Despite the country’s tumultuous political history, Turkey’s population is generally homogenous. While there is no officially recognized religion, 99.8% of Turkey’s citizens are Muslim (primarily Sunni), with the remaining 0.2% of Turks practicing Christianity or Judaism. Ethnic groups are split between the Turkish and Kurdish (89% to 29% respectively). The population growth rate in 2007 was 1.04%, with an overall population of over 71 million. 24.9% of the population is under the age of 14, with the bulk of citizens (68.1%) falling between 15-64 years old. The remaining 6.9% of the population is 65 or older. Overall, 87.4% of the population can read and write, with 95.3% of males being literate and 79.6% of females. An increase in literacy rates was seen when Arabic script was replaced in 1928 with a Turkish alphabet using Latin characters.
Despite Turkish being the official language of Turkey, Arabic, Bosnian, Zazaish, Cicassian and Kurdish dialects are also commonly spoken in the region. With the unique geographic position of the country, Turkey’s culture is a true blend of Eastern and Western ideals. Popular music in Turkey represents this unique mix of cultures, with anything from traditional Arab music to hip hop finding audiences in Turkey. Turkish literature, on the other hand, has been notably influenced by Persian and Arabic traditions. Conversely, Turkey’s most popular sport comes from the West, with the game of soccer. Marriage is frequently arranged by families, and up until 1926, polygamy and repudiation were legal.
Turkish cuisine is well known throughout the world. It has often been said that there are three major kinds of cuisine in the world: French, Chinese and Turkish. Kebabs are extremely common in the region, with each district contributing its own speciality to the dish. The rice dish pilav is also extremely popular in Turkey, as well as such dishes such as baklava, dolma and borek. Turkish coffee is also well known throughout the world, served thick and dark.
Ottoman art is known for its use of line and rhythm to create geometric patterns. Calligraphy is perhaps the most well known art form of the Ottomans. Even Turkish tax reports became works of art with skilled calligraphers. The tradition of calligraphy continued until 1928, when the Latin based Turkish alphabet was introduced. With Turkey's natural abundance of minerals, sculptures out of such materials as Meerschaum were common in the 18th and 19th Centuries. During the rule of Constantinople, Turkey imported massive amounts of silk via the silk route (from China), establishing a well known textile industry which is still active today.
