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In terms of population, Turkey is the second
largest country in Europe (after Germany), with 70
million people. In 2020, it is projected to be the most populous European
country, with a population of 83 million.
Four million Turks live abroad. Of that number, almost 2.5 million live
in Germany.
Geographically, Turkey straddles two
continents, Europe in the west and Asia in the east.
The two continents are divided by the Istanbul and Dardanelles straits, which
are located in Turkey.
Turkey is unique in
being on the one hand Balkan and European, and on the other, Middle
Eastern, Caucasian and Asian. It is also as much a Black Sea country as it
is an Aegean and Mediterranean one.
Another unique aspect of Turkey is the fact
that it is the only democratic, secular country among the Muslim nations
of the Middle East.
In addition to being a pioneering country in the Islamic world, Turkey has also
become fully integrated into Europe since 1923,
when the Republic was established. She is a member of almost all
European/European-related institutions, such as the Council of Europe,
OSCE, NATO, OECD. Turkey has been an
associate member of the European Union since 1963 and a candidate for
full membership in the Union since 1999.
Turkey has the second
biggest Army in NATO after the United States.
Turkey also
entertains relations of strategic cooperation with the United States.
Turkey lies in close
proximity to 70 percent of the world's proven energy resources and is a
prospective regional centre for storage and distribution of oil and
natural gas.
Turkey is among the
world's 20 largest economies and she is a member of the Group of 20
countries.
The Turkish economy has been identified as being one of the 10
significant emerging markets by U.S. sources.
Turkey is a prominent
producer and exporter of many commodities. Here are some examples:
Turkey is the leading
cement producer in Europe and the
seventh-ranked producer in the world.
Turkey is the
second-ranked producer of glass-made items in Europe and
fourth-ranked producer in the world.
Turkey has 40% of the
world marble reserves.
Turkey is the
second-ranked exporter of jewelry in the world.
Turkey is the world's
leading supplier of processed leather.
Turkey is the
second-ranked supplier of textiles and garments to the EU.
Turkey is the
fifth-ranked carpet exporter in Europe.
Turkey is the
sixth-ranked cotton producer in the world.
Turkey is the world's
principal supplier of hazelnuts, chickpeas, fresh and dried figs, and
apricots.
Turkey is the
second-ranked supplier of cherry and watermelon in the world.
Turkey is the
second-ranked producer of pine tree honey in the world.
Turkey is the
second-ranked supplier of red lentils in the world.
Turkey is the
third-ranked producer of tomatoes and second-ranked producer of tomato
paste in the world.
Turkey is the
third-ranked producer of olives and fourth-ranked producer and exporter
of olive oil in the world.
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