The vast majority of Turkey’s territory is in Asia, but a small part of it is in Europe. Most of Turkey consist of the region known as Anatolia, or Asia Minor. A small part of Turkey, however, is situated in a region known as Thrace, which is the southeast corner of the Balkan Peninsula. This is where you will find part of Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul. Interestingly, however, the origins of the Turkish people are not in their present homeland, but much farther away in East Asia. Nevertheless, Turkey has long played a part in European history. In fact, Turkish territory once stretched deep into Europe during the height of the Ottoman Empire, all the way to the outskirts of what is now Austria’s capital, Vienna. Although Turkey now occupies just a sliver of Europe today, Turkish influence is still visible on the continent. At the same time, Turkey has also adopted many cultural elements of Europe, and has aligned itself with the West politically and economically.
Turkey’s geographical location straddling Europe and Asia makes it a country with an intriguing identity But how much of Turkey’s landmass is really in Europe versus Asia? Let’s take a deeper look at the geographical facts
A Transcontinental Nation
With over 302,455 square miles of area, Turkey is considered a transcontinental country. This means it spans across two continents – Europe and Asia.
The majority of Turkey’s landmass lies in Western Asia, occupying the Anatolian peninsula. However, a smaller portion of the country also falls within Southeastern Europe, specifically in the region of Thrace (also known as Rumelia).
So while most of Turkey is situated in Asia, it has a footprint in Europe as well. This strategic positioning between two continents has shaped Turkey’s unique culture and history.
What Percentage of Turkey is in Europe?
To break it down into precise statistics:
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Only about 3% of Turkey’s total land area is located in Europe. This constitutes the region of East Thrace.
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The remaining 97% of Turkey’s territory falls within Asia, occupying Anatolia.
So in total land size, only a tiny sliver of Turkey lies within the European continent. However, there’s more to the story when looking at Turkey’s population distribution.
Population Distribution Between Europe and Asia
Although 3% of Turkey’s landmass sits in Europe, a more sizable chunk of the population inhabits this area:
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Around 15% of Turkey’s total population lives in the European side of the country.
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The other 85% inhabit the Asian side of Turkey.
So while most Turks reside in Anatolia, the European portion is home to a significant minority. The city of Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus strait between Europe and Asia, embodying Turkey’s fusion of two continents.
What Divides the European and Asian Sides?
The clear dividing line between the European and Asian regions is Turkey’s straits zone – comprising the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and Dardanelles.
This boundary separates Eastern Thrace in Europe from Anatolia in Asia. The straits zone runs in a northeast-southwest direction, connecting the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean beyond.
Istanbul’s old city center and historic peninsula lie on the European west bank of the Bosphorus. Its expanding modern suburbs spread out on the Asian east bank.
So in geographical terms, the Bosphorus represents the continental divide between the two sides. Culturally too, it divides influences – with European impacts more visible in districts on the historic peninsula.
A Bridge Between Two Continents
Turkey’s transcontinental nature has made it a bridge between Europe and Asia for centuries. This straddling of two worlds has enriched its culture but also created an identity that doesn’t neatly fit into either continent.
From its food to music, architecture to lifestyle, Turkey has absorbed influences from both its European and Asian connections. This blended culture makes it a fascinating country that embodies elements of both East and West.
So while only a fraction of Turkey’s territory lies in Europe, its population and heritage reflect a more balanced fusion. The country’s dual continents have shaped Turkey’s past and continue to inspire its future.
The Territory Of Turkey
Map showing the location of Turkey, a transcontinental country extending from Europe to Asia.
As previously mentioned, the vast majority of Turkey’s territory is in the region of Anatolia, which is sometimes called Asia Minor, and is part of the Asian continent. Most of Turkey’s population of roughly 85 million lives in Anatolia. The Anatolian part of Turkey is bordered to the northeast by Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, to the east by Iran, to the south by Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea, to the north by the Black Sea, and to the west by the Aegean Sea and Greece. Turkey’s capital, Ankara, which is a city of more than 3.5 million people, is located in the west-central part of Anatolia. Almost all of Turkey’s major cities are also located in Anatolia. In fact, all of Turkey’s cities with populations of more than 1 million people are located in Anatolia, except for part of Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.
Bosphorus Strait separates European part of Turkey from Anatolia.
Part of Istanbul is located in Turkey’s small foothold in Europe, in the southeastern part of the region known as Thrace, which spans the European part of Turkey, northeastern Greece, and southeastern Bulgaria. Turkey’s part of Thrace is bordered to the north by Bulgaria, to the northeast by the Black Sea, to the south by the Sea of Marmara, to the west by Greece, and to the east by the highly strategic Bosporus Strait, which separates the European part of Turkey from Anatolia. Interestingly, although part of Istanbul lies in Anatolia, and is therefore part of Asia, the city is actually considered the most populous city in Europe, with a population of more than 15 million.
The Asian Origins Of The Turks
Seljuk Empire Monuments in Ahlat/Turkey.
Although the Republic of Turkey is the current homeland of the Turks, it was not always so. In fact, the origins of the Turkish people are nowhere close to Europe, but much farther to the east in East Asia, or more specifically, the Altai Mountains of what is now western Mongolia. They began migrating west in the second half of the first millennium CE. By the 11th century, the Turks had reached the edges of Anatolia, which was then mostly populated by the Greeks. In 1037, Turkic tribes formed the Seljuk Empire, which would go on to conquer Anatolia. Large numbers of Turks then began streaming into Anatolia. After a long process of so-called Turkification, most of Anatolia’s population adopted the Turkish culture, language, and Islamic religion. Eventually, what is now Turkey became the largest bastion of Turkic-speaking people in the world.
Is Turkey in Europe or Asia | Turkey is Asia or Europe
FAQ
Is the majority of Turkey in Europe?
How much of Istanbul is in Europe?
Is Turkey now part of Europe?
Is Turkey the most populated country in Europe?
Which part of Turkey is in Europe?
A2: The part of Turkey that is in Europe is called East Thrace. This region includes cities such as Edirne and a portion of Istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait separates the European side from the Asian side. Q3: What is the significance of Istanbul in the context of Turkey’s geographical position?
What is the dividing line between Europe and Turkey?
The Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul serves as the dividing line between the two continents. Q2: Which part of Turkey is in Europe? A2: The part of Turkey that is in Europe is called East Thrace.
What type of terrain does Turkey have?
Turkey has a diverse terrain: the plains of Anatolia, and forests of the Black Sea, semi-arid lands, natural lakes and the coastlines of the Aegean and Mediterranean. The Anatolian plain is separated from the Black Sea by the Pontic mountains, converging with the Taurus mountains in the Northeast of the country where Mount Ararat is located.