Turkiye

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there are 36 national broadcast stations, 108 regional broadcast stations, and 1,058 local broadcast stations (1996)

Radios

9.4 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

fair domestic and international systems; undergoing modernization and refurbishment programs domestic: cable; AMPS standard cellular system in Ashkhabad with plans for expansion international: 12 satellite earth stations--Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), Eutelsat, and Inmarsat (Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions); 3 submarine fiber-optic cables (1996); connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line that became operational in 1998

Telephones

17 million (in addition, there are 1.5 million cellular telephone subscribers) (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations

69 (in addition, there are 476 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

10.53 million (1993 est.)

Agriculture--products

tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock

Budget

revenues: $44.4 billion expenditures: $58.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.7 billion (1998)

Currency

Turkish lira (TL)

Debt--external

$93.4 billion (1998)

Economic aid--recipient

ODA, $195 million (1993)

Economy--overview

Turkey has a dynamic economy that is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with traditional village agriculture and crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. Its most important industry--and largest exporter--is textiles and clothing, which is almost entirely in private hands. The economic situation in recent years has been marked by rapid growth coupled with partial success in implementing structural reform measures. Inflation declined to 70% in 1998, down from 99% in 1997, but the public sector fiscal deficit probably remained near 10% of GDP--due in large part to interest payments which accounted for 42% of central government spending in 1998. The government enacted a new tax law and speeded up privatization in 1998 but made no progress on badly needed social security reform. Ankara is trying to increase trade with other countries in the region yet most of Turkey's trade is still with OECD countries. Despite the implementation in January 1996 of a customs union with the EU, foreign direct investment in the country remains low--about $1 billion annually--perhaps because potential investors are concerned about still-high inflation and the unsettled political situation. Economic growth will remain about the same in 1999; inflation should decline further.

Electricity--consumption

91.16 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

300 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

265 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

103 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.5% (1997)

Exchange rates

Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--331,400 (January 1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994)

Exports

$31 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities

textiles and apparel 30%, foodstuffs 15%, iron and steel products 13% (1997)

Exports--partners

Germany 20%, US 9%, Russia 5%, UK 6%, Italy 6% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity--$425.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

agriculture: 14.4% industry: 28.7% services: 56.9% (1998)

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

2.8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$47 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities

machinery and equipment 50%, fuels, minerals, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports--partners

Germany 16%, Italy 9%, US 9%, Russia 6%, UK 6%, France 2% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (1998 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

70% (1998)

Labor force

22.7 million (April 1998) note: about 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 42.5%, services 34.5%, industry 23% (1996)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

10% (1998 est.)

Area

total: 780,580 sq km land: 770,760 sq km water: 9,820 sq km

Area--comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Climate

temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Coastline

7,200 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

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

Environment--international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 35 00 E

Geography--note

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas

Irrigated land

36,740 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,627 km border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km

Land use

arable land: 32% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 26% other: 22% (1993 est.)

Location

southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea

Natural hazards

very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Natural resources

antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur, iron ore

Terrain

mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau (Anatolia)

Administrative divisions

80 provinces (iller, singular--il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak note: Karabuk, Kilis, Osmaniye and Yalova are the four newest provinces; the US Board on Geographic Names is awaiting an official Turkish administrative map for verification of the boundaries

Capital

Ankara

Constitution

7 November 1982

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Turkey conventional short form: Turkey local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti local short form: Turkiye

Data code

TU

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark R. PARRIS embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since 11 January 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister note: there is also a National Security Council that serves as an advisory body to the president and the cabinet elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a seven-year term; election last held 16 May 1993 (next scheduled to be held NA May 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Suleyman DEMIREL elected president; percent of National Assembly vote--54%

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

Government type

republican parliamentary democracy

Independence

29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation

AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors

Legal system

derived from various European continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 24 December 1995 (next to be held 18 April 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%, ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP 10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats by party--RP 158, DYP 135, ANAP 133, DSP 75, CHP 49; note--seats held by various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; seating by party as of 1 January 1999: FP 144, ANAP 137, DYP 97, DSP 61, CHP 55, DTP 12, BBP 8, MHP 3, DP 1, DEPAR 1, independents 20, vacant 11

National holiday

Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29 October (1923)

Political parties and leaders

Motherland Party or ANAP [Mesut outlawed on 22 February 1998

Political pressure groups and leaders

Turkish Confederation of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$6.737 billion (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

4.3% (1997)

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 18,168,658 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 11,024,173 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--military age

20 years of age

Military manpower--reaching military age annually

males: 659,338 (1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30% (male 10,148,457; female 9,781,452) 15-64 years: 64% (male 21,255,506; female 20,560,070) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,775,164; female 2,078,557) (1999 est.)

Birth rate

20.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%

Infant mortality rate

35.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages

Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.29 years male: 70.81 years female: 75.88 years (1999 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.3% male: 91.7% female: 72.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

65,599,206 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

1.57% (1999 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian and Jews)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes--international

complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Greece; dispute with downstream riparian states (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Illicit drugs

major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish to Western Europe and--to a far lesser extent the US--via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

Airports

117 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 81 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)

Heliports

2 (1998 est.)

Highways

total: 382,397 km paved: 95,599 km (including 1,560 km of expressways) unpaved: 286,798 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 531 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,913,171 GRT/9,832,994 DWT ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 239, chemical tanker 32, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 5, oil tanker 36, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km; natural gas 708 km

Ports and harbors

Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel (Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon

Railways

total: 10,386 km standard gauge: 10,386 km 1.435-m gauge (1,088 km electrified)

Waterways

about 1,200 km