Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian
note: there is also a substantial Gagauz population in the Europe part of Turkey

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

Turkey is a moderately developed nation. Its dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that still accounts for more than 35% of employment.

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Land Forces, Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK; includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK).

A passport and visa are required. Currently, holders of all types of passports, if they are traveling as tourists, can purchase a 90-day sticker visa at the port of entry for USD $20 cash. Travelers arriving by cruise ship for a day trip to Turkey do not require a visa if they are not staying on shore overnight. For further information, travelers in the U.S. may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey at 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone: (202) 612-6700, or the Turkish Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, or New York. Visit the Embassy of Turkey website for the most current visa information. Overseas, travelers may contact a Turkish embassy or consulate.

Official and diplomatic passports holders traveling on official business must obtain a visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate before arriving in Turkey.

All travelers planning to stay more than three months for any purpose are required to obtain a visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate. Such travelers must also apply for a residence/work permit or Turkish ID card within the first month of their arrival in Turkey. This includes anyone who plans to spend more than three months doing research, studying, or working in Turkey.

All travelers are advised to obtain entry stamps on the passport page containing their visa at the first port of entry before transferring to domestic flights. Failure to obtain entry stamps at the port of entry may cause serious difficulties for travelers when they attempt to depart the country. On multiple occasions, Turkish authorities have detained travelers overnight in such situations.

Due to a revision of Turkish residency requirements in 2008, all travelers should also be careful not to stay beyond the date permitted by their visas or residency permits. Once a traveler has stayed beyond the date permitted in their visa or residency permit, he or she will be subject to deportation, a fine, and a travel ban restricting their return to Turkey for a period of between three months to five years. The time of the ban is determined by the length of time of the “overstay.”

Crossing the border with Iraq can be time-consuming, as the Turkish Government tightly controls entry and exit. All travelers wishing to cross into Iraq from Turkey must still have a valid travel document, such as a passport. In fact, travelers wishing to enter Turkey from any of its neighboring countries around Turkey must have both a valid travel document and current Turkish visa.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any specific HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Turkey, however, Turkey will generally deport foreigners once their HIV positive status is discovered.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

Airports: 117,    Airports w/paved runways: 89

US Dept. of State TRAVEL ALERT,  issued 19 March, expires 30 April
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4758.html

The Department of State alerts US citizens to evolving security concerns in Turkey, and reminds them of the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests. This Travel Alert dated March 19, 2010, expires on April 30, 2010.
US citizens in Turkey should be particularly vigilant in light of the ongoing "Get Out America, This is Our Country" campaign and upcoming significant anniversaries associated with the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), a designated terrorist organization. Actions against American and/or Turkish-American cultural and business establishments in Turkey are possible. We remind US citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.
In addition, the US Mission in Turkey alerts American citizens about the upcoming Nevruz holiday (Kurdish New Year) occurring on March 21. Previous protests, some of them violent, have occurred in Turkey on this date and could occur again.
The Department of State encourages US citizens traveling or residing in Turkey to be alert to the potential for demonstrations and to avoid large gatherings. Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible. Particular caution should be exercised in places known to be frequented by Americans. 
US citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad."
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's web site where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00a to 8:00p Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except US federal holidays). Americans are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for Turkey, available on the Embassy's website and on the Department’s website.
US citizens with questions or concerns may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:
Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey:
The US Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Atatürk Boulevard, tel.: (90) (312) 455-5555, fax (90) (312) 468-6131. Visa information is also available at (90) (212) 344-4444. Non-emergency e-mail messages about consular matters may be sent through the web site at http://turkey.usembassy.gov/. For afterhours emergencies, call (90) (312) 455 5555.
The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at Kaplicalar Mevkii Sokak No. 2, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel.: (90) (212) 335-9000, fax (90) (212) 335-9102. Non-emergency e-mail messages about consular matters may be sent to the Consulate’s American Citizen Services section at ACS_istanbul@state.gov. In emergency situations, please call the consulate switchboard and ask for American Citizen Services.
The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at Girne Bulvari No. 212, Güzelevler Mahallesi, Yüregir, Adana, Turkey. Tel.: (90) (322) 346-6262, fax (90) (322) 346-7916. General information can be accessed at the Consulate’s website.
The US Consular Agent in Izmir can be contacted at (90) (232) 464-8755.

Infant MR total:  39.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:  TOTAL 72.62 years  (male 70.18/female 75.18)

Required: None
Recommended: Hep A & B, Rabies, Typhoid.
Boosters: tetanus-diptheria, measles and polio as needed.

Travelers to some areas of Iran, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, and Yemen may be at risk for malaria. Chloroquine is the recommended antimalarial drug for Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Turkish hospitals vary greatly. The new, private hospitals in Ankara and Istanbul have modern facilities and equipment, and numerous U.S.-trained specialists, but still may be unable to treat certain serious conditions. The State Department recommends medical evacuation for its personnel who will be giving birth. Nursing care and diagnostic testing are not up to American standards. Health care standards are lower in small cities in Turkey in comparison to bigger cities such as Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Adana.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is reported throughout the area; visceral leishmaniasis, although rare throughout most of the area, is common in central Iraq, in the southwest of Saudi Arabia, in the northwest of Syria, in Turkey (southeast Anatolia only), and in the west of Yemen.

Country Calling Code: +90
Internet Code:  .tr