19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
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
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$16,680,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
10.000%
0.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
652,230 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
0 km
3,542 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
