Turkey

circa 7500 BCE – Neolithic settlement at Çatalhöyük

1200–600 BCE – Hittite and Phrygian civilizations flourish

330 CE – Byzantium becomes Constantinople, capital of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire

1071 – Seljuk Turks defeat Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert

1299 – Founding of the Ottoman Empire

1453 – Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Empire

1914–1918 – Ottoman Empire participates in World War I

October 29, 1923 – Republic of Turkey founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

1945 – Joins United Nations

1952 – Joins NATO

1980 – Military coup; political restructuring

2002 – AK Party comes to power under Erdoğan

2016 – Failed coup attempt; state of emergency follows

2023 – 100th anniversary of the Republic

Location: Transcontinental (Southeastern Europe & Western Asia)
Capital: Ankara
Language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
Population: ~86 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Turkey Time (TRT, UTC+3 year-round)*

Borders: Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan), Iran, Iraq, Syria
Landscape: Mountains, plateaus, fertile valleys, coastal plains
Major Water Bodies: Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara
Notable Features: Taurus Mountains, Anatolian Plateau, Bosporus Strait, Mount Ararat

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Turkish (~75–80%), Kurdish (~15–20%), others (Arabs, Circassians, etc.)
Religion: Predominantly Muslim (Sunni majority, Alevi minority); small Christian and Jewish communities (last updated: 2021)
Urban Population: ~77% (last updated: 2023)
Youthful Population: ~23% under age 15 (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Ottoman heritage, Turkish baths, architecture, hospitality, cultural fusion of East and West
Cuisine: Kebab, baklava, meze, Turkish tea and coffee, dolma
Arts: Turkish classical music, calligraphy, ceramics, cinema, whirling dervishes
Sports: Football (soccer), basketball, wrestling, volleyball

Economy Type: Emerging market, mixed economy
GDP: Approx. $1.1 trillion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Automotive, textiles, construction, tourism, agriculture, defense
Key Exports: Vehicles, machinery, textiles, agricultural products, electronics
Unemployment Rate: ~9.6% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Zones: Industrial west, agricultural southeast, special economic zones in major cities

Government Type: Presidential republic
Head of State & Government: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (last updated: April 2025)
Legislature: Grand National Assembly of Turkey (unicameral)
Constitution: In effect since 1982, amended multiple times

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Bosporus
Cappadocia: Fairy chimneys, hot air balloons, underground cities
Antalya & Aegean Coast: Beaches, ancient ruins (Ephesus, Troy)
Pamukkale: Travertine terraces and hot springs
Mount Ararat: Legendary resting place of Noah’s Ark
Ankara: Atatürk Mausoleum, museums

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 21 (last updated: 2023)