19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
19 July 1949 (from France)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 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
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
