Country Profile: Turkey

Turkey, officially known as the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion in Southeast Europe. It has a diverse population of over 84 million, primarily ethnically Turkish, with significant Kurdish and minority communities. As an upper-middle-income nation, Turkey has an economy that combines a strong agricultural base with growing industrial and service sectors. The country operates as a presidential republic, having transitioned from a parliamentary system in 2017, with strategic significance due to its control over key waterways linking Europe and Asia.

Geography

Turkey's geographical position straddles southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, with its well-known cultural city Istanbul located on both continents. The country features a varied landscape, including high central plateaus, coastal plains, and mountain ranges, contributing to its temperate climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

783,562 sq km total area, slightly larger than Texas.
7,200 km of coastline along the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas.
Highest point: Mount Ararat at 5,137 m.
Land boundaries: Shares borders with 8 countries, totaling 2,816 km.
Natural resources: Includes coal, iron ore, copper, and arable land.

People and Society

Turkey has an estimated population of over 84 million in 2024, with a youthful median age of 34 years. The predominant religion is Islam, comprising 99.8% of the population, while Turkish is the official language spoken widely across the nation. Urbanization is significant, with about 77.5% of the population living in urban areas, particularly concentrated around major cities.

Population growth rate: 0.61% (2024 est.).
Life expectancy: 76.7 years (2024 est.).
Literacy rate: 97% (2021 est.).
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children/woman (2024 est.).
Major urban areas: Istanbul (15.8 million), Ankara (5.4 million), and Izmir (3.1 million) (2023).

Economy

Turkey's economy is categorized as upper-middle-income and is diversified, maintaining a significant agricultural sector while simultaneously industrializing rapidly. Key sectors include energy, tourism, and construction, although the country faces challenges related to high inflation and foreign debt.

GDP: Estimated at $3.018 trillion (2024 est. PPP).
Inflation rate: 58.5% (2024 est.).
Unemployment rate: 8.5% (2024 est.).
Labor force: Approximately 36.081 million (2024 est.).
Exports (2024 est.): Totaling $372.756 billion.

Government

Turkey operates as a presidential republic, with the president acting as both head of state and government. The country has undergone several political shifts since its establishment in 1923, with recent constitutional changes leading to a significant concentration of power in the presidency.

Capital: Ankara.
Administrative divisions: 81 provinces.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years.
Current president: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in office since 2014.
Legislature: Unicameral Grand National Assembly with 600 seats.

Military and Security

Turkey maintains one of the largest military forces in NATO, known as the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), which includes land, naval, and air components. The military is tasked with protecting national interests and participating in international security missions.

Active personnel: Approximately 480,000 (2024).
Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.).
Mandatory service age: 20 years, with a service period of 6-12 months.
Foreign deployments: Troops in Syria, Iraq, and multiple NATO missions.

Energy

Turkey's energy landscape features a mix of sources, with fossil fuels dominating the electricity generation sector. The country is investing in renewable energy, aiming to increase capacity from sources like solar and wind.

Electricity access: 100% of the population (2022 est.).
Installed capacity: 106.281 million kW (2023 est.).
Fossil fuels: Account for 57.1% of total installed electricity capacity (2023 est.).
Coal production: 82.534 million metric tons (2023 est.).
Natural gas consumption: 50.211 billion cubic meters (2023 est.).

Environment

Turkey faces various environmental challenges, including water pollution, deforestation, and air pollution, particularly in urban areas. The government is a party to multiple international environmental agreements, indicating efforts towards sustainability.

Urban population: 77.5% (2023).
Air quality: Particulate matter emissions at 23.25 micrograms/m³ (2019 est.).
Total renewable water resources: 211.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.).
Municipal solid waste generated: 31.283 million tons annually (2015 est.).
Biodiversity conservation: Participation in various international agreements.

Transportation

Turkey's transportation infrastructure includes a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and airports, facilitating domestic and international travel. The country has made significant investments to modernize its transport systems.

Airports: 116 airports expected by 2025.
Railways: Totaling 11,497 km (2018).
Merchant marine: 1,170 ships (2023).
Ports: 54 total ports (2024).
Civil aircraft registration: Code prefix TC.

Communications

Turkey has a vibrant communications sector, characterized by extensive mobile phone and internet penetration. The country has seen rapid growth in broadband access and digital connectivity.

Internet users: 87% of the population (2024 est.).
Mobile cellular subscriptions: 92.2 million (2023).
Fixed-line subscriptions: 9.926 million (2023).
Broadband subscriptions: 19.6 million (2023).
Broadcast media: Multiple national and regional TV and radio stations operated by TRT and private entities.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	84,119,531 (2024 est.)
Area	783,562 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$3.018 trillion	2024 estimate
Energy consumption per capita	70.521 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth rate	13.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate	8.5% (2024 est.)
Life expectancy	76.7 years (2024 est.)