19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
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
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$7,336,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
drams (AMD) per US dollar - 303.93 (2008 est.), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
2.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
6
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
