19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
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
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 US
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
0
1
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area
245,857 km sq
652,230 km sq
Coastline
320 km
0 km
Climate
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
