Terrain
High central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges.
Climate
Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior.
People
Nationality: Turkish. Population: 80,694,485 (July 2013 est.). Language: Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
Religions
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews).
Economy
Turkey's largely free-market economy is increasingly driven by its industry and service sectors, although its traditional agriculture sector still accounts for about 25% of employment. An aggressive privatization program has reduced state involvement in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication, and an emerging cadre of middle-class entrepreneurs is adding dynamism to the economy and expanding production beyond the traditional textiles and clothing sectors.
Living Conditions
Turkey faces a housing shortage that is among its most serious social problems. They often lack running water, sewage systems, electricity, and pavement. Between 30 and 40 percent of Turkey's population lives in rural areas, where housing types vary by region.
Government
Republican parliamentary democracy.
US Military Presence/Support
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1:07)