large agricultural base

Currency

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

5.674 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

7.009 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

8.85 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

16.549 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

23.739 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$287.318 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$346.369 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$352.514 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

garments, refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 8%, US 7%, Iraq 5%, UK 5%, Italy 5% (2022)

note

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

exports of goods and services

32.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption

13.6% (2023 est.)

household consumption

59.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-34.7% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

32.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-3% (2023 est.)

note

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

agriculture

6.2% (2023 est.)

industry

28.3% (2023 est.)

note

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

services

54% (2023 est.)

$1.108 trillion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

44.4 (2021 est.)

note

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

highest 10%

34.7% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2% (2021 est.)

note

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

Imports 2021

$284.019 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$383.02 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$386.828 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

gold, refined petroleum, plastics, scrap iron, cars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 13%, Germany 9%, Russia 8%, US 5%, Italy 5% (2022)

note

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

2.34% (2023 est.)

note

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

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

19.6% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

72.31% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

53.86% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

35.071 million (2023 est.)

note

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

14.4% (2020 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

35.25% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$2.662 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$2.81 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$2.936 trillion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

11.44% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.53% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.52% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$31,600 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$33,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$34,400 (2023 est.)

note

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

Remittances 2021

0.09% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.08% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$109.535 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$123.735 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$140.858 billion (2023 est.)

16.09% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

11.97% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

10.43% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.41% (2023 est.)

female

22.9% (2023 est.)

male

14.8% (2023 est.)

note

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

total

17.6% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

149.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

101.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

139.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

391.592 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

123.976 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

879,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

38.046 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

88.746 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

11.525 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

280.458 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

3.71 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

6.423 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

103.817 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

30.452 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

58.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

2.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

21.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

11.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

70.594 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

52.887 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

581.666 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

54.536 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

379.701 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

3.794 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction

4 (2023)

crude oil estimated reserves

366 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

1.077 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

83,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2020 est.)

total

16,734,853 (2020 est.)

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)

.tr

percent of population

81% (2021 est.)

total

68.85 million (2021 est.)

domestic

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

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)

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)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

11.198 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

90.298 million (2022 est.)

115 (2024)

TC

213 (2024)

by type

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

total

1,170 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

5,949,210,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

115,595,495 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

618

number of registered air carriers

11 (2020)

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

key ports

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

large

3

medium

3

ports with oil terminals

28

small

6

total ports

54 (2024)

very small

42

standard gauge

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

total

11,497 km (2018)

paved

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

total

68,526 km (2023)

unpaved

43,251 km (2018)

1,200 km (2010)

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 SudanTürkiye 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 securitythe 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 structureTürkiye’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)

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

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

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

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

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

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 Expenditures 2020

1.9% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.6% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

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

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

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

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)

refugees (country of origin)

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

stateless persons

117 (2018)

Turkish Space Agency (TUA; established 2018); TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (UZAY; established in 1985 as Ankara Electronics Research and Development Institute) (2024)

rocket test launch site on the Black Sea in Sinop Province; the 2021 national space program called for the establishment of a space port; has reportedly discussed building a rocket launch site in Somalia or using a sea-launch facility for future space launch vehicles (2024)

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 (2024)

note

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

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

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

carbon dioxide emissions

372.72 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

57.53 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

23.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

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

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

global geoparks and regional networks

Kula-Salihli (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

agricultural land

49.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 26.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 19% (2018 est.)

forest

14.9% (2018 est.)

other

35.4% (2018 est.)

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;

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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

0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)

211.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

54.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

1.03 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

6.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

77.5% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

31.283 million tons (2015 est.)