Turkey

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
  - The northern folded zone
  - The southern folded zone
  - The central massif
  - The Arabian platform
- Drainage
  - Rivers
  - Lakes
- Soils
- Climate
  - Overview
  - Climatic regions
- Plant and animal life
  - Vegetation
  - Fauna
People
- Ethnic groups
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Resources
- Agriculture
- Industry
- Trade
- Transportation
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Justice
- Local government
- Political process
- Security
- Education
- Health and welfare
Cultural life
- Daily life
  - Work
  - Dress
  - Religious practice
- Cuisine
- Social roles and kinship
  - Male and female roles
  - Marriage and family life
  - Social change
- Arts and media
- Sports and recreation
History
- Mustafa Kemal and the Turkish War of Independence, 1919–23
  - The Fundamental Law and abolition of the sultanate
  - Declaration of the Turkish republic
- Turkey under Mustafa Kemal
  - Government
  - Opposition
  - Kemalist policies
- Turkey after Kemal “Atatürk”
  - World War II and the postwar era, 1938–50
  - Turkey under the Democrats, 1950–60
    - The economy
    - Political repressions
- The military coup of 1960
  - The National Unity Committee
  - The constitution of 1961
- The ascendancy of the right, 1961–71
- Political developments, 1970s to ’90s
  - Military intervention and coalition governments
  - The 1980s
    - The 1982 constitution
    - The Kurdish conflict
  - The 1990s
- Rise of the AKP in the 21st century
  - AKP challenges Kemalist, military entrenchment
  - An emboldened Erdoğan and the AKP face resistance
  - AKP under pressure: failed coup attempt, crackdown on dissidents, and economic crisis
- Foreign affairs since 1950
  - Early Cold War: Western-oriented policy and membership in NATO and CTO
  - Late Cold War: 1974 Cyprus crisis and balancing relations with the West and the Soviet Union
  - Post-Cold War: Neoliberalism, attempt to join the European Union, and the “zero problems” doctrine
  - Erdoğan era: Clash and cooperation with Russia in regional affairs
    - Turkish involvement in the Arab Spring and the Syrian Civil War
    - Turkish intervention in the Libyan Civil War
    - 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
    - 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

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Exploring Turkey's rich history and cultural heritage

The Ottoman Empire at its greatest extent

Physical features of Turkey

For Students

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Turkey: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2025

News •

Turkey to export 48 of its nationally produced fighter jets to Indonesia • June 12, 2025, 1:47 AM ET (AP)

Travel ban may shut door for Afghan family to bring niece to US for a better life • June 8, 2025, 3:19 PM ET (AP)

Turkey rallies for 2-1 win in friendly against US, which loses 3rd straight under Pochettino • June 7, 2025, 5:46 PM ET (AP)

5 mayors are suspended from duty as authorities expand the crackdown on Turkey's opposition • June 5, 2025, 6:00 AM ET (AP)

Trump says Putin told him that Russia will respond to Ukrainian attack on airfields • June 4, 2025, 7:34 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Turkey • Türkiye Cumhuriyeti
Head Of State And Government¹	President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Capital	Ankara
Population	(2024 est.) 86,797,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 32.392 Turkish lira
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house (Grand National Assembly of Turkey [600¹])
Official Language	Turkish
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (Republic of Turkey)
Total Area (Sq Km)	769,604
Total Area (Sq Mi)	297,144
Monetary Unit	Turkish lira (TL)
Population Rank	(2025) 17
Population Projection 2030	89,080,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2024) 310.9
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2024) 112.8
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 77.9% • Rural: (2024) 22.1%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2020–2022) 74.8 years • Female: (2020–2022) 80.3 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2019) 99% • Female: (2019) 94%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 1,000,796
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 11,730
¹Amendments to the constitution passed in April 2017 and implemented in July 2018 expanded the Grand National Assembly from 550 to 600 seats, eliminated the post of prime minister, and expanded the role of the president.

Photos and Videos

Bodrum, Turkey: Castle of St. Peter

The Ottoman Empire at its greatest extent

Physical features of Turkey

Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

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Experience the hustle-bustle of Istanbul

Experience Istanbul with its bustling bazaar, exquisite architecture, great mosques, and the hammam, or Turkish bath

National anthem of Turkey

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

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