1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
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
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
External Debt
$548,300,000,000 $
$1,280,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.300%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
1
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area
92,090 km sq
652,230 km sq
Coastline
1,793 km
0 km
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
