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Afghanistan

Country Factsheet

2023 population pyramid

Introduction

Background

Afghanistan served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from British control in 1919. In August 2021, the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban overran the country; the latest group to rule in this war-torn country since 1979.

Geography

Area

total : 652,230 sq km
land: 652,230 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Natural resources

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

People and Society

Population

total: 40,121,552

Ethnic groups

current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups

Languages

Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)

Population growth rate

2.22% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type

theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government

Capital

name: Kabul

Executive branch

chief of state: Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada (since 15 August 2021)
head of government: overall Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada is the [so-called] Amir-ul Momineen of the Taliban and is seen by them as a head of government

Economy

Economic overview

extremely low-income South Asian economy; import drops, currency depreciation, disappearing central bank reserves, and increasing inflation after Taliban takeover; increasing Chinese trade; hit hard by COVID; ongoing sanctions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$80.416 billion (2022 est.)
$85.768 billion (2021 est.)
$108.209 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$2,000 (2022 est.)
$2,100 (2021 est.)
$2,800 (2020 est.)

Exports

$1.476 billion (2020 est.)
$1.516 billion (2019 est.)
$1.609 billion (2018 est.)

Exports - partners

Pakistan 57%, India 28%, China 3%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2022)

Exports - commodities

coal, cotton, grapes, gum resins, nuts (2022)

Imports

$6.983 billion (2020 est.)
$7.371 billion (2019 est.)
$7.988 billion (2018 est.)

Imports - partners

UAE 21%, Kazakhstan 17%, Pakistan 17%, China 9%, Uzbekistan 9% (2022)

Imports - commodities

wheat, tobacco, palm oil, packaged medicine, rice (2022)


Page last updated: Thursday, August 29, 2024