Afghanistan country profile

        ·         Full name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

·         Population: Estimated to be 27.1 million (UN) with an estimated total of 2 million refugees In Pakistan and 800,000 in Iran (UNHCR)

·         People: The population comprises numerous ethnic groups, the major ones being Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Chahar Aimaks and Turkmen.

·         Language: Pashto  and Dari (related to Farsi).

·         Religion: Approximately 99% Islam -around 80% of whom are Sunni Muslim.

·         Capital and largest city: Kabul

·         Area: 652,225 sq km (251,773 sq miles)

·         Monetary unit: 1 Afghani = 100 puls

·         Head of State: Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

·         Vice Presidents: Fahim Qaseem, Abdul Karim Khalili

·         Foreign Minister: Dr. Zalmay Rasooli

·         Defense Minister: Gen Abdul Rahim Wardak

·         Interior Minister: Bismillah khan

·         Counter-Narcotics Minister: Zarar Ahmad Moqbel

·         Life expectancy: 44 years (men), 44 years (women) (UN)

·         Main exports: Fruit and nuts, carpets, wool, opium

·         Internet domain: .af

·         International code: +93

 

Click on the links below to view country profiles on (Afghanistan).

·         Countryreports.org

·         Alertnet

·         US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

·         World Statesman

·         US Library of Congress                                                     

Sources: 1: http://news.bbc.co.uk    2: http://www.fco.gov.uk/

2010 UNHCR Country Operations Profile - Afghanistan