2004 Edition

Background

Afghanistan's recent history is a story of war and civil unrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces. The Communist regime in Kabul collapsed in 1992. Fighting that subsequently erupted among the various mujahidin factions eventually helped to spawn the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that fought to end the warlordism and civil war which gripped the country. The Taliban seized Kabul in 1996 and were able to capture most of the country outside of Northern Alliance srongholds primarily in the northeast. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. In late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established a process for political reconstruction that ultimately resulted in the adoption of a new constitution and presidential election in 2004. On 9 October 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The new Afghan government's next task is to hold National Assembly elections, tentatively scheduled for April 2005.

Area

land

647,500 sq km

total

647,500 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Nowshak 7,485 m

lowest point

Amu Darya 258 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water 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

Environment - international agreements

Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping

the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

party to

Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species,

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of

Geographic coordinates

33 00 N, 65 00 E

Geography - note

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)

Irrigated land

23,860 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

border countries

China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km,

total

5,529 km

Land use

arable land

12.13%

other

87.65% (2001)

permanent crops

0.22%

Location

Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 6,525,929; female 6,222,497) 15-64 years: 52.9% (male 7,733,707; female 7,346,226) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 334,427; female 350,891) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

47.27 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

21.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

160.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

170.85 deaths/1,000 live births

total

165.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Pashtu (official) 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Life expectancy at birth

female

42.66 years (2004 est.)

male

42.27 years

total population

42.46 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

21% (1999 est.)

male

51%

total population

36%

Median age

female

17.6 years (2004 est.)

male

17.5 years

total

17.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Afghan

noun

Afghan(s)

Net migration rate

23.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

People - note

of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3 million have returned

Population

28,513,677 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

4.92%

its continuing impact (2004 est.)

note

this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and

Religions

Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Administrative divisions

34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol

Capital

Kabul

Constitution

new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004

Country name

conventional long form

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

conventional short form

Afghanistan

former

Republic of Afghanistan

local long form

Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan

local short form

Afghanestan

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX: [0093] (2) 230-1364

chief of mission

Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZAD

embassy

The Great Masood Road, Kabul

mailing address

6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180

telephone

[00] (2) 230-0436

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] 202-483-6488

chancery

2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD

consulate(s) general

New York

telephone

[1] 202-483-6410

Executive branch

Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former King ZAHIR Shah holds the honorific, "Father of the Country," and presides symbolically over certain occasions, but lacks any governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary

Afghanistan, Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly

direct vote for a five-year 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; a president can only be elected for two terms; election last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009)

Hamid KARZAI - 55.4%, Yunus QANOONI - 16.3%, Mohammad MOHAQEQ - 11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM - 1.4%, Masooda JALAL - 1.2%

cabinet

27 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministers

chief of state

President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,

election results

Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote -

elections

the president and two vice presidents are elected by

head of government

President of the Islamic Republic of

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above

Government type

Islamic republic

Independence

19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

International organization participation

AsDB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NATO, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer), WToO

Judicial branch

the new constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama or Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms by the president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High Courts and Appeals Courts; there is also a Minister of Justice; a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established by the Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abuses and war crimes

Legal system

according to the new constitution, no law should be "contrary to Islam"; the state is obliged to create a prosperous and progressive society based on social justice, protection of human dignity, protection of human rights, realization of democracy, and to ensure national unity and equality among all ethnic groups and tribes; the state shall abide by the UN charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Legislative branch

nonfunctioning as of January 2004; government is empowered by the constitution to issue legislation by decree until the new assembly is seated; under the new constitution, the bicameral National Assembly will consist of the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for a five-year term, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, one third elected from provincial councils for a four-year term, one third elected from local district councils for a three-year term, and one third presidential appointees for a five-year term; the presidential appointees will include two representatives of Kuchis and two representatives of the disabled; half of the presidential appointees will be women)

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

scheduled for spring 2005

note

on rare occasions the government may convene the Loya Jirga on

National holiday

Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

Political parties and leaders

note - includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE]; Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabeer MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE]; Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [NA leader]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan [Lateef PIDRAM]; Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad ZAREEF]; Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT]; Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Moahammad Nadir AATASH]; Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hssain ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. Farooq NIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR]; Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE]; Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD]; Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI]; Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR]; Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ]; Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Usman SALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Qahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Qadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [Ahamad SHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Haji Mohammad MUHAQIQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed Jalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul Rashjid DOSTUM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE]; Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq Noor SHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy Afghanistan [Abdul Raqeeb Jawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer Said Ishaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad Jawad HUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep 2004)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam), [former President Burhanuddin RABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are also small monarchist, communist, and democratic groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins

Budget

(2003 plan)

expenditures

$550 million, including capital expenditures of NA

revenues

$200 million

Currency

afghani (AFA)

Currency code

AFA

Debt - external

$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004)

Economic aid - recipient

international pledges made by more than 60 countries and international financial institutions at the Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan reconstruction in January 2002 reached $4.5 billion through 2006, with $1.8 billion allocated for 2002; another $1.7 billion was pledged for 2003.

Economy - overview

Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly over the past two years because of the infusion of over $2 billion in international assistance, dramatic improvements in agricultural production, and the end of a four-year drought in most of the country. However, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade with neighboring countries. It will probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attention to raise Afghanistan's living standards up from its current status among the lowest in the world. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs, but the Afghan government and international donors remain committed to improving access to these basic necessities by prioritizing infrastructure development, education, housing development, jobs programs, and economic reform over the next year. Growing political stability and continued international commitment to Afghan reconstruction create an optimistic outlook for maintaining improvements to the Afghan economy in 2004. The replacement of the opium trade - which may account for one-third of GDP - is one of several potential spoilers for the economy over the long term.

Electricity - consumption

511.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

334.8 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

afghanis per US dollar - 50 (2003), 50 (2002), 3,000 (2001), 3,000 (2000), 3,000 (1999) : note: in 2002, the afghani was revalued and the currency stabilized at about 50 afghanis to the dollar; before 2002, the market rate varied widely from the official rate

Exports

$98 million (not including illicit exports) (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems

Exports - partners

US 27%, France 17.5%, India 16.6%, Pakistan 13.3% (2003)

Fiscal year

21 March - 20 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $20 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

60%

industry

20%

services

20% (1990 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $700 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

29% (2003 est.) : note: this high growth rate reflects the extremely low levels of activity between 1999 and 2002, as well as the end of a four-year drought and the impact of donor assistance

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$1.007 billion (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Pakistan 30.1%, South Korea 9.2%, Japan 7.6%, Germany 6.9%, Turkmenistan 5.4%, Kenya 4.6%, US 4.5%, Russia 4% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2003)

Labor force

11.8 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (1990 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

220 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

220 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

49.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

23% (2002)

Unemployment rate

NA (2003)

Communications - note

in March 2003 'af' was established as Afghanistan's domain name; Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul that are part of a nationwide network proposed by the Transitional Authority for Internet access (2002)

Internet country code

.af

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

1,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 21, FM 23, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari), Urdu, and English) (2003)

Radios

167,000 (1999)

Telephone system

two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only .1 line per 10 people

Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity

domestic

telephone service is improving with the establishment of

general assessment

very limited telephone and telegraph service

international

country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul,

Telephones - main lines in use

33,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)

Televisions

100,000 (1999)

Airports

47 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

over 3,047 m

3

total

10

under 914 m

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

over 3,047 m

1

total

37

under 914 m

11 (2004 est.)

Heliports

5 (2003 est.)

Highways

paved

2,793 km

total

21,000 km

unpaved

18,207 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines

gas 387 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Waterways

1,200 km

note

chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2004)

Military branches

Afghan National Army, currently being trained by the US with the assistance of the international community, is 7,000 strong; note - the December 2001 Bonn Agreement called for all militia forces to come under the authority of the central government, but regional leaders have continued to retain their militias and the formation of a national army remains a gradual process; Afghanistan's militia forces continue to be factionalized, largely along ethnic lines

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$61 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

6,785,414 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

3,642,659 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

22 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

263,406 (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

despite largely successful UN efforts at voluntary repatriation, 2-3 million Afghan refugees continue to reside in Iran and Pakistan, many at their own choosing; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal areas to control the border and stem organized terrorist and other illegal cross-border activites; regular meetings between Pakistani and coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary encroachments; occasional conflicts over water-sharing arrangements with Amu Darya and Helmand River states

Illicit drugs

world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy reached unprecedented level of 206,700 hectares in 2004; counterdrug efforts largely unsuccessful; potential opium production of 4,950 metric tons; potential heroin production of 582 metric tons if all opium was processed; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability and some antigovernment groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through informal financial networks This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Akrotiri

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 167,000 - 200,000 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in south and west due to drought and instability) (2004)