Significant climatic differences are seen among the regions depending on various factors such as the distance to the seas, altitude and the existence of mountain ranges. In the Mediterranean, Aegean and Southern Marmara regions, the Mediterranean climate is sensible with its hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters. A more moderate and rainy maritime climate predominates in the Black Sea Region. In the central regions a steppe climate is observed, with dry and hot summers and cold and snowy winters. In Eastern Anatolia the summers are cool, the winters gelid and snowy. In Southeastern Anatolia, while the summers are hot and dry, there is not too much cold weather during winter.

According to the 2000 census, 67.8 million people live in Turkey. However, it is estimated that this figure surpassed the 72 million mark by the end of 2006. The population, which in 1927 was roughly 13.6 million, showed a fivefold increase in 73 years. In 1990-2000, the annual population rise was 18.3‰. This figure is expected to drop to 12.6‰ in 2000-2010. In the meantime, Turkey's population is expected to reach 76.5 million in mid-2010, when the next census is due.