Area: 302,535 square miles
Capital: Ankara
Languages: Turkish is the official language; Kurdish is also spoken.
Geography: Turkey’s interior is a high, arid plateau bordered in the north and south by rugged mountains. The country has a Mediterranean climate of dry, hot summers and mild, pleasant winters.
Population: (July 2009 estimate): 76,805,524
Ethnic Groups: Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7-12% (2008 est.)
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Time zone: Turkey is on Eastern European Time, seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in New York, it is 1pm in Ankara. Daylight Saving Time begins the last Monday in March and ends the last Sunday in October.