Middle East :: Turkey

- Introduction :: Turkey
- 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. A 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.

  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. In response, Turkish Government authorities arrested, suspended, or dismissed more than 100,000 security personnel, journalists, judges, academics, and civil servants due to their alleged connection with the attempted coup. The government accused followers of an Islamic transnational religious and social movement for allegedly instigating the failed coup and designates the followers as terrorists. 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.

- Geography :: Turkey
- 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
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Texas
  Area comparison map:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Middle East :: Turkey Print
  Image Description

  slightly larger than Texas

  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:
  mean elevation: 1,132 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea
  5137 highest point: Mount Ararat
  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% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 26.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 4% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 19% (2011 est.)
  forest: 14.9% (2011 est.)
  other: 35.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  52,150 sq km (2012)
  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

  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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
  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; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country
- People and Society :: Turkey
- Population:
  81,257,239 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Nationality:
  noun: Turk(s)
  adjective: Turkish
  Ethnic groups:
  Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 19%, other minorities 7-12% (2016 est.)
  Languages:
  Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
  Religions:
  Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24.26% (male 10,085,558 /female 9,627,967)
  15-24 years: 15.88% (male 6,589,039 /female 6,311,113)
  25-54 years: 43.26% (male 17,798,864 /female 17,349,228)
  55-64 years: 8.82% (male 3,557,329 /female 3,606,120)
  65 years and over: 7.79% (male 2,825,738 /female 3,506,283) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Middle East :: Turkey Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Turkey. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 50.1 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 11.7 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 8.5 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.4 years
  male: 30.9 years
  female: 31.9 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Population growth rate:
  0.49% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Birth rate:
  15.4 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Death rate:
  6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Net migration rate:
  -4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  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: 75.1% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  14.751 million Istanbul, 4.919 million ANKARA (capital), 2.937 million Izmir, 1.916 million Bursa, 1.73 million Adana, 1.632 million Gaziantep (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  22.3 years (2010 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  16 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 18.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.3 years (2018 est.)
  male: 72.9 years (2018 est.)
  female: 77.7 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Total fertility rate:
  2 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  73.5% (2013)
  Health expenditures:
  5.4% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Physicians density:
  1.75 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 98.3% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 85.5% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 94.9% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 14.5% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 5.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  32.1% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  1.9% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Education expenditures:
  4.4% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 95.6% (2015 est.)
  male: 98.6% (2015 est.)
  female: 92.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years (2013)
  male: 17 years (2013)
  female: 16 years (2013)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 20.5% (2017 est.)
  male: 17.7% (2017 est.)
  female: 25.6% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
- Government :: Turkey
- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
  conventional short form: Turkey
  local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
  local short form: Turkiye
  etymology: the name means "Land of the Turks"
  Government type:
  parliamentary republic
  Capital:
  name: Ankara
  geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E
  time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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 (2018)
  amendments: proposed by written consent of at least one-third of Grand National Assembly (GNA) members; adoption of draft amendments requires two debates in plenary GNA session and three-fifths majority vote of all GNA members; the president of the republic can request GNA reconsideration of the amendment and, if readopted by two-thirds majority GNA vote, the president may submit the amendment to a referendum; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended several times, last in 2017 (2018)
  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
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: 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 seve 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; military courts; state security 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
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 10 August 2014); Vice President Fuat OKTAY (since 9 July 2018)
  head of government: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 10 August 2014); note - a 2017 constitutional referendum eliminated the post of prime minister after the 2018 general election
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president (until the next parliamentary or presidential election following the April 2017 referendum)
  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); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of parliament; note - a 2007 constitutional amendment changed the presidential electoral process to direct popular vote; prime minister appointed by the president from among members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; election last held on 24 June 2018 (next to be held in June 2022)
  election results: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in the first round; Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 52.6%, Muharrem INCE (CHP) 30.6%, Salahattin DIMIRTAS (HDP) 8.4%, Meral AKSENER (IYI) 7.3%, other 1.1%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (600 seats - increased from 560 seats beginning with June 2018 election; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by 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 on June 2023)
  election results: percent of vote by party - People's Alliance (AKP and MHP) 53.7%, National Alliance (CHP, SP, IVI) 33.9%, HDP 11.7%, other 0.7%; seats by party - People's Alliance 344, National Alliance 189, HDP 67; composition - men 496, women 104, percent of women 17.3%; note - only parties surpassing a 10% threshold can win parliamentary seats
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democrat Party or DP [Gultekin UYSAL]
  Democratic Left Party or DSP [Onder AKSAKAL]
  Felicity Party or SP [Temel KARAMOLLAOGLU]
  Good Party or IYI [Meral AKSENER]
  Grand Unity Party or BBP [Mustafa DESTICI]
  Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]
  Nationalist Movement Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI]
  Patriotic Party or VP [Dogu PERINCEK]
  People's Democratic Party or HDP [Selahattin DEMIRTAS and Serpil KEMALBAY]; note - DEMIRTAS was detained by Turkish authorities in November 2016 over his alleged links to the PKK
  Republican People's Party or CHP [Kemal KILICDAROGLU]
  True Path Party or DYP [Cetin OZACIRGOZ]
  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, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Serdar KILIC (since 21 May 2014)
  chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
  FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Philip KOSNETT (since 16 October 2017)
  embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
  mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
  telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555
  FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
  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):
  star and crescent; 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

- Economy :: Turkey
- Economy - 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.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.186 trillion (2017 est.)
  $2.034 trillion (2016 est.)
  $1.972 trillion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 13
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $851.5 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  7.4% (2017 est.)
  3.2% (2016 est.)
  6.1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $27,000 (2017 est.)
  $25,500 (2016 est.)
  $25,000 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 77
  Gross national saving:
  25.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
  24.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
  24.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  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.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.)
  industry: 32.3% (2017 est.)
  services: 60.7% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, hazelnuts, pulses, citrus; livestock
  Industries:
  textiles, food processing, automobiles, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
  Industrial production growth rate:
  9.1% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Labor force:
  31.3 million (2017 est.)

  note: this number is for the domestic labor force only; number does not include about 1.2 million Turks working abroad, nor refugees

  country comparison to the world: 19
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 18.4%
  industry: 26.6%
  services: 54.9% (2016)
  Unemployment rate:
  10.9% (2017 est.)
  10.9% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Population below poverty line:
  21.9% (2015 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 30.3% (2008)
  highest 10%: 30.3% (2008)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  40.2 (2010)
  43.6 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Budget:
  revenues: 172.8 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 185.8 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Public debt:
  28.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
  28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11.1% (2017 est.)
  7.8% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Central bank discount rate:
  5.25% (31 December 2011)
  15% (22 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  15.77% (31 December 2017 est.)
  14.74% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Stock of narrow money:
  $119.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $108.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Stock of broad money:
  $119.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $108.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $610.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $549.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $188.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $219.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $195.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Current account balance:
  -$47.44 billion (2017 est.)
  -$33.14 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Exports:
  $166.2 billion (2017 est.)
  $150.2 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Exports - partners:
  Germany 9.6%, UK 6.1%, UAE 5.9%, Iraq 5.8%, US 5.5%, Italy 5.4%, France 4.2%, Spain 4% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment
  Imports:
  $225.1 billion (2017 est.)
  $191.1 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment
  Imports - partners:
  China 10%, Germany 9.1%, Russia 8.4%, US 5.1%, Italy 4.8% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $107.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $106.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Debt - external:
  $452.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $404.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $180.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $133.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $47.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $38.31 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Exchange rates:
  Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -
  3.628 (2017 est.)
  3.0201 (2016 est.)
  3.0201 (2015 est.)
  2.72 (2014 est.)
  2.1885 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Turkey
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production:
  261.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Electricity - consumption:
  231.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Electricity - exports:
  1.442 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Electricity - imports:
  6.33 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  78.5 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  53% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  33% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Crude oil - production:
  245,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Crude oil - imports:
  521,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  341.6 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  657,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  989,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  141,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  560,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Natural gas - production:
  368.1 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Natural gas - consumption:
  53.6 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Natural gas - exports:
  622.9 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Natural gas - imports:
  55.13 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  5.097 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  379.5 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
- Communications :: Turkey
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 11,308,444 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 77,800,170 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: comprehensive telecommunications network undergoing rapid modernization and expansion, especially in mobile-cellular services (2016)
  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; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 105 telephones per 100 persons (2016)
  international: country code - 90; international service is provided by the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2016)
  Broadcast media:
  Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) operates multiple TV and radio networks and stations; multiple privately owned national television stations and up to 300 private regional and local television stations; multi-channel cable TV subscriptions available; more than 1,000 private radio broadcast stations (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .tr
  Internet users:
  total: 46,838,412 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 58.3% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 11,924,905 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
- Transportation :: Turkey
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 15 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 531 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 96,604,665 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,882,162,000 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  TC (2016)
  Airports:
  98 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 91 (2013)
  over 3,047 m: 16 (2013)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 38 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 16 (2013)
  under 914 m: 4 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 7 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013)
  under 914 m: 2 (2013)
  Heliports:
  20 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  12603 km gas, 3038 km oil (2016)
  Railways:
  total: 12,008 km (2014)
  standard gauge: 12,008 km 1.435-m gauge (3,216 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Roadways:
  total: 385,754 km (2012)
  paved: 352,268 km (includes 2,127 km of expressways) (2012)
  unpaved: 33,486 km (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Waterways:
  1,200 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Merchant marine:
  total: 1,285 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 78, container ship 50, general cargo 432, oil tanker 121, other 604 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Aliaga, Ambarli, Diliskelesi, Eregli, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mersin (Icel), Limani, Yarimca
  container port(s) (TEUs): Ambarli (2,803,133), Mersin (Icel) (1,453,000) (2016)
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Izmir Aliaga, Marmara Ereglisi
- Military and Security :: Turkey
- Military expenditures:
  1.73% of GDP (2016)
  1.85% of GDP (2015)
  1.9% of GDP (2014)
  1.96% of GDP (2013)
  2.05% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Military branches:
  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) (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  21-41 years of age for male compulsory military service (in case of mobilization, up to 65 years of age); 18 years of age for voluntary service; 12-month conscript obligation for non-university graduates, 6-12 months for university graduates (graduates of higher education may perform 6 months of military service as short-term privates, or 12 months as reserve officers); conscripts are called to register at age 20, for service at 21; women serve in the Turkish Armed Forces only as officers; reserve obligation to age 41; Turkish citizens with a residence or work permit who have worked abroad for at least 3 years (1095 days) can be exempt from military service in exchange for 6,000 EUR or its equivalent in foreign currencies; a law passed in December 2014 introduced a one-time payment scheme which exempted Turkish citizens 27 and older from conscription in exchange for a payment of $8,150 (2013)
  Military - note:
  the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has actively pursued the goal of asserting civilian control over the military since first taking power in 2002; the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security has been significantly reduced; the TSK leadership continues to be an influential institution within Turkey, but plays a much smaller role in politics; the Turkish military remains focused on the threats emanating from the Syrian civil war, Russia's actions in Ukraine, and the PKK insurgency; primary domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (Kurdish discontent), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposed establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq; an overhaul of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force 2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities including in Afghanistan; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey's coastal waters; 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 has initiated project work on an integrated missile defense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system; Turkey is a NATO ally and hosts NATO's Land Forces Command in Izmir, as well as the AN/TPY-2 radar as part of NATO Missile Defense (2014)
- Terrorism :: Turkey
- Terrorist groups - home based:
  Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) networks in Turkey:
  aim(s): replace the Turkish Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
  area(s) of operation: moves fighters and supplies across the Turkey-Syria border; has periodically conducted attacks against civilian and government security targets (April 2018)
  Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C):
  aim(s): install a Marxist-Leninist government in Turkey
  area(s) of operation: membership centered in Turkey, leadership primarily spread throughout Europe; in recent years has revived its attacks against Turkish Government elements, primarily in Istanbul; outlawed in Turkey (April 2018)
  Terrorist groups - foreign based:
  al-Nusrah Front:
  aim(s): overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime, absorb like-minded Syrian rebel groups, and ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate
  area(s) of operation: some facilitation networks (April 2018)
  al-Qa'ida (AQ):
  aim(s): radicalize the Turkish populace and eventually overthrow the Turkish Government as part of a long-term plan to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia
  area(s) of operation: maintains facilitation networks (April 2018)
  Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):
  aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy, political, and cultural rights in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria
  area(s) of operation: operational predominantly in the southeast; the group's primary targets include government, military, and security personnel and facilities; majority of members inside Turkey are Turkish Kurds, along with Kurds from Iran, Iraq, and Syria; the group is outlawed in Turkey (April 2018)
- Transnational Issues :: Turkey
- Disputes - international:
  complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Seastatus of north Cyprus question remainsTurkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraqin 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 falteredTurkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 3,622,366 (Syria), 170,000 (Afghanistan), 142,000 (Iraq), 39,000 (Iran), 5,700 (Somalia) (2018)
  IDPs: 1.113 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) (2017)
  stateless persons: 117 (2017)
  Illicit drugs:
  key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls