Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives. After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy enabling it to begin accession membership talks with the European Union.
Location
Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total
780,580 sq km
land
770,760 sq km
water
9,820 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries
total
2,648 km
border countries
Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline
7,200 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
exclusive economic zone
in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
Climate
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Terrain
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country
29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday
Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution
7 November 1982
Legal system
civil law system derived from various European continental legal systems; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified European Convention on Human Rights; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Ahmet Necdet SEZER (since 16 May 2000)
head of government
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March 2003)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
elections
president elected by the National Assembly for a single seven-year term; first round of elections held on 27 April 2007; prime minister appointed by the president from among members of parliament
election results
in first round Abdullah GUL received 357 votes (not the two thirds required by law; GUL withdrew his name from the election on 6 May 2007 after the Constitutional Court invalidated the first round and the government failed to muster a two-thirds quorum for a rerun of the first round of voting; new presidential elections are pending an early parliamentary election)
note
president-elect must have a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on the third ballot
Legislative branch
unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 November 2002 (next to be held on 4 November 2007); note - a special rerun of the General Election in the province of Siirt on 9 March 2003 resulted in the election of Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN to a seat in parliament, a prerequisite for his becoming prime minister on 14 March 2003
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 34.3%, CHP 19.4%, DYP 9.6%, MHP 8.3%, GP 7.3%, Anavatan 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and other 14.9%; seats by party - AKP 363, CHP 178, independents 9; note - parties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; seats by party as of 1 December 2006 - AKP 354, CHP 154, Anavatan 21, DYP 4, SHP 1, HYP 1, GP 1, independents 9, vacant 5
Judicial branch
Constitutional Court; High Court of Appeals (Yargitay); Council of State (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military High Court of Appeals; Military High Administrative Court
Political parties and leaders
Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party) or Anavatan [Erkan MUMCU]; Democratic Left Party or DSP [Mehmet Zeki SEZER]; Democratic Society Party or DTP [Ahmet TURK]; Felicity Party or SP [Recai KUTAN] (sometimes translated as Contentment Party); Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI] (sometimes translated as Nationalist Movement Party); People's Rise Party (Halkin Yukselisi Partisi) or HYP [Yasar Nuri OZTURK]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; Social Democratic People's Party or SHP [Murat KARAYALCIN]; True Path Party or DYP [Mehmet AGAR] (sometimes translated as Correct Way Party); Young Party or GP [Cem Cengiz UZAN]
note: the parties listed above are some of the more significant of the 49 parties that Turkey had on 1 December 2004
Political pressure groups and leaders
Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Ismail Hakki TOMBUL]; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD [Omer BOLAT]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim USLU]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions or TISK [Tugurl KUDATGOBILIK]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is [Salih KILIC]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or TESK [Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD [Omer SABANCI]; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]
2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 612-6700
FAX
[1] (202) 612-6744
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Ross WILSON
embassy
110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address
PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone
[90] (312) 455-5555
FAX
[90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general
Istanbul
consulate(s)
Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir
Flag description
red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening
Economy - overview
Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that still accounts for more than 35% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which accounts for one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competition in international markets with the end of the global quota system. However, other sectors, notably the automotive and electronics industries, are rising in importance within Turkey's export mix. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. The economy is turning around with the implementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%, followed by roughly 5% annual growth from 2005-06. Inflation fell to 7.7% in 2005 - a 30-year low but climbed back to 9.8% in 2006. Despite the strong economic gains from 2002-06, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a high current account deficit and high debt. Prior to 2005, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey averaged less than $1 billion annually, but further economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost FDI. Privatization sales are currently approaching $21 billion. Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline in May 2006, marking a major milestone that will bring up to 1 million barrels per day from the Caspian to market.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$635.6 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$358.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$9,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
11.2%
industry
29.4%
services
59.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force
24.8 million
note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
35.9%
industry
22.8%
services
41.2% (3rd quarter, 2004)
Unemployment rate
10.2% plus underemployment of 4% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
20% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.3%
highest 10%
30.7% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
42 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
20.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$112.3 billion
expenditures
$121.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment
Exports - partners
Germany 11.4%, UK 8%, Italy 7.9%, US 5.9%, France 5.4%, Spain 4.3% (2006)
Imports
$120.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment
Imports - partners
Russia 12.7%, Germany 10.6%, China 7%, Italy 6.3%, France 4.8%, US 4.3%, Iran 4.1% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$53.42 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$193.6 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
ODA, $635.8 million (2002)
Currency (code)
Turkish lira (TRY); old Turkish lira (TRL) before 1 January 2005
Currency code
TRL, YTL
Exchange rates
Turkish liras per US dollar - 1.4286 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.4255 (2004), 1.5009 (2003), 1.5072 (2002)
note: on 1 January 2005 the old Turkish lira (TRL) was converted to new Turkish lira (TRY) at a rate of 1,000,000 old to 1 new Turkish lira
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
18.978 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
43.609 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
undergoing rapid modernization and expansion especially with cellular telephones
domestic
additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to mobile cellular telephone service is growing rapidly
international
country code - 90; international service is provided by 3 submarine fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, linking Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios
11.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions
20.9 million (1997)
Internet country code
.tr
Internet hosts
1.313 million (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
50 (2001)
Internet users
16 million (2005)
Airports
117 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
89
over 3,047 m
15
2,438 to 3,047 m
33
1,524 to 2,437 m
19
914 to 1,523 m
18
under 914 m
4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
28
over 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
914 to 1,523 m
8
under 914 m
17 (2006)
Heliports
18 (2006)
Pipelines
gas 4,621 km; oil 3,543 km (2006)
Railways
total
8,697 km
standard gauge
8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (2,122 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways
total
426,906 km
paved
177,550 km (includes 1,892 km of expressways)
unpaved
249,356 km (2004)
Waterways
1,200 km (2005)
Merchant marine
total
545 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,772,864 GRT/7,313,070 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 109, cargo 239, chemical tanker 50, container 24, liquefied gas 6, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 50, petroleum tanker 36, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 24, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned
7 (Cyprus 2, Germany 1, Italy 3, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries
411 (Albania 1, Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 8, Belize 11, Cambodia 26, Comoros 11, Dominica 3, Georgia 30, Isle of Man 3, North Korea 4, Liberia 1, Libya 2, Malta 123, Marshall Islands 20, Netherlands Antilles 9, Panama 42, Russia 63, Saint Kitts and Nevis 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25, Slovakia 8, Tuvalu 2, UK 2, unknown 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Aliaga, Ambarli, Eregli, Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Toros
Military branches
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Land Forces, Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK; includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK) (2006)
Military service age and obligation
20 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 20-49
16,756,323
females age 20-49
16,051,706 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 20-49
13,905,901
females age 20-49
13,335,812 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
679,734
females age 20-49
659,090 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
5.3% (2005 est.)
Military - note
in the early 1990s, the Turkish Land Force was a large but badly equipped infantry force; there were 14 infantry divisions, but only one was mechanized, and out of 16 infantry brigades, only six were mechanized; a subsequent overhaul has produced highly mobile forces with greatly enhanced firepower in accordance with NATO's new strategic concept (2005)
Disputes - international
complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Syria and Iraq protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates waters; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq; border with Armenia remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and Turkish military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2006)
Illicit drugs
key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls
