19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
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
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
External Debt
$10,050,000,000 $
$1,280,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
1
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area
283,561 km sq
652,230 km sq
Coastline
2,237 km
0 km
Climate
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
