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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 113 usable: 105 with permanent-surface runways: 69 with runways over 3,659 m: 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 32 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 27

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 320,611 km paved: 27,000 km (including 138 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel 18,500 km; earth 275,111 km (1988)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

about 1,200 km

Merchant marine [time series]

390 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,664,205 GRT/8,163,379 DWT, bulk 103, cargo 195, chemical tanker 10, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 12, container 2, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 41, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 2

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

Iskenderun, Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

8,429 km 1.435-meter gauge (including 795 km electrified)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

fair domestic and international systems; trunk radio relay microwave network; limited open wire network; 3,400,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 15 AM; 94 FM; 357 TV; 1 satellite ground station operating in the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean antennas) and EUTELSAT systems; 1 submarine cable

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $14 billion, 5.6% of GDP (1994 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 16,112,783; fit for military service 9,828,853; reach military age (20) annually 614,252 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 16% of GDP and employs about half of working force; products - tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulses, citrus fruit, variety of animal products; self-sufficient in food most years

Budget [time series]

revenues: $36.5 billion expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $5 billion (1994)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.3 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $665 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4.5 billion note: aid for Persian Gulf war efforts from coalition allies (1991), $4.1 billion; aid pledged for Turkish Defense Fund, $2.5 billion

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 14,400,000 kW production: 44 billion kWh consumption per capita: 750 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 15,196.1 (January 1994), 10,983.3 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: manufactured products 72%, foodstuffs 23%, mining products 4% partners: EC countries 53%, US 6%, Russia 4%, Saudi Arabia 3%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$59.4 billion (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish to Western Europe and 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

Imports [time series]

$22.9 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: manufactured products 68%, fuels 17%, foodstuffs 4% partners: EC countries 44%, US 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Russia 5%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 4.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

65% (1993)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $312.4 billion (1993)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$5,100 (1993)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

7.3% (1993)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

In early 1994, after an impressive economic performance through most of the 1980s, Turkey faces its most damaging economic crisis in the last 15 years. Sparked by the downgrading in mid-January of Turkey's international credit rating by two US credit rating agencies, the crisis stems from two years of loose fiscal and monetary policies that have exacerbated inflation and allowed the public debt, money supply, and current account deficit to explode. Under Prime Minister CILLER, Ankara has followed seriously flawed policies that have destroyed public confidence in the government's ability to manage the economy. Inflation is now running at an annual rate of 107% and the public sector deficit is equivalent to 16% of GDP. Turkish firms have been hurt by high interest rates and a dramatic drop in consumer demand. Three Turkish banks have folded and the stock market has fallen 48% since the beginning of the year. Economic growth may drop to between 0% and 2% in 1994, compared to 7.3% in 1993. Moreover, the government is facing a severe cash crunch. In March 1994, the treasury came close to defaulting on a loan, and official foreign currency reserves are equal to less than two months' worth of imports. The unprecedented effort by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to raise the economic costs of its insurgency against the Turkish state is adding to Turkey's economic problems. Attacks against the tourism industry have cut tourist revenues, which account for about 3% of GDP, while economic activity in southeastern Turkey, where most of the violence occurs, has dropped considerably. To cope with the economic crisis and instill domestic and international investor confidence in the fragile coalition government, CILLER has asked the IMF to endorse a stabilization package she introduced in early April 1994. Negotiations are underway for a standby agreement, which would give Turkey access to $450 million this year and enable her cash-starved government to return to the foreign capital markets.

Unemployment rate [time series]

12.2% (1993)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 780,580 sq km land area: 770,760 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Texas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

7,200 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution; deforestation natural hazards: subject to very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

complex maritime and air (but not territorial) disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Hatay question with Syria; ongoing dispute with downstream riparians (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Irrigated land [time series]

22,200 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 2,627 km, 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 [time series]

arable land: 30% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 26% other: 28%

Location [time series]

Southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Iran

Map references [time series]

Africa, Europe, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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 the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

73 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, 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, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Capital [time series]

Ankara

Constitution [time series]

7 November 1982

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nuzhet KANDEMIR chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 659-8200 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Tansu CILLER (since 5 July 1993)

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[90] (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Cassation

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Security Council) [time series]

advisory body to the President and the Cabinet cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on nomination of the prime minister

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Turkish Confederation of Labor (TURK-IS), Bayram MERAL

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Correct Way Party (DYP), Tansu CILLER; Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut YILMAZ; Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP), Murat KARAYALCIN; Welfare Party (RP), Necmettin ERBAKAN; Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent ECEVIT; Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Alparslan TURKES; Democracy Party (DEP), Hatip DICLE; Socialist Unity Party (SBP), Sadun AREN; New Party (YP), Yusuf Bozkurt OZAL; Republican People's Party (CHP), Deniz BAYKAL; Labor Party (IP), Dogu PERINCEK; National Party (MP), Aykut EDIBALI; Democrat Party (DP), Aydin MENDERES; Grand Unity Party (BBP), Muhsin YAZICIOGLU; Rebirth Party (YDP), Hasan Celal GUZEL; People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Murat BOZLAK; Main Path Party (ANAYOL), Gurcan BASER; Democratic Target Party, Abdul Kadir Yasar TURK

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Legislative branch (Turkish Grand National Assembly) [time series]

(Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi) elections last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1996); results - DYP 27.03%, ANAP 24.01%, SHP 20.75%, RP 16.88%, DSP 10.75%, SBP 0.44%, independent 0.14%; seats - (450 total) DYP 178, ANAP 115, SHP 86, RP 40, MCP 19, DSP 7, other 5 note: seats held by various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; present seats by party are as follows: DYP 178, ANAP 101, SHP 55, RP 39, CHP 18, MHP 13, DEP 13, BBP 7, DSP 3, YP 3, MP 2, independents 10, vacant 8

Government type (Type) [time series]

republican parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard C. BARKLEY embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, Ankara, or APO AE 09823 telephone: [90] (312) 468-6110 through 6128

People

Birth rate [time series]

25.98 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

48.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

20.8 million by occupation: agriculture 48%, services 32%, industry 20% note: about 1,800,000 Turks work abroad (1993)

Languages [time series]

Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.94 years male: 68.61 years female: 73.38 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 81% male: 90% female: 71%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

62,153,898 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.02% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.21 children born/woman (1994 est.)