20 Mind-Blowing Turkey Facts That You May Not Know

Did you know? Istanbul is the only city that has been part of two continents.

Incredible, isn’t it? With over 86.41 million people, Turkey is not only one of the best countries to travel to, but it is also a country filled with many interesting facts that you may be unaware of.

Interesting Facts about Turkey

1. With the country’s median age being 31.5 years, Turkey has one of the youngest populations in the world. Only 9 of the population is over 60.

2. Istanbul is the only city that has been part of two continents, Asia and Europe.

3. Istanbul is the largest Turkish city, This is why many people assume it is the capital of the country. But actually, it is Ankara which is the capital of Turkey.

4. Despite 99.8% of the Turkish population being Muslim, Turkey is not an Islamic country. Turkey has officially been a secular nation since 1927.

5. Turkey is home to some of the world’s most gorgeous mosques. With over 82,000 mosques and counting, Turkey leads the world for the most number of mosques per capita. The Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the ‘Blue Mosque in Istanbul, is one of the most beautiful mosques in Turkey.

Awesome Facts about Turkey

6. Tom Billy was a street cat and resident of Istanbul who became an internet meme known as chill cat thanks to her unique way of taking it easy on the street. When she died in 2016, she was honored with a statue in the city after 17 000 people signed a petition.

7. Turkey is one of the few countries in the world that refers to sports directly in its constitution, in Article 59, which reads, “The State takes measures to develop the physical and mental health of Turkish citizens of all ages and encourages the spread of sports among the masses. The State protects successful athletes.”

8. The first Christian church was built in Turkey. Simon Peter, Jesus’ disciple, is thought to have built the Grotto of St Peter outside Antioch (now Antakya), making it the oldest place of Christian worship in the world.

9. The legend of Santa Claus began in Turkey. Nicholas was a Christian saint and Greek bishop of Myra born in Patara to wealthy parents. When his parents died, he inherited a large sum of money, which he distributed to the poor and needy. According to legend, he would drop bags of gold coins down the chimneys of houses and give fruits to children.

10. According to historians, The seeds of agriculture were first sown in Turkey around 11,000 years ago. There is evidence that ancient civilizations planted crops such as barley and wheat in south-central Turkey.

Insane Facts about Turkey

11. With 64 streets and 4,000 shops, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the largest markets in the world. It is frequently referred to as one of the oldest shopping malls in existence and welcomes up to 400,000 visitors each day.

12. Turkey doesn’t have any native camels, but there is a festival celebrating camel wrestling every year.

13. According to Turkish custom, a stranger who knocks on one’s door is regarded as “God’s guest” for at least three days.

14. Every year, around 50 million international tourists visit Turkey, making it the sixth most-visited tourist destination in the world.

15. Istanbul was chosen by the European Union as the European Capital of Culture in 2010.

Surprising Facts about Turkey

16. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the Father of the Turks. His contributions to the country’s independence and progressive reforms earned him the titile of Ataturk.

17. Ataturk was not born in Turkey, but in Greece in the year 1881. However, his father and his mothers share ancestry with the Turks of Anatolia.

18. In the 1920s, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk illegalized wearing the fez. Though the law was never scrapped, you’re unlikely to be arrested for wearing one!