Türkiye: Flag and Facts
Türkiye's flag is red with a white crescent moon standing upright and a white five-pointed star placed just beyond the crescent's open side.
- Official name
- Republic of Türkiye
- Capital
- Ankara
- Region
- Western Asia
- Population
- 85 million (2025)
- Languages
- Turkish
- Currency
- Turkish lira
- Area
- 783,562 km² (302,535 sq mi)
- People
- Turkish
- Calling code
- +90
- Highest point
- Mount Ararat 5,137 m
- Independence
- 29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman…)
- National symbols
- vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star
About Türkiye
Mustafa Kemal, remembered as Ataturk, founded the modern republic in 1923 out of what remained of the Ottoman Empire. Republic Day on 29 October marks that moment each year. One-party rule ended in 1950. UN membership came in 1945 and NATO followed in 1952, and it began EU membership talks in 2005. In a 2017 referendum, voters approved a switch to a presidential system of government.
The heart of the country is Anatolia, a high central plateau, with a narrow coastal plain and several mountain ranges around it. Summers are hot and dry, winters mild and wet, and the interior gets harsher weather. Around 84.6 million people live here. Istanbul is by far the largest city at about 15.8 million, while Ankara, the capital, has roughly 5.4 million.
Did you know?
- Mount Ararat is the highest point in Türkiye at 5,137 meters.
- The anthem is Istiklal Marsi, meaning The March of Independence.
- Eight countries share a border with Türkiye, from Bulgaria to Iran.
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Questions about Türkiye
Why is there a crescent and star on Türkiye's flag?
The design closely follows the Ottoman flag, and the crescent and star are emblems of the Turkic peoples.
What currency does Türkiye use?
The Turkish lira, written with the ₺ sign.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.