Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Population
30,419,928
194,320
Life Expectancy
49.720 years
72.660 years
Capital City
Kabul
Largest city
Kabul (population: 3,043,530)
Apia (population: 40,407)
Human Development Index
0
0.76
GDP per capita
$1,000 US
Literacy Rate
28.1%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
1.5
4.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
25.9%
8.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
35.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
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%
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (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
Samoan (Polynesian), English
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
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Area
652,230 km sq
2,831 km sq
Coastline
0 km
403 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
