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Last updated: January 08, 2025
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  • Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • View of the main road in Ephesus, which still bears the marks of chariot wheels. The Library of Celsus may be seen at the foot of the hill. The background is the site of the silted up harbor.

    View of the main road in Ephesus, which still bears the marks of chariot wheels. The Library of Celsus may be seen at the foot of the hill. The background is the site of the silted up harbor.

  • Image of the goddess Nike (Victory) in Ephesus, an important Greek and later Roman city in Asia Minor. Its fortunes declined because of invasions, earthquakes, and the silting up of its harbor. It was abandoned in the 15th century.

    Image of the goddess Nike (Victory) in Ephesus, an important Greek and later Roman city in Asia Minor. Its fortunes declined because of invasions, earthquakes, and the silting up of its harbor. It was abandoned in the 15th century.

  • The Library of Celsus in Ephesus was built between A.D. 100 and 110 by Gaius Julius Aquila in memory of his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaneanus, a former governor of Roman Asia, who is buried under the library. The library held 1,200 scrolls and was built facing east to make the best use of morning light; it was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 270. The facade was reconstructed between 1970 and 1978.

    The Library of Celsus in Ephesus was built between A.D. 100 and 110 by Gaius Julius Aquila in memory of his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaneanus, a former governor of Roman Asia, who is buried under the library. The library held 1,200 scrolls and was built facing east to make the best use of morning light; it was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 270. The facade was reconstructed between 1970 and 1978.

  • Ruins of the public bath in Ephesus. The city had several bath complexes erected by the Romans in different part of the city. Its aqueduct system was one of the most complex in the ancient world with multiple aqueducts of different sizes supporting various functions.

    Ruins of the public bath in Ephesus. The city had several bath complexes erected by the Romans in different part of the city. Its aqueduct system was one of the most complex in the ancient world with multiple aqueducts of different sizes supporting various functions.

  • The public toilets in Ephesus were located in the public baths and had running water. Servants were often employed as seat warmers before the patrons used the cold stone seats. An inscription on a wall reads: "Close your eyes, count slowly to 10, and it will come."

    The public toilets in Ephesus were located in the public baths and had running water. Servants were often employed as seat warmers before the patrons used the cold stone seats. An inscription on a wall reads: "Close your eyes, count slowly to 10, and it will come."

  • The Great Theater in Ephesus was based on an original Greek structure. In the Roman period, it was expanded under the reigns of Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). One estimate gives the theater's capacity as 44,000 spectators and as such it would have been the largest in the ancient world. While generally used for theatrical performances and public assemblies, it was also used for gladiatorial contests in the later imperial period.

    The Great Theater in Ephesus was based on an original Greek structure. In the Roman period, it was expanded under the reigns of Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). One estimate gives the theater's capacity as 44,000 spectators and as such it would have been the largest in the ancient world. While generally used for theatrical performances and public assemblies, it was also used for gladiatorial contests in the later imperial period.

  • The Great Theater in Ephesus was based on an original Greek structure. In the Roman period, it was expanded under the reigns of Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). One estimate gives the theater's capacity as 44,000 spectators and as such it would have been the largest in the ancient world. While generally used for theatrical performances and public assemblies, it was also used for gladiatorial contests in the later imperial period.

    The Great Theater in Ephesus was based on an original Greek structure. In the Roman period, it was expanded under the reigns of Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). One estimate gives the theater's capacity as 44,000 spectators and as such it would have been the largest in the ancient world. While generally used for theatrical performances and public assemblies, it was also used for gladiatorial contests in the later imperial period.

  • Seating estimates for the Great Roman Theater in Ephesus vary between 25,000 and 44,000. Regardless of actual capacity, the theater was in continuous use until the 5th century A.D. Today, partially restored, it is used for an annual festival of culture and art.

    Seating estimates for the Great Roman Theater in Ephesus vary between 25,000 and 44,000. Regardless of actual capacity, the theater was in continuous use until the 5th century A.D. Today, partially restored, it is used for an annual festival of culture and art.

  • Ruins of the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus. The temple dates to the 2nd century A.D.; it underwent repairs in the 4th century. The structure has been partially reconstructed from surviving architectural fragments.

    Ruins of the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus. The temple dates to the 2nd century A.D.; it underwent repairs in the 4th century. The structure has been partially reconstructed from surviving architectural fragments.

  • Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

    Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

  • Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

    Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

  • Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated; they were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

    Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated; they were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

  • Floor mosaic in a terrace home in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

    Floor mosaic in a terrace home in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.

  • View of the port of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. The name Kusadasi means "Bird Island." In Byzantine times it was called "Ephesus Neopolis" and "Scala Nova" under the Genoese and Venetians. Its current name was officially adopted at the beginning of the 20th century by Turkish authorities. Kusadasi is the gateway to the Roman ruins at Ephesus. Some 95 km (57 mi) south of Izmir, it has grown since the late 1970s from a fishing village into a major tourist center serving thousands of tourists. A statue of Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey and the founder of the Turkish Republic, stands on a hill overlooking the city.

    View of the port of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. The name Kusadasi means "Bird Island." In Byzantine times it was called "Ephesus Neopolis" and "Scala Nova" under the Genoese and Venetians. Its current name was officially adopted at the beginning of the 20th century by Turkish authorities. Kusadasi is the gateway to the Roman ruins at Ephesus. Some 95 km (57 mi) south of Izmir, it has grown since the late 1970s from a fishing village into a major tourist center serving thousands of tourists. A statue of Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey and the founder of the Turkish Republic, stands on a hill overlooking the city.

  • View of apartment buildings in the resort town of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. The population of the town increases from 65,000 to 500,000 during the tourist season. Kusadasi is about a 20-minute drive from the Roman ruins at Ephesus.

    View of apartment buildings in the resort town of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. The population of the town increases from 65,000 to 500,000 during the tourist season. Kusadasi is about a 20-minute drive from the Roman ruins at Ephesus.

  • Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. The fortress dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1834, the castle was rebuilt and the garrison expanded. The island became the focus of the town to the extent that people began referring to the whole town as Kusadasi (Bird Island).

    Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. The fortress dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1834, the castle was rebuilt and the garrison expanded. The island became the focus of the town to the extent that people began referring to the whole town as Kusadasi (Bird Island).

  • View of the restored castle on Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi. The fortress was the center of the town's activities in the late 19th century.

    View of the restored castle on Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi. The fortress was the center of the town's activities in the late 19th century.

  • A view of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey through the fog. The highest of its two peaks, Greater Ararat, is the tallest mountain in Turkey at 5,166 m (16,949 ft). Although located some 32 km (20 mi) from the Armenian border, the dormant volcano dominates the skyline of Yerevan, Armenia's capital. This photo was snapped after take off from the Yerevan airport.

    A view of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey through the fog. The highest of its two peaks, Greater Ararat, is the tallest mountain in Turkey at 5,166 m (16,949 ft). Although located some 32 km (20 mi) from the Armenian border, the dormant volcano dominates the skyline of Yerevan, Armenia's capital. This photo was snapped after take off from the Yerevan airport.

  • "Fairy chimneys" (also called hoodoos, tent rocks, or earth pyramids) create a surreal landscape in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. These structures are created over many centuries in areas where relatively soft rock is overlain by a layer of harder rock. Wind and rain erode the softer rock at a faster pace, creating a cone shaped "body" with a "cap." These chimneys can reach heights of up to 40 m (130 ft).

    "Fairy chimneys" (also called hoodoos, tent rocks, or earth pyramids) create a surreal landscape in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. These structures are created over many centuries in areas where relatively soft rock is overlain by a layer of harder rock. Wind and rain erode the softer rock at a faster pace, creating a cone shaped "body" with a "cap." These chimneys can reach heights of up to 40 m (130 ft).

  • Distinctively shaped volcanic cones in the Cappadocia region of Turkey were shaped by centuries of wind and rain erosion. The soft rock is easily carved and hardens like concrete when exposed to the air. Many of these structures have been transformed into domestic dwellings.

    Distinctively shaped volcanic cones in the Cappadocia region of Turkey were shaped by centuries of wind and rain erosion. The soft rock is easily carved and hardens like concrete when exposed to the air. Many of these structures have been transformed into domestic dwellings.

  • The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul; built in the 6th century A.D., it acquired its name from a great basilica that used to stand over the location. The cathedral-size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 138 m (453 ft) by 65 m (213 ft) capable of holding 80,000 cu m (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 m (30 ft) high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 5 m (16 ft) apart. The majority of the columns in the cistern appear to have been recycled from the ruins of older buildings from throughout the Byzantine Empire. They are carved and engraved out of various types of marble and granite.

    The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul; built in the 6th century A.D., it acquired its name from a great basilica that used to stand over the location. The cathedral-size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 138 m (453 ft) by 65 m (213 ft) capable of holding 80,000 cu m (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 m (30 ft) high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 5 m (16 ft) apart. The majority of the columns in the cistern appear to have been recycled from the ruins of older buildings from throughout the Byzantine Empire. They are carved and engraved out of various types of marble and granite.

  • The "Hen's Eye" column in the Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul.

    The "Hen's Eye" column in the Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul.

  • One of two Medusa head pillars in the Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul. The Medusa heads heads were removed from a building of the late Roman period and brought to the cistern to be reused as pillar bases.

    One of two Medusa head pillars in the Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul. The Medusa heads heads were removed from a building of the late Roman period and brought to the cistern to be reused as pillar bases.

  • View of Istanbul from the Topkapi Palace.

    View of Istanbul from the Topkapi Palace.

  • The Gate of the Sultan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856, the Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire through most of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

    The Gate of the Sultan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856, the Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire through most of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

  • The imposing Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856, the Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire through most of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

    The imposing Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856, the Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire through most of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

  • The Hagia Sofia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul is a former Christian Greek Orthodox cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque, and now a museum. Completed in A.D. 537, it was the world's largest building and an engineering marvel of its time, chiefly renowned for its vast dome. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture.

    The Hagia Sofia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul is a former Christian Greek Orthodox cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque, and now a museum. Completed in A.D. 537, it was the world's largest building and an engineering marvel of its time, chiefly renowned for its vast dome. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture.

  • A view of the interior of the Hagia Sophia.

    A view of the interior of the Hagia Sophia.

  • The Basilica of Hagia Sophia is actually the third church to be built at the site. A second church on the site was was inaugurated in A.D. 415 but burned to the ground in 532. Several marble blocks from the second church survive including this one showing lambs.

    The Basilica of Hagia Sophia is actually the third church to be built at the site. A second church on the site was was inaugurated in A.D. 415 but burned to the ground in 532. Several marble blocks from the second church survive including this one showing lambs.

  • he fountain for ritual ablutions was added to the Hagia Sophia in 1740.

    he fountain for ritual ablutions was added to the Hagia Sophia in 1740.

  • An Islamic stained glass window in the Hagia Sophia.

    An Islamic stained glass window in the Hagia Sophia.

  • The blue-tipped minarets and blue roof tiles of the of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, along with many blue decorative tiles in the interior, give this national mosque in Istanbul its Blue Mosque nickname.

    The blue-tipped minarets and blue roof tiles of the of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, along with many blue decorative tiles in the interior, give this national mosque in Istanbul its Blue Mosque nickname.

  • The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul is the national mosque of Turkey. Built between 1609 and 1617, during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I, the mosque stands next to the former Hippodrome of Constantinople (now Sultanahmet Square) and across from the Hagia Sophia. The mosque reflects the classical Ottoman layout with a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall, except it has six minarets instead of the standard four, and can hold 10,000 worshipers. It is known as the “Blue Mosque” due to the thousands of blue Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs decorating its interior. The unique carved marble minbar (pulpit) is positioned so that the imam can be heard from anywhere in the mosque. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

    The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul is the national mosque of Turkey. Built between 1609 and 1617, during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I, the mosque stands next to the former Hippodrome of Constantinople (now Sultanahmet Square) and across from the Hagia Sophia. The mosque reflects the classical Ottoman layout with a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall, except it has six minarets instead of the standard four, and can hold 10,000 worshipers. It is known as the “Blue Mosque” due to the thousands of blue Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs decorating its interior. The unique carved marble minbar (pulpit) is positioned so that the imam can be heard from anywhere in the mosque. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

  • A view of the Blue Mosque from the Hagia Sophia.

    A view of the Blue Mosque from the Hagia Sophia.

  • Minaret at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

    Minaret at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

  • Ancient pottery shards at the Istanbul Archeological Museum.

    Ancient pottery shards at the Istanbul Archeological Museum.

  • The Tiled Kiosk Museum is one of the three museums that make up the Istanbul Archeology Museums.

    The Tiled Kiosk Museum is one of the three museums that make up the Istanbul Archeology Museums.

  • Glazed brick panels from a Babylonian processional way in the Istanbul Archeological Museum.

    Glazed brick panels from a Babylonian processional way in the Istanbul Archeological Museum.

  • The Lycian Sarcophagus of Sidon at the Istanbul Archeological Museum dates to about 430-420 B.C.

    The Lycian Sarcophagus of Sidon at the Istanbul Archeological Museum dates to about 430-420 B.C.

  • Tiled mihrab at the the Istanbul Archeology Museums.

    Tiled mihrab at the the Istanbul Archeology Museums.

  • The Topkapi Palace courtyard in Istanbul. The Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains many holy relics of the Muslim world. Construction was begun in 1459, and at its height, the complex housed 4,000 people. In 1924, a governmental decree transformed the Palace into a museum of the imperial era.

    The Topkapi Palace courtyard in Istanbul. The Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains many holy relics of the Muslim world. Construction was begun in 1459, and at its height, the complex housed 4,000 people. In 1924, a governmental decree transformed the Palace into a museum of the imperial era.

  • The Imperial Hall in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    The Imperial Hall in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • Chandelier in the Queen Mother's Apartments in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    Chandelier in the Queen Mother's Apartments in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • The main harem entrance at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    The main harem entrance at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • The Crown Prince's Quarters in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    The Crown Prince's Quarters in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • Tile work in the harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    Tile work in the harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • The Gate of Felicity at the Third Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    The Gate of Felicity at the Third Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

  • The Baghdad Kiosk in the Fourth Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.

    The Baghdad Kiosk in the Fourth Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.

  • Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

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  • Ruins of the Roman Senate (Odeon, or small theater) in Ephesus. The city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, was originally Greek, but later became part of the Roman Empire. In Roman times it had a population estimated between 250 and 500 thousand, making it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world. Ephesus was partially destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 614. The city's harbor thereafter slowly silted up causing its commercial importance to decline.
  • View of the main road in Ephesus, which still bears the marks of chariot wheels. The Library of Celsus may be seen at the foot of the hill. The background is the site of the silted up harbor.
  • Image of the goddess Nike (Victory) in Ephesus, an important Greek and later Roman city in Asia Minor. Its fortunes declined because of invasions, earthquakes, and the silting up of its harbor. It was abandoned in the 15th century.
  • The Library of Celsus in Ephesus was built between A.D. 100 and 110 by Gaius Julius Aquila in memory of his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaneanus, a former governor of Roman Asia, who is buried under the library. The library held 1,200 scrolls and was built facing east to make the best use of morning light; it was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 270. The facade was reconstructed between 1970 and 1978.
  • Ruins of the public bath in Ephesus. The city had several bath complexes erected by the Romans in different part of the city. Its aqueduct system was one of the most complex in the ancient world with multiple aqueducts of different sizes supporting various functions.
  • The public toilets in Ephesus were located in the public baths and had running water. Servants were often employed as seat warmers before the patrons used the cold stone seats. An inscription on a wall reads: "Close your eyes, count slowly to 10, and it will come."
  • The Great Theater in Ephesus was based on an original Greek structure. In the Roman period, it was expanded under the reigns of Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). One estimate gives the theater's capacity as 44,000 spectators and as such it would have been the largest in the ancient world. While generally used for theatrical performances and public assemblies, it was also used for gladiatorial contests in the later imperial period.
  • The Great Theater in Ephesus was based on an original Greek structure. In the Roman period, it was expanded under the reigns of Domitian (A.D. 81 to 96) and Trajan (98 to 117). One estimate gives the theater's capacity as 44,000 spectators and as such it would have been the largest in the ancient world. While generally used for theatrical performances and public assemblies, it was also used for gladiatorial contests in the later imperial period.
  • Seating estimates for the Great Roman Theater in Ephesus vary between 25,000 and 44,000. Regardless of actual capacity, the theater was in continuous use until the 5th century A.D. Today, partially restored, it is used for an annual festival of culture and art.
  • Ruins of the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus. The temple dates to the 2nd century A.D.; it underwent repairs in the 4th century. The structure has been partially reconstructed from surviving architectural fragments.
  • Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.
  • Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.
  • Terrace homes in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated; they were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.
  • Floor mosaic in a terrace home in Ephesus built on a hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian. The wealthy families lived here in six multi-family homes built on three terraces. Most homes were highly decorated and were heated by use of hot water flowing through pipes in the floors and walls. The roof of one house formed the patio or terrace of the house above it. Work on restoring the houses began in 1960.
  • View of the port of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. The name Kusadasi means "Bird Island." In Byzantine times it was called "Ephesus Neopolis" and "Scala Nova" under the Genoese and Venetians. Its current name was officially adopted at the beginning of the 20th century by Turkish authorities. Kusadasi is the gateway to the Roman ruins at Ephesus. Some 95 km (57 mi) south of Izmir, it has grown since the late 1970s from a fishing village into a major tourist center serving thousands of tourists. A statue of Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey and the founder of the Turkish Republic, stands on a hill overlooking the city.
  • View of apartment buildings in the resort town of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. The population of the town increases from 65,000 to 500,000 during the tourist season. Kusadasi is about a 20-minute drive from the Roman ruins at Ephesus.
  • Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. The fortress dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1834, the castle was rebuilt and the garrison expanded. The island became the focus of the town to the extent that people began referring to the whole town as Kusadasi (Bird Island).
  • View of the restored castle on Pigeon Island (Guvercin Adasi) in the harbor of Kusadasi. The fortress was the center of the town's activities in the late 19th century.
  • A view of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey through the fog. The highest of its two peaks, Greater Ararat, is the tallest mountain in Turkey at 5,166 m (16,949 ft). Although located some 32 km (20 mi) from the Armenian border, the dormant volcano dominates the skyline of Yerevan, Armenia's capital. This photo was snapped after take off from the Yerevan airport.
  • "Fairy chimneys" (also called hoodoos, tent rocks, or earth pyramids) create a surreal landscape in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. These structures are created over many centuries in areas where relatively soft rock is overlain by a layer of harder rock. Wind and rain erode the softer rock at a faster pace, creating a cone shaped "body" with a "cap." These chimneys can reach heights of up to 40 m (130 ft).
  • Distinctively shaped volcanic cones in the Cappadocia region of Turkey were shaped by centuries of wind and rain erosion. The soft rock is easily carved and hardens like concrete when exposed to the air. Many of these structures have been transformed into domestic dwellings.
  • The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul; built in the 6th century A.D., it acquired its name from a great basilica that used to stand over the location. The cathedral-size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 138 m (453 ft) by 65 m (213 ft) capable of holding 80,000 cu m (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 m (30 ft) high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 5 m (16 ft) apart. The majority of the columns in the cistern appear to have been recycled from the ruins of older buildings from throughout the Byzantine Empire. They are carved and engraved out of various types of marble and granite.
  • The "Hen's Eye" column in the Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul.
  • One of two Medusa head pillars in the Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul. The Medusa heads heads were removed from a building of the late Roman period and brought to the cistern to be reused as pillar bases.
  • View of Istanbul from the Topkapi Palace.
  • The Gate of the Sultan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856, the Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire through most of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The imposing Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856, the Palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire through most of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The Hagia Sofia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul is a former Christian Greek Orthodox cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque, and now a museum. Completed in A.D. 537, it was the world's largest building and an engineering marvel of its time, chiefly renowned for its vast dome. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture.
  • A view of the interior of the Hagia Sophia.
  • The Basilica of Hagia Sophia is actually the third church to be built at the site. A second church on the site was was inaugurated in A.D. 415 but burned to the ground in 532. Several marble blocks from the second church survive including this one showing lambs.
  • he fountain for ritual ablutions was added to the Hagia Sophia in 1740.
  • An Islamic stained glass window in the Hagia Sophia.
  • The blue-tipped minarets and blue roof tiles of the of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, along with many blue decorative tiles in the interior, give this national mosque in Istanbul its Blue Mosque nickname.
  • The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul is the national mosque of Turkey. Built between 1609 and 1617, during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I, the mosque stands next to the former Hippodrome of Constantinople (now Sultanahmet Square) and across from the Hagia Sophia. The mosque reflects the classical Ottoman layout with a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall, except it has six minarets instead of the standard four, and can hold 10,000 worshipers. It is known as the “Blue Mosque” due to the thousands of blue Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs decorating its interior. The unique carved marble minbar (pulpit) is positioned so that the imam can be heard from anywhere in the mosque. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
  • A view of the Blue Mosque from the Hagia Sophia.
  • Minaret at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
  • Ancient pottery shards at the Istanbul Archeological Museum.
  • The Tiled Kiosk Museum is one of the three museums that make up the Istanbul Archeology Museums.
  • Glazed brick panels from a Babylonian processional way in the Istanbul Archeological Museum.
  • The Lycian Sarcophagus of Sidon at the Istanbul Archeological Museum dates to about 430-420 B.C.
  • Tiled mihrab at the the Istanbul Archeology Museums.
  • The Topkapi Palace courtyard in Istanbul. The Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains many holy relics of the Muslim world. Construction was begun in 1459, and at its height, the complex housed 4,000 people. In 1924, a governmental decree transformed the Palace into a museum of the imperial era.
  • The Imperial Hall in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
  • Chandelier in the Queen Mother's Apartments in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
  • The main harem entrance at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
  • The Crown Prince's Quarters in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
  • Tile work in the harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
  • The Gate of Felicity at the Third Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
  • The Baghdad Kiosk in the Fourth Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.
  • Courtyard of the Sultan's Consorts and Concubines in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

Turkey (Turkiye) Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael GOLDMAN (since September 2024)

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:
Ankara-ACS@state.gov

https://tr.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Istanbul

consulate(s): Adana

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)
2023 population pyramid
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.

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 35 00 E

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.)

Heliports

213 (2024)

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Texas
Area comparison map

slightly larger than Texas

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

Background

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. 

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

Population below poverty line

14.4% (2020 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 34.7% (2021 est.)

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

Exports - commodities

garments, refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, plastic products (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 8%, US 7%, Iraq 5%, UK 5%, Italy 5% (2022)

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

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

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, maize, potatoes, apples, grapes, watermelons (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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 of the Turkish Republic (aka Gendarmerie General Command), Turkish Coast Guard Command, National Police (2024)

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

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

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

Imports - commodities

gold, refined petroleum, plastics, scrap iron, cars (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

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

Coastline

7,200 km

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

Exchange rates

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
23.739 (2023 est.)
16.549 (2022 est.)
8.85 (2021 est.)
7.009 (2020 est.)
5.674 (2019 est.)

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

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 14 May 2023 with a runoff on 28 May 2023 (next to be held in 2028)

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%

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

Illicit drugs

a significant transit country for illicit drug trafficking; an increase of heroin and methamphetamine seizures along the Turkiye-Iran border; Syrian drug traffickers play a significant role in Turkiye’s drug trade; domestic Illegal drug use relatively low compared to countries in the region

Independence

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

Industries

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

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

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

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.)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkey Buyuk Millet Meclisi (600 seats); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote, with a 7% threshold required to win a seat; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 14 May 2023 (next to be held in 2028)

election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - People's Alliance 49.9% (AKP 35.6%, MHP 10.1%, YRP 2.8%, BBP 1%), Nation Alliance 35.4% (CHP 25.3%, IYI 9.7%), Labor and Freedom Alliance 10.7% (YSGP 8.9%, TIP 1.8%); seats by party/coalition - People's Alliance 323 (AKP 268, MHP 50, YRP 5), Nation Alliance 212 (CHP 169, IYI 43), Labor and Freedom Alliance 65 (YSGP 61, TIP 4); composition - men 480, women 119, percentage women 19.9%

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.7%

male: 99.1%

female: 94.4% (2019)

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

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

National holiday

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Nationality

noun: Turk(s)

adjective: Turkish

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

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

Economic overview

upper middle-income, diversified Middle Eastern economy; heightened inflation and currency depreciation triggered by expansionary monetary and fiscal policy ahead of 2023 elections, now being reversed; industrializing economy that maintains large agricultural base

Pipelines

14,666 km gas, 3,293 km oil (2017)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 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: fixed-line nearly 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 106 telephones per 100 persons (2022)

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)

Terrain

high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges

Government type

presidential republic

Military - note

the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have a range of responsibilities, including 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; the TAF also has overall responsibility for the security of Türkiye’s borders; Türkiye is active in international peacekeeping and other security operations under the EU, NATO, and the UN, as well as under bilateral agreements with some countries; the TAF has established expeditionary military bases in northern Cyprus, Qatar, Somalia, and Sudan

Türkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts a considerable NATO and US military presence, including 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 and exercises regularly with NATO partners; Türkiye's geographic location at the southeastern flank of the Alliance give it and the TAF a critical role in regional security

the TAF is a large, well-equipped force comprised of a mix of professionals and conscripts; it has considerable operational experience; in addition to peacekeeping and military assistance operations in recent years in such places as Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Kosovo (NATO), Lebanon (UN), and Somalia (bilateral), it has conducted combat missions of varying duration and scale in Iraq, Libya, and Syria; ; in Syria, it occupies a large swatch of territory and maintain thousands of troops; since the 1980s, the TAF has been involved in a protracted counterinsurgency campaign against the US-designated terrorist group the Kurdistan Worker’s Party or PKK, a Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla movement, which historically operated throughout Kurdistan but is now primarily based in the mountainous Kurdish-majority regions of southeastern Türkiye and northern Iraq; other key areas of concern for the TAF include tensions with fellow NATO member Greece over territorial disputes and Cyprus, tensions between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan, conflict in the Middle East, threats from the terrorist groups al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham, and the Russia-Ukraine war; under a long-range (2033) strategic plan, the TAF continues an effort to modernize its equipment and force structure

Türkiye’s military has a rich history that it traces 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 has traditionally had a significant influence in the country as the “guardian” of Turkish politics, but its political role was diminished after the failed 2016 coup attempt; the military has a substantial 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 (2024)

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

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

Map references

Middle East

Irrigated land

52,150 sq km (2020)

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:
embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr

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

Internet country code

.tr

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 10,244 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 41,665 (Ukraine) (as of 15 February 2024) (2023); 3,122,899 (Syria) (2024)

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) (2022)

stateless persons: 117 (2018)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.108 trillion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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.

Total renewable water resources

211.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years

male: 19 years

female: 18 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

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)

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.)

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
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Turkey. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

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)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Physician density

1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2018)

National symbol(s)

vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star; national colors: red, white

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.6 years (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69.8% (2018)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 59.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 32.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -3% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 32.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -34.7% (2023 est.)

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 49.1

youth dependency ratio: 34.5

elderly dependency ratio: 12.3

potential support ratio: 8.1 (2021 est.)

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

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

Electricity access

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

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TC

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.)

Ethnic groups

Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 19%, other minorities 6-11% (2016 est.)

Religions

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

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

Imports - partners

China 13%, Germany 9%, Russia 8%, US 5%, Italy 5% (2022)

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

Elevation

highest point: Mount Ararat 5,137 m

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 1,132 m

Current health expenditure

4.6% of GDP (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 480,000 active-duty personnel (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 deployments

approximately 150 (Azerbaijan; monitoring cease-fire, clearing mines); 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 200 Somalia (training mission) (2023)

note: Turkey maintains significant military forces in both Iraq and Syria; size estimates vary as some forces are long-term deployments while others are deployed for specific operations; between 2016 and 2020, Turkey conducted four significant military ground campaigns in northern Syria with the stated purpose of securing its southern border; 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

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

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.)

Waste and recycling

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

Average household expenditures

on food: 25.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.3% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 23.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 372.72 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 57.53 megatons (2020 est.)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

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

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); Ephesus (c); Archaeological Site of Ani (c); Aphrodisias (c); Arslantepe Mound (c); Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia (c); Turkmenistan (c)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 2%

women married by age 18: 14.7% (2018 est.)

Coal

production: 88.746 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption: 123.976 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports: 879,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports: 38.046 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves: 11.525 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 58.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity: 21.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Natural gas

production: 379.701 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption: 52.887 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports: 581.666 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports: 54.536 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Petroleum

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

refined petroleum consumption: 1.077 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.4% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.08% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.09% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2023)

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 (2024)

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

Space launch site(s)

rocket test launch site on the Black Sea in Sinop Province; the 2021 national space program called for the establishment of a space port; has reportedly discussed building a rocket launch site in Somalia or using a sea-launch facility for future space launch vehicles (2024)

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) (2024)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

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

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

Labor force

35.071 million (2023 est.)

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

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 17.6% (2023 est.)

male: 14.8% (2023 est.)

female: 22.9% (2023 est.)

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

Net migration rate

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

Median age

total: 34 years (2024 est.)

male: 33.4 years

female: 34.6 years

Debt - external

$133.882 billion (2022 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$140.858 billion (2023 est.)
$123.735 billion (2022 est.)
$109.535 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Waterways

1,200 km (2010)

Public debt

35.25% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2024 est.)

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)

Unemployment rate

9.41% (2023 est.)
10.43% (2022 est.)
11.97% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 84,119,531

male: 42,247,430

female: 41,872,101 (2024 est.)

Internet users

total: 68.85 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 81% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

391.592 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 149.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 139.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 101.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Area

total : 783,562 sq km

land: 769,632 sq km

water: 13,930 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

16.09% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.936 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.81 trillion (2022 est.)
$2.662 trillion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Roadways

total: 68,526 km (2023)

paved: 24,082 km (2018) (includes 2,159 km of expressways)

unpaved: 43,251 km (2018)

Airports

115 (2024)

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 90.298 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

44.4 (2021 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

53.86% (2023 est.)
72.31% (2022 est.)
19.6% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

-$44.961 billion (2023 est.)
-$45.799 billion (2022 est.)
-$6.433 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$34,400 (2023 est.)
$33,100 (2022 est.)
$31,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 16,734,853 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 30.7% (2020 est.)

male: 42.1% (2020 est.)

female: 19.2% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.1% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

70.594 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Death rate

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

Birth rate

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

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 103.817 million kW (2022 est.)

consumption: 280.458 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports: 3.71 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports: 6.423 billion kWh (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 30.452 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1,170 (2023)

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.5% (2018/19)

Imports

$386.828 billion (2023 est.)
$383.02 billion (2022 est.)
$284.019 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$352.514 billion (2023 est.)
$346.369 billion (2022 est.)
$287.318 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 11.198 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 74.4 years

female: 79.2 years

Real GDP growth rate

4.52% (2023 est.)
5.53% (2022 est.)
11.44% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

2.34% (2023 est.)

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

Railways

total: 11,497 km (2018)

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.2% (2023 est.)

industry: 28.3% (2023 est.)

services: 54% (2023 est.)

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

Revenue from forest resources

0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.61% (2024 est.)
Sources: