19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
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
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$130,200,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.1636 (2008 est.), 3.1105 (2007), 3.0543 (2006), 2.9037 (2005), 2.9233 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
10.000%
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
6
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Area
652,230 km sq
2,780,400 km sq
Coastline
0 km
4,989 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
