29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
26 May 1966 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census)
Languages
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian note: there is also a substantial Gagauz population in the European part of Turkey
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu
Exports
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment
Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar - 1.3179 (2008 est.), 1.319 (2007), 1.4286 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.4255 (2004) 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; on 1 January 2009 the Turkish government dropped the word "new" and the currency is now called simply the Turkish lira
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 203.86 (2008 est.), 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.300%
1.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
8
0
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
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Area
783,562 km sq
214,969 km sq
Coastline
7,200 km
459 km
Climate
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
