Official Name:  Islamic State of Afghanistan 

shortform: Afghanistan.  

Term for Citizens: Afghanian.

Capital: kabul.  

Geography

Area:  648,000 sq. km. (252,000 sq. mi.); slightly

smaller than Texas.  Cities (1993 est.):  Capital--Kabul

(est. 800,000).  Other cities--Kandahar (226,000); Herat

(177,000); Mazar-e-Sharif (131,000);  Jalalabad (58,000);

Konduz (57,000).

Terrain:  Landlocked;  mostly mountains and desert.

Climate:  Dry, with cold winters and hot summers.

Nationality:  Noun and adjective--Afghan(s).

Population:  17.7 million (1993 estimate, including about

1.4 million refugees in Pakistan and 2 million refugees

in Iran).  Annual growth rate:  2.5% (1993 est.).

Ethnic groups:  Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara, Aimaq,

Turkmen, Baluch, Nuristani.

Religions:  Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%.

Languages:  Pashto, Dari (Afghan Persian).

Education: Years compulsory--6.  Literacy--about 29%.

Health: Infant mortality rate (1993)--169 /1,000.  Life

expectancy (1992 est.)--45 yrs. (male); 43 yrs. (female).

Economy

GDP:  $3 billion (1991 est.).

Natural resources:  Natural gas, oil, coal, copper, talc,

barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron, salt, precious and

semiprecious stones.

Agriculture (at least 65% of GDP):  Wheat, corn, barley,

rice, cotton, fruit, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton.

Industry (estimated 20% of GDP):  Small-scale production

for domestic use of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,

fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets for export.

Trade (1992 est.):  Exports--$1 billion:  carpets, rugs,

fruit and nuts, natural gas, cotton, oil-cake, karakul.

Major markets--Central Asian Republics, EEC, India,

Pakistan.  Imports--$1.7 billion:  petroleum products,

sugar, manufactured goods, edible oils, tea.   Major

suppliers--Central Asian Republics, Japan, Singapore,

France, India, Pakistan.