Independence:
August 19, 1919 (from the United Kingdom); History
Adjacent Countries: Iran (west), Pakistan
(east; south), Tajikistan (northeast), Turkmenistan (northwest), Uzbekistan
(north); Click
Here for a map
Government: Coalition; Capital:
Kabul December 2001 : Temporary Coalition government headed by Minister Hamid
Karzai;
Population (July 2001 est.):
26,813,057
Infant mortality rate (2001 est.):
147.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth (2001 est.): Total Population: 46.24 years Male: 46.97 years Female: 45.47 years
Ethnic groups: Pashtun - 38% Tajik - 25% Hazara - 19% minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others) - 12% Uzbek - 6%
Religions: Sunni Muslim - 84% Shi'a Muslim - 15% Other - 1%
Languages (much bilingualism): Pashtu - 35% Afghan Persian (Dari) - 50% Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) - 11% 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) - 4%
Literacy: (definition: age 15 and over can
read and write)(1999 est.) Total Population: 31.5% Male: 47.2% Female: 15%
