19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African 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
Exports
cotton, gold, livestock
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
External Debt
$3,192,000,000 $
$1,280,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area
1,240,192 km sq
652,230 km sq
Coastline
0 km
0 km
Climate
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
