Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Turkey: Ankara — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Turkey is Ankara. Turkey sits in Asia, has a population of 85,341,241, and uses the TRY. Official languages include Turkish.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Ankara
  • Continent: Asia
  • Population: ~85,341,241
  • Area: 783,562 km²
  • Population density: 109 people per km²
  • Official language: Turkish
  • Currency: TRY
  • ISO code: TR

How big is Turkey?

By population, Turkey ranks 18th in the world, holding roughly 1.07% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 36th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Turkey has 109 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.

Within Asia, Turkey is the 10th most populous country of 48.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Turkey in population are Germany (83,369,843) and Iran (88,550,570).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Mozambique (801,590 km²) and Chile (756,102 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Turkish is spoken officially in 2 countries in this dataset, including Cyprus.

Turkey uses the TRY, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Turkey

Istanbul is the famous city, but Ankara is the Answer. Ankara has been the capital since 1923 and sits in the middle of Anatolia, while Istanbul sits on the Bosphorus. For the flag, a white moon and star on a red sky.

The flag of Turkey: red and white

🇹🇷 The flag is a red flag with a white crescent moon and a white five-pointed star. The crescent and star on red come from the flag of the Ottoman Empire, and the design was kept when the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923.

Region and neighbours

Turkey is a country that spans two continents: most of it is Anatolia in Western Asia, and a small part, East Thrace, is in southeastern Europe. It shares land borders with 8 countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Three facts about Turkey

  1. Istanbul is split between Europe and Asia by the Bosphorus strait.
  2. Mount Ararat, at about 5,137 m, is the highest point in Turkey.
  3. In 2022 the United Nations started using the name Türkiye, the country's name in Turkish.

Sources: Wikipedia: Turkey, Wikipedia: Flag of Turkey, Wikipedia: Ankara, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Turkey

Turkey capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Turkey 🇹🇷?

    • Ankara
    • Hanoi
    • Kuwait City
    • Ulaanbaatar
    Show answer

    Ankara

  2. What is the capital of Iran 🇮🇷?

    • Tashkent
    • Astana
    • Tehran
    • Thimphu
    Show answer

    Tehran

  3. What is the capital of Vietnam 🇻🇳?

    • Hanoi
    • Bishkek
    • Manila
    • Jakarta
    Show answer

    Hanoi

  4. What is the capital of Thailand 🇹🇭?

    • Riyadh
    • Astana
    • Kuwait City
    • Bangkok
    Show answer

    Bangkok

  5. What is the capital of Philippines 🇵🇭?

    • Manila
    • Damascus
    • Seoul
    • Ashgabat
    Show answer

    Manila

Turkey is also in the Middle East capitals quiz.

Turkey in Asia

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Turkey belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Turkey.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Turkey?

The capital of Turkey is Ankara.

What is the population of Turkey?

About 85,341,241, making it the 18th most populous country in the world.

How big is Turkey?

783,562 square kilometres, ranking 36th by land area, at a density of 109 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Turkey use?

The TRY, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Turkey flag?

The flag of Turkey is a red flag with a white crescent moon and a white five-pointed star. The crescent and star on red come from the flag of the Ottoman Empire, and the design was kept when the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923.

Which countries border Turkey?

Turkey shares land borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

How can I remember the capital of Turkey?

Istanbul is the famous city, but Ankara is the Answer. Ankara has been the capital since 1923 and sits in the middle of Anatolia, while Istanbul sits on the Bosphorus. For the flag, a white moon and star on a red sky.

More capitals to learn

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