Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy Prime minister: Kenny Anthony
Population
30,419,928
162,178
Life Expectancy
49.720 years
77.040 years
Capital City
Kabul
Largest city
Kabul (population: 3,043,530)
Bisee (population: 12,980)
Human Development Index
0
0.821
GDP per capita
$1,000 US
Literacy Rate
28.1%
90.1%
Corruption Perception Index
1.5
7.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
25.9%
17.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
35.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
Islamic republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (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), French patois
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
652,230 km sq
616 km sq
Coastline
0 km
158 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
