6) BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA is another mountainous country with a significant percentage of Muslims. Their demographics and culture are also very similar. In addition, both countries grow a lot of wheat and corn, as well a lot of vegetables. Another difference is that the country is Slavic and has much less coastline than Turkey.
7) MONTENEGRO is yet another Balkan country on this list, with a significant Muslim population. It borders the Mediterranean and is quite mountainous, just like Turkey. It is also a scenic tourist destination. Both countries are quite interested in basketball and excel at the Olympics. However, Montenegro is a Slavic country.
8) BULGARIA is located to the northwest of Turkey. Both countries have significant Muslim populations. In fact, Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire, since today has a significant Turkish-speaking population, a remnant of the time when Bulgaria was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. However, unlike Turkey, Bulgaria, though was never part of the Soviet Union, uses Russian-made battle tanks and assault weapons, and has more of a Russian influence on its culture and politics, in contrast to the now Russia’s enemy Turkey. Also, both countries have extremely similar demographics and culture. Furthermore, Greeks, Germans and Armenians are also the largest minorities in both countries.
9) MOROCCO had been part of the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years, until it gained independence in 1912, and also has quite a large Turkish community, so it’s no wonder why the country is so similar. Their culture is also similar. Both countries are quite mountainous and border the Mediterranean Sea. However, unlike Turkey, Morocco speaks a completely different language, called Arabic, and has much more desert.
10) ROMANIA is located across the Black Sea from Turkey, especially from Trabzon, to the northwest. Both countries were also in the Ottoman Empire. Their agriculture is similar as well, since they both predominately produce corn and wheat, but also wine, grapes, tomatoes and cucumbers, though Turkey also grows olives. However, Romania has medium coastline, its languages and writing systems, while distantly related to those of Turkey, are different, its people are mostly Orthodox and its climate is slightly colder.
11) KYRGYZSTAN is another mountainous, mostly Turkic country with a significant percentage of Muslims. Their demographics and culture are also very similar. One difference is that the country has a much bigger Russian influence, since it was once part of the Soviet Union. Another difference is that the country’s population is mostly Mongoloid and is landlocked in contrast to Turkey.
12) CROATIA is yet another Balkan country on this list, with a significant Ottoman influence on it. It borders the Mediterranean and is quite mountainous, just like Turkey. It is also a scenic tourist destination. Both countries are quite interested in basketball and excel at the Olympics. However, Croatia is a Slavic country, and has also a lot of islands.
13) ITALY is located across the Adriatic Sea from Croatia. Both countries have significant Muslim populations, since Italy has many Albanians, especially in the country’s South, where a significant population even speaks Albanian natively there. In fact, Italy also houses a significant population of Romanians, so Romania, as stated above, was part of the Ottoman Empire, leading to a powerful Turkish influence on it. However, unlike Turkey, Italy is completely different, with its language being completely different, as well its religion. Also, both countries have extremely similar demographics, standard of living and culture. Furthermore, Italy has also a lot of coastline, like Turkey, making it a scenic tourist destination.
14) LEBANON is another Arab country that borders the Mediterranean Sea. Their demographics are fairly similar. Both countries have a high employment rate for men, but a low employment rate for women. Their average income per capita is similar as well. Their diet is also similar.
15) UZBEKISTAN may be the most similar country in Central Asia. Its technology is extremely similar. Due to the abundant reserves of natural gas in the region, both countries rely on it to create most of their electricity. In addition, they both use a lot of water for irrigation. Both countries predominately grow wheat, although Uzbekistan grows more cotton than barley. Another difference is that it does not border the Black Sea.
16) TAJIKISTAN is another Muslim country in Central Asia. However, its native people have mostly Persian ancestry, not Turkic. Their holidays are also incredibly similar. Like Uzbekistan, its culture is also similar. Like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Tajikistan is also quite mountainous.
17) GREECE is to the west of Turkey. It has a significant Muslim population in its northeastern and northwestern parts. However, there are also some significant differences, since Greece speaks a completely unrelated, though distantly related, language, has a far lower percentage of Muslims, and is mostly Orthodox Christian. Greece has also a significant amount of islands.
18) GEORGIA is yet another country on this list that is mostly Eastern Orthodox, but also has a significant Muslim population. In addition, the countries are both mountainous, but also have a coastline. The countries drink about the same amount of alcohol and primarily drink wine and spirits. However, Georgia has more of a Russian influence on its culture, since it was once part of the Soviet Union. Also, its language is quite different.
19) SYRIA is another Muslim country that borders the Mediterranean. A low percentage of both countries is used for agriculture, but their agriculture is similar. Both countries grow olives, barley, and wheat. The biggest difference is their governments. Syria’s government is more authoritarian.
20) SPAIN is another country bordering the Mediterranean Sea with a troubled economy. Both countries are big tourist destinations and have similar climates. In addition both Spain and Turkey have been occupied by Muslim powers in their past. Spain was ruled by the Moors, while Turkey was much more recently ruled by the Ottomans. In fact, Spain, like Italy, has an enormous population of Romanians, whose country, in turn, is greatly influenced by Turkey culturally. Both countries have extremely similar demographics, standard of living and culture, though Spain seems to have a much higher standard of living than Turkey.
