Travelling Club - Afghanistan

Fact Sheet: Afghanistan

• Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
• Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E
• Area: total: 647,500 sq km
• Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
• Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
• Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
• Population: 31,056,997 (July 2006 est.)
• Ethnic groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
• Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%
• Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
• Government type: Islamic republic
• Capital: name: Kabul
• Currency code: afghani (AFA)
• Exchange rates: afghanis per US dollar - 541 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003), 41 (2002), 66 (2001)
• Internet country code: .af
• Airports: 46 (2006)