Geography and Location
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a smaller part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. The country has a strategically significant location, bordered by the Black Sea to the north; Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south; and the Aegean Sea, Greece, and Bulgaria to the west.
Turkey's landscape is diverse, featuring coastal plains, a high central plateau, and various mountain ranges with rising elevation eastwards. The climate ranges from Mediterranean and other temperate climates to semi-arid and continental types. The country is home to three biodiversity hotspots but is prone to frequent earthquakes and highly vulnerable to climate change.
Major Cities
Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-largest city. Istanbul is the country's largest city and serves as its economic center. Other major cities include İzmir, Bursa, and Antalya.
Population and Demographics
Turkey is home to over 86 million people. The majority are ethnic Turks, while Kurds are the largest ethnic minority. Turkey is officially a secular state, though it has a Muslim-majority population.
History
Present-day Turkey has been inhabited by modern humans since the Late Paleolithic period and contains some of the world's oldest Neolithic sites. Göbekli Tepe is close to 12,000 years old, and other important Anatolian Neolithic sites include Çatalhöyük and Alaca Höyük.
Classical Anatolia transitioned into cultural Hellenization after Alexander the Great's conquests, and later underwent Romanization during the Roman and Byzantine eras. The Seljuk Turks began migrating into Anatolia in the 11th century, starting the Turkification process. The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum ruled Anatolia until the Mongol invasion in 1243, when it disintegrated into Turkish principalities.
Beginning in 1299, the Ottomans united the principalities and expanded their territory. Mehmed II conquered Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in 1453. During the reigns of Selim I and Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire became a global power. From 1789 onwards, the empire underwent major changes, reforms, and centralization while its territory declined.
Following Ottoman defeat in World War I, the Turkish War of Independence resulted in the abolition of the sultanate and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne. The Republic was proclaimed on 29 October 1923, modeled on reforms initiated by founder and first president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Turkey remained neutral during most of World War II but was involved in the Korean War.
Government and International Relations
Turkey is a unitary presidential republic. It is a founding member of the OECD, G20, and Organization of Turkic States. With its geopolitically significant location, Turkey is a NATO member and has the second-largest military personnel among NATO members. Turkey is an EU candidate and is part of the EU Customs Union.
Economy
Turkey is an upper-middle-income and emerging country. Its economy is the world's 16th-largest by nominal GDP and 11th-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP. As the 15th-largest electricity producer in the world, Turkey aims to become a hub for regional energy transportation.
Culture and Tourism
Turkey is the fourth most visited country in the world. It features numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites and intangible cultural heritage inscriptions, along with a rich and diverse cuisine. Turkey is also a leading TV content exporter.
Healthcare and Education
Turkey has a universal healthcare system, growing access to education, and increasing levels of innovativeness.