29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian note: there is also a substantial Gagauz population in the European part of Turkey
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
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
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2008 est.), 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.300%
8.600%
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
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Area
783,562 km sq
89,342 km sq
Coastline
7,200 km
26 km
Climate
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
