The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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      =====================================================================

      @Afghanistan—————

      Map—

      Location: 33 00 N, 65 00 E—Southern Asia, north of Pakistan

      Flag——

      Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars

      Geography————

      Location: Southern Asia, north of Pakistan

      Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E

      Map references: Asia

      Area:

       total area: 647,500 sq km

       land area: 647,500 sq km

       comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

      Land boundaries:

       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

      Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

      Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

      International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights; Iran supports clients in country, private Pakistani and Saudi sources also are active; power struggles among various groups for control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging warlords, traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan (Durand Line); support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions

      Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

      Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

       lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m

       highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m

      Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc,

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

       semiprecious stones

      Land use:

       arable land: 12%

       permanent crops: 0%

       meadows and pastures: 46%

       forest and woodland: 3%

       other: 39%

      Irrigated land: 26,600 sq km (1989 est.)

      Environment:

       current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much

       of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building

       materials); desertification

       natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;

       flooding

       international agreements: party to - Endangered Species,

       Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban;

       signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,

       Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life

       Conservation

      Geographic note: landlocked

      People———

      Population: 22,664,136 (July 1996 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 43% (male 4,972,469; female 4,784,900)

       15–64 years: 54% (male 6,377,231; female 5,916,954)

       65 years and over: 3% (male 325,808; female 286,774) (July 1996 est.)

      Population growth rate: 4.78% (1996 est.)

      Birth rate: 43.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Death rate: 18.16 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Net migration rate: 22.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female

       all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 149.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.85 years male: 46.43 years female: 45.24 years (1996 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

      Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)

      Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%

      Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages

       (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily

       Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

      Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

       total population: 31.5%

       male: 47.2%

       female: 15%

      Government—————

      Name of country:

       conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan

       conventional short form: Afghanistan

       local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan

       local short form: Afghanestan

       former: Republic of Afghanistan

      Data code: AF

      Type of government: transitional government

      Capital: Kabul

      Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab,