19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
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
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$657,700,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 73.84 (2008 est.), 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Area
652,230 km sq
4,033 km sq
Coastline
0 km
965 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
