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| Introduction | Afghanistan |
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Background:
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 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 supplied and trained by the US, Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan, and others. The Communist regime in Kabul fought on
until collapsing in 1992. Fighting subsequently erupted among the
various mujahidin factions,  giving rise to a state of warlordism that
eventually spawned the Taliban. Backed by foreign sponsors, the Taliban
developed as a political force and ultimately seized power in 1996. The
Taliban were able to capture most of the country, outside of Northern
Alliance strongholds primarily in the northeast. Following the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance
military action toppled the Taliban. In late 2001, major leaders from
the Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany, and
agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new government structure that
resulted in the inauguration of Hamid KARZAI as Chairman of the Afghan
Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001. The AIA held a nationwide
Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002, and KARZAI was elected
President by secret ballot of the Transitional Islamic State of
Afghanistan (TISA). In December 2002, the TISA marked the one-year
anniversary of the fall of the Taliban. The Transitional Authority
convened a Constitutional Loya Jirga from 14 December 2003 until 4
January 2004 and ended with the approval of a new constitution. The
constitution was signed on 16 January 2004 and highlights a strong
executive branch, a moderate role for Islam, and basic protections for
human rights. TISA's next task is to hold nationwide elections by June
2004, according to the Bonn Agreement timeline, but these may be delayed
due to election preparations. National elections would formally dissolve
the Transitional Authority and establish the Government of Afghanistan
under the new constitution. In addition to occasionally violent
political jockeying and ongoing military action to root out remaining
terrorists and Taliban elements, the country suffers from enormous
poverty, a lack of skilled and educated workers, a crumbling
infrastructure, and widespread land mines. |
| Geography |
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Location:
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Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 647,500 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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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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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Amu
Darya 258 m highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m |
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Natural resources:
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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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Land use:
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arable land: 12.13% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 87.65% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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23,860 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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) |
| People |
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Population:
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28,513,677 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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.) |
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Median age:
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total: 17.5 years male: 17.5 years female: 17.6 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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4.92% note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and its continuing impact (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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47.27 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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21.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 165.96
deaths/1,000 live births female: 160.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 170.85 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
42.46 years male: 42.27 years female: 42.66 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.01% (2001 est.) |
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Ethnic groups:
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Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4% |
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Religions:
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Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1% |
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Languages:
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Pashtu (official) 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write female: 21% (1999 est.) total population: 36% male: 51% |
| Government |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan |
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Government type:
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transitional |
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Capital:
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Kabul |
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Independence:
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19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 19 August (1919) |
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Constitution:
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new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004 |
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Legal system:
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according to the new constitution, no law is 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 |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam), [former President Burhanuddin RABBANIS]; Jombesh-e Milli (National Islamic Movement), [Abdul Rashjid DOSTUM]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are also small monarchist, communist, and democratic groups |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZAD; note - embassy in Kabul reopened 16
December 2001, following closure in January 1989 embassy: Great Masood Road, Kabul mailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180 telephone: [93] (2) 290002, 290005, 290154 FAX: 00932290153 |
| Economy |
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $20 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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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 |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $700 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 60% industry: 20% services: 20% (1990 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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23% (2002) |
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Labor force:
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11.8 million (2001 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (1990 est.) |
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Industries:
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small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper |
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Exchange rates:
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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 |
| Communications |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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33,100 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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12,000 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
very limited telephone and telegraph service domestic: telephone service is improving with the establishment of two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only .1 line per 10 people international: country code - 93; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul), FM 1, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari), Urdu, and English) (1999) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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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) |
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Internet country code:
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af |
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Internet users:
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1,000 (2002) |
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Communications - note:
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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) |
| Transportation |
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Railways:
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total: 24.6 km broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya (2001) |
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Highways:
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total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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1,200 km note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2001) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Kheyrabad, Shir Khan |
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Airports:
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47 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 10 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 37 |
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Heliports:
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5 (2003 est.) |
| Military |
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Military branches:
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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 |
| Transnational Issues |
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Disputes - international:
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despite largely successful UN efforts at voluntary repatriation, thousands of Afghan refugees continue to reside in Iran and Pakistan; 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 |
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Illicit drugs:
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world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy - used to make heroin - expanded to 30,750 hectares in 2002, despite eradication; potential opium production of 1,278 metric tons; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability and some government 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 11 May, 2004