19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
19 June 1961 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
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
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
oil and refined products, fertilizers
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$41,730,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
5.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Area
652,230 km sq
17,818 km sq
Coastline
0 km
499 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
