19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
1 October 1960 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
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), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$10,430,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
4
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Area
652,230 km sq
923,768 km sq
Coastline
0 km
853 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
