Ankara
Turkey
Key facts and a structured country profile. π§Ύ Change log π True Size
84,625,585 (2025 est.)
783,562 sq km
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
π§ 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.
πΊοΈ Geography
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
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Middle East
783,562 sq km
769,632 sq km
13,930 sq km
Slightly larger than Texas
2,816 km
Armenia 311 km; Azerbaijan 17 km; Bulgaria 223 km; Georgia 273 km; Greece 192 km; Iran 534 km; Iraq 367 km; Syria 899 km
7,200 km
6 nm in the Aegean Sea
In Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed on with the former USSR
Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
High central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges
Mount Ararat 5,137 m
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
1,132 m
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
50.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 26.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 19% (2023 est.)
29.3% (2023 est.)
20.5% (2023 est.)
52,150 sq km (2022)
Lake Beysehir - 650 sq km; Lake Egridir - 520 sq km
Lake Van - 3,740 sq km; Lake Tuz - 1,640 sq 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
(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
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
Severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van; landslides; flooding volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the three historically active volcanoes (Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi) have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier
Strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link the Black and Aegean Seas; the 3% of Turkish territory north of the Straits lies in Europe and goes by the names of European Turkey, Eastern Thrace, or Turkish Thrace; the 97% of the country in Asia is referred to as Anatolia; Istanbul, which straddles the Bosporus, is the only metropolis in the world located on two continents; Mount Ararat, reputed to be the landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far-eastern part of the country
π₯ People and Societyβ¬οΈ Top
84,625,585 (2025 est.)
42,489,277
42,136,308
Turk(s)
Turkish
Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 19%, other minorities 6-11% (2016 est.)
Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
The World Factbook, temel bilgi edinmek iΓ§in vazgeΓ§ilmez bir kaynak. (Turkish) ΪΨ§Ψ³ΨͺΫΫΫΪ©Ψ§ΩΫ Ψ¬ΫΩΨ§ΩΨ Ψ¨Ψ§Ψ΄ΨͺΨ±ΫΩ Ψ³ΫΨ±ΪΨ§ΩΫΫΫ Ψ¨Ϋ Ψ²Ψ§ΩΫΨ§Ψ±ΫΫΫ Ψ¨ΩΫΪΫΨͺΫΫΫΪ©Ψ§Ω (Kurdish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
21.7% (male 9,358,711/female 8,933,673)
68.6% (male 29,219,389/female 28,494,315)
9.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,669,330/female 4,444,113)
45.7 (2025 est.)
31.2 (2025 est.)
14.6 (2025 est.)
6.9 (2025 est.)
34.4 years (2025 est.)
33.4 years
34.6 years
0.59% (2025 est.)
13.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
-1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
77.5% of total population (2023)
1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
1.05 male(s)/female
1.05 male(s)/female
1.03 male(s)/female
0.83 male(s)/female
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
26.6 years (2020 est.)
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
17.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
19.9 deaths/1,000 live births
16.7 deaths/1,000 live births
76.7 years (2024 est.)
74.4 years
79.2 years
1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)
0.92 (2025 est.)
Urban: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 96% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
4.6% of GDP (2021)
10% of national budget (2022 est.)
2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
32.1% (2016)
1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
30.1% (2025 est.)
40.1% (2025 est.)
20.1% (2025 est.)
1.5% (2018 est.)
59.6% (2021 est.)
2% (2018)
14.7% (2018)
3.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
11.3% national budget (2022 est.)
97.3% (2021 est.)
99.3% (2021 est.)
95.3% (2021 est.)
20 years (2022 est.)
20 years (2022 est.)
20 years (2022 est.)
πΏ Environmentβ¬οΈ Top
Water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; land degradation; conservation of biodiversity
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
Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification
Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
50.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 26.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 19% (2023 est.)
29.3% (2023 est.)
20.5% (2023 est.)
77.5% of total population (2023)
1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
399.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
155.26 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
147.211 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
96.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
23.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
35.374 million tons (2024 est.)
32% (2022 est.)
7.144 billion cubic meters (2022)
1.297 billion cubic meters (2022)
56.127 billion cubic meters (2022)
211.6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
1
Kula-Salihli (2023)
ποΈ Governmentβ¬οΈ Top
Republic of Turkey
Turkey
TΓΌrkiye Cumhuriyeti
TΓΌrkiye
The name means "Land of the Turks"
Presidential republic
Ankara
39 56 N, 32 52 E
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
The name probably derives from the Indo-European root word ang, meaning "bend" and relating to the settlement's original location in a winding gorge; the city was referred to as Angora by the 13th century; the name was officially modified to Ankara in 1923 when the Republic of Turkey was founded
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
Civil law system based on various European systems, notably the Swiss civil code
Several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982
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
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
No
At least one parent must be a citizen of Turkey
Yes, but requires prior permission from the government
5 years
18 years of age; universal
President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 28 August 2014)
President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 9 July 2018)
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
14 May 2023, with a runoff on 28 May 2023
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%
2028
Grand National Assembly of TΓΌrkiye (TΓΌrkiye BΓΌyΓΌk Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M))
Unicameral
600 (all directly elected)
Proportional representation
Full renewal
5 years
5/14/2023
Justice and Development Party (Ak Party) (267); Republican People's Party (CHP) (130); Green and the Left Party of the Future (YSGP) (57); Nationalist Action Party (MHP) (50); Good Party (Δ°yi Party) (44); Other (52)
19.9%
May 2028
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)
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
Regional appeals courts; basic (first instance) courts; peace courts; aggravated crime courts; specialized courts, including administrative and audit
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
Ambassador Sedat ΓNAL (since 17 June 2024)
2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
[1] (202) 612-6700
[1] (202) 612-6744
Embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr T.C. DΔ±ΕiΕleri BakanlΔ±ΔΔ± - Turkish Embassy In Washington, D.C. (mfa.gov.tr)
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Ambassador Thomas J. BARRACK (since 14 May 2025)
1480 Sokak No. 1, Cukurambar Mahallesi, 06530 Cankaya, Ankara
7000 Ankara Place, Washington, DC 20512-7000
[90] (312) 294-0000
[90] (312) 467-0019
Ankara-ACS@state.gov https://tr.usembassy.gov/
Istanbul
Adana
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CPLP (associate observer), D-8, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (candidate country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SCO (dialogue member), SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire)
Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Description: red with a vertical white crescent moon and five-pointed white star centered just outside the crescent's opening meaning: the flag colors and designs closely resemble the Ottoman Empire's flag; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for Turkic peoples; according to one interpretation, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors
Vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star
Red, white
"Istiklal Marsi" (The March of Independence)
Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR
Lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932; the anthem's original music was adopted in 1924
22 (20 cultural, 2 mixed)
Archaeological Site of Troy (c); Ephesus (c); DiyarbakΔ±r Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (c); Hierapolis-Pamukkale (m); GΓΆreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (m); GΓΆbekli Tepe (c); Historic Areas of Istanbul (c); Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (c); Neolithic Site of ΓatalhΓΆyΓΌk (c); Bursa and CumalΔ±kΔ±zΔ±k: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire (c); Gordion (c); Great Mosque and Hospital of DivriΔi (c); Hattusha: the Hittite Capital (c); Nemrut DaΔ (c); Xanthos-Letoon (c); City of Safranbolu (c); Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape (c); Archaeological Site of Ani (c); Aphrodisias (c); Arslantepe Mound (c); Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia (c); Turkmenistan (c); Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe (c)
πΉ Economyβ¬οΈ Top
Upper-middle-income, diversified Middle Eastern economy; industrializing economy that maintains large agricultural base; key energy, tourism, and construction sectors; high inflation, interest rates, and foreign debt pose risk to financial stability
$3.018 trillion (2024 est.)
$2.925 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.783 trillion (2022 est.)
3.2% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
5.5% (2022 est.)
$35,300 (2024 est.)
$34,300 (2023 est.)
$32,700 (2022 est.)
$1.323 trillion (2024 est.)
58.5% (2024 est.)
53.9% (2023 est.)
72.3% (2022 est.)
5.6% (2024 est.)
25.9% (2024 est.)
56.8% (2024 est.)
59.4% (2024 est.)
14.7% (2024 est.)
31% (2024 est.)
-5.5% (2024 est.)
28% (2024 est.)
-27.8% (2024 est.)
Sugar beets, wheat, milk, tomatoes, barley, maize, potatoes, apples, grapes, watermelons (2023)
Textiles, food processing, automobiles, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
2.2% (2024 est.)
36.081 million (2024 est.)
8.5% (2024 est.)
9.4% (2023 est.)
10.5% (2022 est.)
15.6% (2024 est.)
12.4% (2024 est.)
21.2% (2024 est.)
13.9% (2022 est.)
44.5 (2022 est.)
22.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
2.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
2.1% (2022 est.)
35.2% (2022 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
$330.21 billion (2023 est.)
$382.998 billion (2023 est.)
33.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
18.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
-$9.973 billion (2024 est.)
-$39.877 billion (2023 est.)
-$46.283 billion (2022 est.)
$372.756 billion (2024 est.)
$357.588 billion (2023 est.)
$346.602 billion (2022 est.)
Germany 9%, USA 6%, UK 6%, UAE 5%, Iraq 5% (2023)
Garments, cars, gold, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
$367.022 billion (2024 est.)
$386.602 billion (2023 est.)
$383.7 billion (2022 est.)
China 13%, Russia 9%, Germany 9%, Switzerland 6%, USA 5% (2023)
Gold, refined petroleum, cars, plastics, natural gas (2023)
$154.774 billion (2024 est.)
$140.868 billion (2023 est.)
$128.735 billion (2022 est.)
$149.654 billion (2023 est.)
Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -
32.806 (2024 est.)
23.739 (2023 est.)
16.549 (2022 est.)
8.85 (2021 est.)
7.009 (2020 est.)
β‘ Energyβ¬οΈ Top
100% (2022 est.)
106.281 million kW (2023 est.)
285.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)
1.993 billion kWh (2023 est.)
5.892 billion kWh (2023 est.)
28.964 billion kWh (2023 est.)
57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
10.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
4 (2025)
82.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)
124.183 million metric tons (2023 est.)
685,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
41.119 million metric tons (2023 est.)
10.975 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
83,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
1.107 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
366 million barrels (2021 est.)
807.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
50.211 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
896.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
50.484 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
3.794 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
70.521 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
π‘ Communicationsβ¬οΈ Top
9.926 million (2023 est.)
11 (2023 est.)
94.3 million (2024 est.)
108 (2024 est.)
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) operates multiple TV and radio networks and stations; multiple privately owned national TV stations and 567 private regional and local TV stations; multi-channel cable TV available; 1,007 private radio stations (2019)
.tr
87% (2024 est.)
19.6 million (2023 est.)
22 (2023 est.)
π Transportationβ¬οΈ Top
TC
116 (2025)
240 (2025)
11,497 km (2018)
11,497 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (1.435 km high speed train)
1,170 (2023)
Bulk carrier 43, container ship 43, general cargo 223, oil tanker 134, other 727
54 (2024)
3
3
6
42
28
Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Nemrut Limani Bay, Samsun
π‘οΈ Military and Securityβ¬οΈ Top
Turkish Armed Forces (TAF; TΓΌrk SilahlΔ± Kuvvetleri, TSK): Turkish Land Forces (TΓΌrk Kara Kuvvetleri), Turkish Naval Forces (TΓΌrk Deniz Kuvvetleri; includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Forces (TΓΌrk Hava Kuvvetleri) Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie General Command (aka Gendarmerie of the Turkish Republic), Turkish Coast Guard Command, General Directorate of Security (National Police) (2025)
2.3% of GDP (2025 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Approximately 495,000 active military personnel; approximately 150,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
The military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and mostly European (such as Germany, Italy, and Spain) or US armaments; other suppliers have included Russia and South Korea; TΓΌrkiye's defense industry produces a range of weapons systems for both export and internal use, including armored vehicles, naval vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones; some of its domestically produced armaments are produced jointly with foreign partners or based on imported weapons systems and produced under license (2025)
Military service is compulsory for Turkish men 20-41 for a period of 6-12 months; men and women may volunteer (2025)
Approximately 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); approximately 30,000 Cyprus; 730 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); Turkiye also has several thousand military personnel deployed to other countries under bilateral agreements, including Azerbaijan, Libya, Qatar, and Somalia (2025)
The responsibilities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) include protecting the country's territory and sovereignty, participating in international peacekeeping operations, fulfilling TΓΌrkiyeβs military commitments to NATO, providing disaster/humanitarian relief and assistance to domestic law enforcement if requested by civil authorities, and supporting the country's overall national security interests; it also has overall responsibility for the security of TΓΌrkiyeβs borders TΓΌrkiye is active in international peacekeeping and other military/security operations under NATO and the UN, as well as under bilateral agreements with some countries, such as Azerbaijan, Libya, Somalia, and Qatar; TΓΌrkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts the headquarters for a NATO Land Command and a Rapid Deployment Corps, multiple airbases for NATO and US aircraft, NATO air/missile defense systems, and training centers; the TAF is the second-largest military in NATO behind the US the military traces its history back to 200 B.C., although the modern TAF was formed following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923); the TAF traditionally has been viewed as the βguardianβ of Turkish politics, but its political role was diminished after the failed 2016 coup attempt; the military has a stake in TΓΌrkiye's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, defense, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2025)
π°οΈ Spaceβ¬οΈ Top
Turkish Space Agency (TUA; established 2018) (2025)
Rocket test launch site on the Black Sea in Sinop Province; constructing a rocket launch facility in Somalia (2025)
Has an ambitious national space program with a focus on satellites, satellite components, satellite launch capabilities, software development, ground station technologies, and building up the countryβs space industries; manufactures and operates remote sensing and telecommunications satellites; in recent years has initiated a satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) program with the goal of independently placing satellites into orbit and a probe on the Moon; works 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 ESA; has state-owned rocket and satellite development companies, including some under the Ministry of Defense; has a growing private space-industry sector, and the Turkish Government has pledged to increase the country's share of the global space market (2025)
1994 - first commercial communications satellite built jointly with and launched by France 2003 - first domestically built experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (BILSAT) launched by Russia 2018 - launched first domestically produced solid-fuel sounding rocket to an altitude of 135 km (84 mi) 2024 - first Turkish astronaut in space on the International Space Station; first domestically produced communications satellite launched by US 2025 - successfully launched 2-stage hybrid rocket more than 200 km (124 mi) in altitude
π¨ Terrorismβ¬οΈ Top
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)
π Transnational Issuesβ¬οΈ Top
3,094,818 (2024 est.)
538,105 (2024 est.)
420 (2024 est.)
Source: Factbook JSON archive.