19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
3 September 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 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
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$137,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
10.000%
10.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Area
652,230 km sq
11,586 km sq
Coastline
0 km
563 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
