Who Leads Türkiye?Recep Tayyip Erdoğan serves as Türkiye's President. This page covers Türkiye's leadership, government, economy, trade, alliances, and global role.Last verified: April 2026. Sources: IMF, World Bank, government records.LeadershipRecep Tayyip ErdoğanPresident of TürkiyePolitical PartyAKPInauguratedAug 28, 2014Term Ends2028Next Election2028BornFeb 26, 1954 in Istanbul, TurkeyCountry Population86MContinentAsiaRecep Tayyip Erdoğan has dominated Turkish politics since 2003, first as PM and then as president since 2014. A former semi-professional footballer who was once jailed for reciting an Islamic poem, he has transformed Türkiye's economy and infrastructure. He survived a coup attempt in 2016 and has centralized power significantly. He pursues an independent foreign policy that often puts Türkiye at odds with both Western and Russian interests.GovernmentCapitalAnkaraOfficial Language(s)TurkishCurrencyTurkish Lira (TRY)Government TypePresidential RepublicArea783,562 km²Türkiye is a transcontinental country spanning southeastern Europe and western Asia. Istanbul, straddling the Bosphorus, was the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Türkiye is a NATO member, EU candidate, and G20 economy. It has a rich cultural heritage, from ancient Greek ruins to Ottoman palaces. Türkiye is a major manufacturing, tourism, and agricultural power.Economic SnapshotGDP$1.1TGDP Per Capita$13,100