19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
20 March 1956 (from France)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
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 and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$23,210,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
1
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Area
652,230 km sq
163,610 km sq
Coastline
0 km
1,148 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
