19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
26 September 1907 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 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
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$85,650,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
9
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia