Turkey (Turkiye)

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. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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

Area

total : 783,562 sq km

land: 769,632 sq km

water: 13,930 sq km

comparison ranking: total 38

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Area comparison map:

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 on with the former USSR

note: 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: 50% (2022 est.)

arable land: 26.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 4.8% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 19% (2022 est.)

forest: 29.3% (2022 est.)

other: 20.7% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

52,150 sq km (2022)

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

People and Society

Population

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

male: 42,247,430

female: 41,872,101

comparison rankings: total 18; female 19; male 18

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)

ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Turkish audio sample:

Kurdish audio sample:

Religions

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

Age structure

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

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

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

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 45.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 31.7 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 14.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 7.1 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 34 years (2024 est.)

male: 33.4 years

female: 34.6 years

comparison ranking: total 108

Population growth rate

0.61% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 139

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 122

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 151

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 156

Population distribution

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

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

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

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

Mother’s mean age at first birth

26.6 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 135

Infant mortality rate

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

male: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 83

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 74.4 years

female: 79.2 years

comparison ranking: total population 103

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 119

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 96% of population (2022 est.)

total: 97% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 4% of population (2022 est.)

total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

4.6% of GDP (2021)

10% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

32.1% (2016)

comparison ranking: 17

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.)

comparison ranking: total 147

Tobacco use

total: 30.1% (2025 est.)

male: 40.1% (2025 est.)

female: 20.1% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 21

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.5% (2018/19)

comparison ranking: 105

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.4% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 2% (2018)

women married by age 18: 14.7% (2018)

Education expenditure

3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

8.6% national budget (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 149

Literacy

total population: 97% (2021 est.)

male: 99% (2021 est.)

female: 95% (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 20 years (2022 est.)

male: 20 years (2022 est.)

female: 20 years (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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

International environmental 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

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

399.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

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

comparison ranking: total emissions 15

Particulate matter emissions

23.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

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

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 6.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 1.03 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 54.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

211.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

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

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: 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

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982

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

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 (since 28 August 2014)

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

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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

most recent election date: 14 May 2023, with a runoff on 28 May 2023

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%

expected date of next election: 2028

Legislative branch

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

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 600 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 5/14/2023

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

percentage of women in chamber: 19.9%

expected date of next election: May 2028

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700

FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744

email address and website:
[email protected]

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. BARRACK (since 14 May 2025)

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

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

telephone: [90] (312) 294-0000

FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://tr.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Istanbul

consulate(s): Adana

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, 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

Independence

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

National holiday

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Flag description

red with a vertical white crescent moon and five-pointed white star centered just outside the crescent opening; 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

National symbol(s)

vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star

National color(s)

red, white

National anthem(s)

title: “Istiklal Marsi” (The March of Independence)

lyrics/music: Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR

history: lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932; the anthem’s original music was adopted in 1924

National heritage

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

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

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.018 trillion (2024 est.)
$2.925 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.783 trillion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 12

Real GDP growth rate

3.2% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
5.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 109

Real GDP per capita

$35,300 (2024 est.)
$34,300 (2023 est.)
$32,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 68

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.323 trillion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

58.5% (2024 est.)
53.9% (2023 est.)
72.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 206

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.6% (2024 est.)

industry: 25.9% (2024 est.)

services: 56.8% (2024 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 111; industry 79; agriculture 107

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 59.4% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 31% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: -5.5% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 28% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -27.8% (2024 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 94

Labor force

36.081 million (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 18

Unemployment rate

8.5% (2024 est.)
9.4% (2023 est.)
10.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 138

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 15.6% (2024 est.)

male: 12.4% (2024 est.)

female: 21.2% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: total 75

Population below poverty line

13.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

44.5 (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 22

Average household expenditures

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

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 35.2% (2022 est.)

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

Remittances

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

Budget

revenues: $234.92 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $269.146 billion (2022 est.)

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

Public debt

33.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 161

Taxes and other revenues

18.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 60

Current account balance

-$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

comparison ranking: 182

Exports

$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

comparison ranking: 26

Exports – partners

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

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

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$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

comparison ranking: 25

Imports – partners

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

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

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$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

comparison ranking: 22

Debt – external

$149.654 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 6

Exchange rates

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
32.806 (2024 est.)
23.739 (2023 est.)
16.549 (2022 est.)
8.85 (2021 est.)
7.009 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

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

Electricity

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

consumption: 285.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 1.993 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 5.892 billion kWh (2023 est.)

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

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 198; imports 41; exports 60; consumption 16; installed generating capacity 16

Electricity generation sources

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nuclear energy

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025)

Coal

production: 82.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 124.183 million metric tons (2023 est.)

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

imports: 41.119 million metric tons (2023 est.)

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

Petroleum

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

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

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

Natural gas

production: 807.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 50.211 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 896.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 50.484 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

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

Energy consumption per capita

70.521 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 71

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 9.926 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 18

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 92.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 19

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.tr

Internet users

percent of population: 87% (2024 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 19.6 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 14

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

116 (2025)

comparison ranking: 46

Heliports

240 (2025)

comparison ranking: 13

Railways

total: 11,497 km (2018)

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

Merchant marine

total: 1,170 (2023)

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

comparison ranking: total 22

Ports

total ports: 54 (2024)

large: 3

medium: 3

small: 6

very small: 42

ports with oil terminals: 28

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

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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

Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie 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

Military expenditures

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military service age and obligation

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

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

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

Military deployments

estimated 2-300 Azerbaijan; 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 800 Somalia (2024)

note: Turkey maintains military forces in both Iraq and Syria; size estimates vary as some forces are long-term deployments while others are deployed for specific operations

Military – note

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; key areas of focus for the TAF are its operations in Syria, a protracted counterinsurgency campaign against the US-designated terrorist group the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), territorial disputes with fellow NATO member Greece, regional conflicts, and threats from Islamic terrorist groups

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, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

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

Space launch site(s)

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

Space program overview

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

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

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

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

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