Turkey (Turkiye)
Introduction
Background
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his leadership, the country adopted radical social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democrat Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of formal political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. An unsuccessful coup attempt was made in July 2016 by a faction of the Turkish Armed Forces.
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. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a US-designated terrorist organization, has long dominated the attention of Turkish security forces and claimed more than 40,000 lives. In 2013, the Turkish Government and the PKK conducted negotiations aimed at ending the violence, however intense fighting resumed in 2015. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1963, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; it began accession talks with the EU in 2005. Over the past decade, economic reforms, coupled with some political reforms, have contributed to a growing economy, although economic growth slowed in recent years, with occasional bouts of turmoil.
From 2015 and continuing through 2016, Turkey witnessed an uptick in terrorist violence, including major attacks in Ankara, Istanbul, and throughout the predominantly Kurdish southeastern region of Turkey. On 15 July 2016, elements of the Turkish Armed forces attempted a coup that ultimately failed following widespread popular resistance. More than 240 people were killed and over 2,000 injured when Turkish citizens took to the streets en masse to confront the coup forces. The government accused followers of the Fethullah Gulen transnational religious and social movement ("Hizmet") for allegedly instigating the failed coup and designates the movement’s followers as terrorists. Since the attempted coup, Turkish Government authorities arrested, suspended, or dismissed more than 130,000 security personnel, journalists, judges, academics, and civil servants due to their alleged connection to Gulen's movement. Following the failed coup, the Turkish Government instituted a State of Emergency from July 2016 to July 2018. The Turkish Government conducted a referendum on 16 April 2017 in which voters approved constitutional amendments changing Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential system. The amendments went into effect fully following the presidential and parliamentary elections in June 2018.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
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
Geographic coordinates
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references
Middle East
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
Coastline
7,200 km
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
Climate
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Terrain
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges
Elevation
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,137 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 1,132 m
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
Land use
agricultural land: 49.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 26.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19% (2018 est.)
forest: 14.9% (2018 est.)
other: 35.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
52,150 sq km (2020)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
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
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
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
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups
Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 19%, other minorities 6-11% (2016 est.)
Languages
Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, temel bilgi edinmek için vazgeçilmez bir kaynak. (Turkish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Age structure
0-14 years: 23.41% (male 9,823,553/female 9,378,767)
15-24 years: 15.67% (male 6,564,263/female 6,286,615)
25-54 years: 43.31% (male 17,987,103/female 17,536,957)
55-64 years: 9.25% (male 3,764,878/female 3,822,946)
65 years and over: 8.35% (male 3,070,258/female 3,782,174) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 49.1
youth dependency ratio: 34.5
elderly dependency ratio: 12.3
potential support ratio: 8.1 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 32.2 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 32.8 years (2020 est.)
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
Urbanization
urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
26.6 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133Infant mortality rate
total: 19.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.21 years
male: 73.84 years
female: 78.7 years (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
69.8% (2018)
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.)
Current health expenditure
4.3% of GDP (2019)
Physicians density
1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2018)
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.)
Major infectious diseases
note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Turkey; as of 9 December 2022, Turkey has reported a total of 16,919,638 cases of COVID-19 or 20,061.4 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 101,203 cumulative deaths or a rate of 120 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 22 November 2022, 67.89% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
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.)
Tobacco use
total: 30.7% (2020 est.)
male: 42.1% (2020 est.)
female: 19.2% (2020 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 2%
women married by age 18: 14.7% (2018 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99.1%
female: 94.4% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 18 years
male: 19 years
female: 18 years (2020)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 25.1%
male: 22.5%
female: 29.9% (2020 est.)
Environment
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
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 41.97 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 372.72 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 57.53 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Land use
agricultural land: 49.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 26.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19% (2018 est.)
forest: 14.9% (2018 est.)
other: 35.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121Major infectious diseases
note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Turkey; as of 9 December 2022, Turkey has reported a total of 16,919,638 cases of COVID-19 or 20,061.4 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 101,203 cumulative deaths or a rate of 120 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 22 November 2022, 67.89% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 31.283 million tons (2015 est.)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 6.016 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.898 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 50.05 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
211.6 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
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
Government type
presidential republic
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
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
Independence
29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday
Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982
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
Legal system
civil law system based on various European legal systems, notably the Swiss civil code
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (chief of state since 28 August 2014; head of government since 9 July 2019); Vice President Fuat OKTAY (since 9 July 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (head of government since 9 July 2019; chief of state since 28 August 2014); note - a 2017 constitutional referendum eliminated the post of prime minister after the 2018 general election
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 24 June 2018 (next scheduled for June 2023)
election results: 2018: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in the 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%
2013: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN elected president in the first round; Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 51.8%, Ekmeleddin IHSANOGLU (independent) 38.4%, Selahattin DEMIRTAS (HDP) 9.8%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkey Buyuk Millet Meclisi (600 seats - increased from 550 seats beginning with June 2018 election; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms - increased from 4 to 5 years beginning with June 2018 election)
elections: last held on 24 June 2018 (next to be held in June 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - People's Alliance 53.7% (AKP 42.6%, MHP 11.1%), Nation Alliance 33.9% (CHP 22.6%, IYI 10%, SP 1.3%), HDP 11.7%, other 0.7%; seats by party - People's Alliance 344 (AKP 295, MHP 49), National Alliance 189 (CHP 146, IYI 43), HDP 67; note - only parties surpassing a 10% threshold can win parliamentary seats; composition as of mid-2022 (582 members) - men 481, women 101, percent of women 17.4%
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; note - a constitutional amendment in 2017 abolished military courts unless established to investigate military personnel actions during war conditions
Political parties and leaders
Democracy and Progress Party or DEVA [Ali BABACAN]
Democrat Party or DP [Gultekin UYSAL]
Democratic Regions Party or DBP [Saliha AYDENIZ, Keskin BAYINDIR]
Felicity Party (Saadet Party) or SP [Temel KARAMOLLAOGLU]
Free Cause Party or HUDA PAR [Zekeriya YAPICIOGLU]
Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) or GP [Ahmet DAVUTOGLU]
Good Party (IYI Party) [Meral AKSENER]
Grand Unity Party or BBP [Mustafa DESTICI]
Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]
Nation Alliance (electoral alliance includes CHP, IYI, SP, DP)
Nationalist Movement Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI]
Patriotic Party (Vatan Partisi) or VP [Dogu PERINCEK]
People's Alliance (electoral alliance AKP, MHP, BBP)
Peoples' Democratic Party or HDP [Pervin BULDAN, Mithat SANCAR]
Republican People's Party or CHP [Kemal KILICDAROGLU]
note: as of September 2021, 116 political parties were legally registered
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Hasan MURAT MERCAN (since 20 April 2021)
chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700; [1] (202) 612-6701
FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
email address and website:
embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr
http://washington.emb.mfa.gov.tr/Mission
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey Lane FLAKE (since 26 January 2022)
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address: 7000 Ankara Place, Washington DC 20512-7000
telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555
FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
email address and website:
Ankara-ACS@state.gov
https://tr.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana
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
National symbol(s)
vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star; national colors: red, white
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
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 19 (17 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)
Economy
Economic overview
Turkey's largely free-market economy is driven by its industry and, increasingly, service sectors, although its traditional agriculture sector still accounts for about 25% of employment. The automotive, petrochemical, and electronics industries have risen in importance and surpassed the traditional textiles and clothing sectors within Turkey's export mix. However, the recent period of political stability and economic dynamism has given way to domestic uncertainty and security concerns, which are generating financial market volatility and weighing on Turkey’s economic outlook.
Current government policies emphasize populist spending measures and credit breaks, while implementation of structural economic reforms has slowed. The government is playing a more active role in some strategic sectors and has used economic institutions and regulators to target political opponents, undermining private sector confidence in the judicial system. Between July 2016 and March 2017, three credit ratings agencies downgraded Turkey’s sovereign credit ratings, citing concerns about the rule of law and the pace of economic reforms.
Turkey remains highly dependent on imported oil and gas but is pursuing energy relationships with a broader set of international partners and taking steps to increase use of domestic energy sources including renewables, nuclear, and coal. The joint Turkish-Azerbaijani Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline is moving forward to increase transport of Caspian gas to Turkey and Europe, and when completed will help diversify Turkey's sources of imported gas.
After Turkey experienced a severe financial crisis in 2001, Ankara adopted financial and fiscal reforms as part of an IMF program. The reforms strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and ushered in an era of strong growth, averaging more than 6% annually until 2008. An aggressive privatization program also reduced state involvement in basic industry, banking, transport, power generation, and communication. Global economic conditions and tighter fiscal policy caused GDP to contract in 2009, but Turkey's well-regulated financial markets and banking system helped the country weather the global financial crisis, and GDP growth rebounded to around 9% in 2010 and 2011, as exports and investment recovered following the crisis.
The growth of Turkish GDP since 2016 has revealed the persistent underlying imbalances in the Turkish economy. In particular, Turkey’s large current account deficit means it must rely on external investment inflows to finance growth, leaving the economy vulnerable to destabilizing shifts in investor confidence. Other troublesome trends include rising unemployment and inflation, which increased in 2017, given the Turkish lira’s continuing depreciation against the dollar. Although government debt remains low at about 30% of GDP, bank and corporate borrowing has almost tripled as a percent of GDP during the past decade, outpacing its emerging-market peers and prompting investor concerns about its long-term sustainability.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2,393,960,000,000 (2020 est.)
$2,352,640,000,000 (2019 est.)
$2,331,270,000,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
0.98% (2019 est.)
3.04% (2018 est.)
7.54% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$28,400 (2020 est.)
$28,200 (2019 est.)
$28,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$760.028 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
15.4% (2019 est.)
16.2% (2018 est.)
11.1% (2017 est.)
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.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 32.3% (2017 est.)
services: 60.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 59.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 14.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 29.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 24.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -29.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, sugar beet, tomatoes, barley, maize, potatoes, grapes, watermelons, apples
Industries
textiles, food processing, automobiles, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Labor force
25.677 million (2020 est.)
note: this number is for the domestic labor force only; number does not include about 1.2 million Turks working abroad, nor refugees
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 18.4%
industry: 26.6%
services: 54.9% (2016)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 25.1%
male: 22.5%
female: 29.9% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line
14.4% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
41.9 (2018 est.)
43.6 (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2008)
Budget
revenues: 172.8 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 185.8 billion (2017 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$8.561 billion (2019 est.)
-$20.745 billion (2018 est.)
Exports
$203.29 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$245.84 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$237.54 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners
Germany 9%, United Kingdom 6%, Iraq 5%, Italy 5%, United States 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, jewelry, clothing and apparel (2019)
Imports
$232.01 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$227.06 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$248.09 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners
Germany 11%, China 9%, Russia 9%, United States 5%, Italy 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
gold, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, vehicle parts, scrap iron (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$107.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$106.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external
$438.677 billion (2019 est.)
$454.251 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -
7.81925 (2020 est.)
5.8149 (2019 est.)
5.28905 (2018 est.)
2.72 (2014 est.)
2.1885 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 96.846 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 263.952 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 2.484 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 1.888 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 29.275 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 56.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 8.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 26.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 78.871 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 108.271 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 54,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 40.919 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 11.525 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 70,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 987,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 423,500 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 366 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
657,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27Natural gas
production: 469.464 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 44,605,473,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 759.372 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 45,091,248,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 3.794 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
391.792 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 172.298 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 133.587 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 85.907 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
79.126 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 12,448,604 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 80,790,900 (2019)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.84 (2019)
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 early 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: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; fixed-line nearly 15 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is over 97 telephones per 100 persons (2020)
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)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
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)Internet users
total: 65,784,472 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 78% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 16,734,853 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.)
Transportation
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
Airports - with paved runways
total: 91
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 4 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Heliports
20 (2021)
Pipelines
14,666 km gas, 3,293 km oil (2017)
Railways
total: 11,497 km (2018)
standard gauge: 11,497 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (1.435 km high speed train)
Roadways
total: 67,333 km (2018)
paved: 24,082 km (2018) (includes 2,159 km of expressways)
unpaved: 43,251 km (2018)
Merchant marine
total: 1,217
by type: bulk carrier 39, container ship 41, general cargo 317, oil tanker 126, other 694 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Aliaga, Ambarli, Diliskelesi, Eregli, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mersin (Icel), Limani, Yarimca
container port(s) (TEUs): Ambarli (3,104,882), Mersin (Icel) (1,854,312), Izmet (1,715,193) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Aliaga, Dortyol, Ekti (Izmir), Marmara Ereglisi
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Turk Kara Kuvvetleri), Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri; includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Forces (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri); Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie of the Turkish Republic (aka Gendarmerie General Command), Turkish Coast Guard Command, National Police (2022)
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
Military expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2021)
1.9% of GDP (2020)
1.9% of GDP (2019) (approximately $36.3 billion)
1.8% of GDP (2018) (approximately $37.2 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 445,000 active duty personnel (350,000 Army; 45,000 Navy; 50,000 Air Force); approximately 150,000 Gendarmerie (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is mostly comprised of a mix of domestically-produced and Western weapons systems, although in recent years, Turkey has also acquired some Chinese, Russian, and South Korean equipment; since 2010, the US has been the leading provider of armaments to Turkey; other significant suppliers included Italy, South Korea, and Spain; Turkey has a robust defense industry capable of producing a range of weapons systems for both export and internal use, including armored vehicles, naval vessels, and unmanned aerial platforms, although it is heavily dependent on Western technology; Turkey's defense industry also partners with other countries for defense production (2021)
Military service age and obligation
mandatory military service for men, age 20-41; 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 (2022)
note 1: in 2019, a new law cut the men’s mandatory military service period in half, as well as making paid military service permanent; with the new system, the period of conscription was reduced from 12 months to six months for privates and non-commissioned soldiers (the service term for reserve officers chosen among university or college graduates remained 12 months); 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; under the new law, 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 five months of their mandatory service by paying 31,000 Turkish Liras
note 2: as of 2019, women made up about 0.3% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments
approximately 150 (Azerbaijan; monitoring cease-fire, clearing mines); 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); approximately 30,000 Cyprus; estimated 5,000 Iraq; 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 110 Lebanon (UNIFIL); estimated 500 Libya; up to 5,000 Qatar; approximately 200 Somalia (training mission); estimated 5,000-10,000 Syria (2022)
note 1: between 2016 and 2020, Turkey conducted four significant military ground campaigns in northern Syria; 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; in October of 2021, Turkey’s parliament extended the military’s mandate to launch cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria by two more years
note 2: in 2020, Turkey deployed hundreds of Turkish troops and as many as 5,000 Syrian fighters to Libya to support the Libyan Government of National Accord
Military - note
Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts NATO's Land Forces Command in Izmir, as well as a NATO/US airbase at Incirlik and a NATO missile defense radar system in eastern Turkey
under a long-range (2033) strategic plan, the Turkish Armed Forces continued efforts to modernize its equipment and force structure; Land Forces sought to produce a 20-30% smaller, more highly trained force characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations
the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey's coastal waters; it is planning to launch new frigates, submarines, and a light aircraft carrier/amphibious assault ship in the next few years, adding to its current force of about 16 frigates and 12 submarines; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications
the Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept" in 2002 and is developing an integrated missile defense system; in a controversial move that complicated its relationship with NATO and the US, it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system for an estimated $2.5 billion in 2019; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system
in recent years, Turkey has taken on a greater level of international peacekeeping responsibilities, including keeping a substantial force under NATO in Afghanistan until withdrawing in 2021; Turkey also has built expeditionary military bases in Qatar, Somalia, northern Cyprus, and Sudan
the military has a substantial stake in Turkey's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2022)
Terrorism
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 Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Turkey-Armenia: in 2009, Swiss mediators facilitated an accord reestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, but neither side has ratified the agreement and the rapprochement effort has faltered; in early 2022, the two countries held talks twice aimed at normalizing relations, which could lead to the opening of their land border, shut since 1993; in 2000, Turkish authorities complained to UNESCO that blasting from quarries in Armenia was damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley
Turkey-Azerbaijan: none identified
Turkey-Bulgaria: none identified
Turkey-Cyprus: status of northern Cyprus question remains
Turkey-Georgia: none identified
Turkey-Greece: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea, including rights to explore oil and gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean and illegal migrants transiting from Turkey into Greece; the Aegean Maritime Boundary is complicated by the close proximity of Greek islands to the western shores of the Turkish Anatolian peninsula, representing the primary source of conflict between the two countries
Turkey-Iran: none identified
Turkey-Iraq: Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq
Turkey-Syria: Turkey completed building a wall along its border with Syria in 2018 to prevent illegal border crossings and smuggling
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 3,561,883 (Syria) (2022); 46,739 (Ukraine) (as of 20 December 2022)
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) (2021)
stateless persons: 117 (2018)
Illicit drugs
transit country for heroin, opium, and cocaine trafficked to European markets; amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are trafficked to Middle East and Southeast Asia markets; one of the major transit routes for opiates smuggled from Afghanistan via Iran destined for Western Europe; smugglers involved in both heroin sales and transport and production and smuggling of synthetic drugs; criminal networks have interests in heroin conversion laboratories operating in Iran near the Turkish border; hashish imported or grown domestically for local consumption