19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
5 July 1962 (from France)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages
Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$4,699,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
2
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Area
652,230 km sq
2,381,741 km sq
Coastline
0 km
998 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
