19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Religions
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
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
10.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area
26,338 km sq
652,230 km sq
Coastline
0 km
0 km
Climate
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
