19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
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
Exports
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
External Debt
$741,300,000 $
$1,280,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 73.84 (2008 est.), 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004)
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.400%
10.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area
4,033 km sq
652,230 km sq
Coastline
965 km
0 km
Climate
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic