Turkey, officially known as the Republic of Turkey, is strategically located in the Middle East. Bordered by the Black Sea and Georgia to the north, Armenia and Iran to the east, Iraq and Syria along with the Mediterranean Sea to the south, it also shares maritime borders with Cyprus. To its west lie the Aegean Sea, Greece, and Bulgaria.

With a population of 82,482,383 as of 2021, Turkey ranks as the 18th most populous country in the world. Muslims constitute 99.8% of the population, with the society also including minorities that make up no more than 12%. Kurds represent about 19% of the total population. Turkish people are spread across the country but are mainly concentrated around the Bosphorus Strait and in major cities such as Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, and Gaziantep.

The average age in Turkish society is 32.2 years, with a slightly higher number of males than females. Istanbul boasts the highest population among cities, with 14,699,958 inhabitants, significantly surpassing the capital, Ankara, by 10 million people. Izmir ranks third, followed by Bursa, Adana, Gaziantep, Konya, Antalya, and Diyarbakir, highlighting these as Turkey's most important cities and provinces among its 81 provinces or states.

Tourism in Turkey

Turkey's landscape is predominantly mountainous, featuring a diverse array of cities renowned for travel and tourism. The country's highest mountain peaks at approximately 5165 meters, but the vast expanse of its territory allows for a varied terrain including rivers, seas, mountain ranges, the Bosphorus Strait, extensive lakes, coastlines, beaches, and bays.

Istanbul, the capital, stands out not only as the most populous city but also as a central tourist attraction. Major Turkish cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Mersin, and Antalya draw large numbers of tourists annually, each boasting globally recognized tourist sites that attract visitors from all around the world.