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Mission
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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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| page last updated on January 29, 2013 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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Click flag or map to enlarge 
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| Introduction ::Afghanistan |
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Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December. KARZAI was re-elected in August 2009 for a second term. Despite gains toward building a stable central government, a resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability - particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challenges for the Afghan Government.
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Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
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33 00 N, 65 00 E
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total: 652,230 sq km
country comparison to the world: 41
land:
652,230 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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slightly smaller than Texas
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total: 5,529 km
border countries:
China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
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0 km (landlocked)
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none (landlocked)
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arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
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mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
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lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point:
Noshak 7,485 m
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natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
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arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops:
0.21%
other:
87.66% (2005)
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31,990 sq km (2003)
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65 cu km (1997)
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total: 23.26 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)
per capita:
779 cu m/yr (2000)
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damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
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limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
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landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
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| People and Society ::Afghanistan |
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noun: Afghan(s)
adjective:
Afghan
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Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
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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, but Dari functions as the lingua franca
note:
the Turkic languages Uzbek and Turkmen, as well as Balochi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them
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Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
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30,419,928 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
note:
this is a significantly revised figure; the previous estimate of 33,609,937 was extrapolated from the last Afghan census held in 1979, which was never completed because of the Soviet invasion
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0-14 years: 43.2% (male 6,671,683/ female 6,460,034)
15-64 years:
54.4% (male 8,414,716/ female 8,121,616)
65 years and over:
2.5% (male 350,692/ female 401,187) (2012 est.)
population pyramid: 
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total: 17.9 years
male:
17.8 years
female:
17.9 years (2012 est.)
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2.22% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
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39.3 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
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14.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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-2.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
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urban population: 23% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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KABUL (capital) 3.573 million (2009)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.87 male(s)/female
total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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460 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 21
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total: 121.63 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 1
male:
129.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
113.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 49.72 years
country comparison to the world: 218
male:
48.45 years
female:
51.05 years (2012 est.)
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5.64 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
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7.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
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0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
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0.4 beds/1,000 population (2009)
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Improved:
urban: 78% of population
rural: 39% of population
total: 48% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 22% of population
rural: 61% of population
total: 52% of population (2008)
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Improved:
urban: 60% of population
rural: 30% of population
total: 37% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 40% of population
rural: 70% of population
total: 63% of population
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0.01% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
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NA
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NA
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
malaria
animal contact disease:
rabies
note:
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
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32.9% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 13
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NA
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
28.1%
male:
43.1%
female:
12.6% (2000 est.)
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total: 9 years
male:
11 years
female:
7 years (2009)
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conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
conventional short form:
Afghanistan
local long form:
Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan
local short form:
Afghanistan
former:
Republic of Afghanistan
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Islamic republic
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name: Kabul
geographic coordinates:
34 31 N, 69 11 E
time difference:
UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
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19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
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Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
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sixth constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004; ratified 26 January 2004
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mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Mohammad FAHIM Khan (since 19 November 2009); Second Vice President Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Mohammad FAHIM Khan (since 19 November 2009); Second Vice President Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004)
cabinet:
25 ministers; note - ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
the president and two vice presidents elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if no candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a second round; election last held on 20 August 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:
Hamid KARZAI reelected president; percent of vote (first round) - Hamid KARZAI 49.67%, Abdullah ABDULLAH 30.59%, Ramazan BASHARDOST 10.46%, Ashraf GHANI 2.94%; other 6.34%; note - ABDULLAH conceded the election to KARZAI following the first round vote
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the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, two-thirds of members elected from provincial councils for 4-year terms, and one-third nominated by the president for 5-year terms) and the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (no more than 250 seats; members directly elected for five-year terms)
note:
on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils
elections:
last held on 18 September 2010 (next election expected in 2015)
election results:
results by party - NA; note - ethnicity is the main factor influencing political alliances; composition of Loya Jirga seats by ethnic groups - Pashtun 96, Hazara 61, Tajik 53, Uzbek 15, Aimak 8, Arab 8, Turkmen 3, Nuristani 2, Baloch 1, Pahhai 1, Turkic 1; women hold 68 seats
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highest courts: Supreme Court or Stera Mahkama; consists of 9 judges
judge selection & term of office:
justices appointed by the president with the endorsement of the Wolesi Jirga; justices serve non-renewable 10-year terms
subordinate courts:
Cassation and sharia
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note - the Ministry of Justice licensed 84 political parties as of December 2012
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other: religious groups; tribal leaders; ethnically based groups; Taliban
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ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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chief of mission: Ambassador Eklil Ahmad HAKIMI
chancery:
2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 483-6410
FAX:
[1] (202) 483-6488
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles, New York
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chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CUNNINGHAM
embassy:
The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address:
U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone:
[93] 0700 108 001
FAX:
[93] 0700 108 564
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three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam
note:
Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them
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lion
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name: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music:
Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
note:
adopted 2006; the 2004 constitution of the post-Taliban government mandated that a new national anthem should be written containing the phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) and mentioning the names of Afghanistan's ethnic groups
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Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service sector growth. Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. Criminality, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure, and the Afghan Government's difficulty in extending rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. Afghanistan's living standards are among the lowest in the world. The international community remains committed to Afghanistan's development, pledging over $67 billion at nine donors' conferences between 2003-10. In July 2012, the donors at the Tokyo conference pledged an additional $16 billion in civilian aid through 2016. Despite this help, the Government of Afghanistan will need to overcome a number of challenges, including low revenue collection, anemic job creation, high levels of corruption, weak government capacity, and poor public infrastructure.
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$33.55 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$30.22 billion (2011 est.)
$28.57 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
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$19.85 billion (2012 est.)
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11% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
5.8% (2011 est.)
8.4% (2010 est.)
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$1,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$1,000 (2011 est.)
$900 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
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agriculture: 20%
industry:
25.6%
services:
54.4%
note:
data exclude opium production (2011 est.)
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15 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
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agriculture: 78.6%
industry:
5.7%
services:
15.7% (FY08/09 est.)
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35% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
40% (2005 est.)
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36% (FY08/09)
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lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%:
24% (2008)
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revenues: $2.243 billion
expenditures:
$3.963 billion
note:
Afghanistan received $15.7 billion in 2010/2011 (2012 est.)
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11.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
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-8.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
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13.8% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
0.9% (2010 est.)
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15.03% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
15.69% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$5.928 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$5.307 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$6.351 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$5.671 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$363.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$20.06 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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$NA
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opium, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
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NA%
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-$743.9 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
-$736 million (2010 est.)
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$376 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
$388 million (2011 est.)
note:
not including illicit exports or reexports
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opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
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Pakistan 48%, India 19%, Russia 9%, Iran 5% (FY11/12 est.)
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$6.39 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$5.154 billion (2011 est.)
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machinery and other capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
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Pakistan 13.7%, Russia 12.6%, Uzbekistan 11.5%, Iran 9.1% (FY11/12 est.)
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$5.268 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$4.174 billion (2010 est.)
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$1.28 billion (FY10/11)
country comparison to the world: 147
$2.7 billion (FY08/09)
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afghanis (AFA) per US dollar -
51 (2012 est.)
46.75 (2011 est.)
46.45 (2010)
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21 December - 20 December
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913.1 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
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2.226 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
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1.377 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
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489,100 kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
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23.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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76.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
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1,950 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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87 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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4,229 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
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5,193 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
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30 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
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30 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
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49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
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790,200 Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
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| Communications ::Afghanistan |
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13,500 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 199
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17.558 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 50
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general assessment: limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
domestic:
aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
international:
country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2012)
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state-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), operates a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the provinces; an estimated 150 private radio stations, 50 TV stations, and about a dozen international broadcasters are available (2007)
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.af
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223 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 200
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1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
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Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul (2005)
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| Transportation ::Afghanistan |
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52 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 91
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total: 23
over 3,047 m:
4
2,438 to 3,047 m:
4
1,524 to 2,437 m:
10
914 to 1,523 m:
2
under 914 m:
3 (2012)
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total: 29
2,438 to 3,047 m:
5
1,524 to 2,437 m:
12
914 to 1,523 m:
6
under 914 m:
6 (2012)
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10 (2012)
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gas 466 km (2010)
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total: 42,150 km
country comparison to the world: 85
paved:
12,350 km
unpaved:
29,800 km (2006)
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1,200 km; (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 60
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Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
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Afghan Armed Forces: Afghan National Army (ANA, includes Afghan Air Force (AAF)) (2011)
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22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-year term (2005)
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males age 16-49: 7,056,339
females age 16-49:
6,653,419 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 4,050,222
females age 16-49:
3,797,087 (2010 est.)
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male: 392,116
female:
370,295 (2010 est.)
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1.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
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| Transnational Issues ::Afghanistan |
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Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries
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refugees (country of origin): 2,972 (Pakistan) (2011)
IDPs:
481,877 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in the south and west due to drought and instability) (2012)
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world's largest producer of opium; while poppy cultivation was relatively stable at 119,000 hectares in 2010, a poppy blight affecting the high cultivation areas in 2010 reduced potential opium production to 3,200 metric tons, down over 40 percent from 2009; the Taliban and other antigovernment groups participate in and profit from the opiate trade, which is a key source of revenue for the Taliban inside Afghanistan; widespread corruption and instability impede counterdrug efforts; most of the heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan opium; vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal financial networks; regional source of hashish (2008)
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