19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
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
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$102,300,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
7.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
1
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Area
652,230 km sq
20,770 km sq
Coastline
0 km
273 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
