19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 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
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$397,300,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,101.7 (2008 est.), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
2.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
31
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Area
652,230 km sq
99,720 km sq
Coastline
0 km
2,413 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
