Afghanistan

Airports

total: 42 usable: 35 with permanent-surface runways: 9 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 17

Highways

total: 21,000 km paved: 2,800 km unpaved: gravel 1,650 km; earth 16,550 km (1984)

Inland waterways

total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to about 500 metric tons

Pipelines

petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km

Ports

Shir Khan and Kheyrabad (river ports)

Railroads

9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge from Gushgy (formerly Kushka) (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi and 15.0 km from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya

Telecommunications

limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services; television introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; numerous cellular telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

A

The United Nations System

Abbreviations

(see Appendix B for abbreviations for international organizations

Administrative divisions

The numbers, designatory terms, and first-order

Area

Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by

Attn.

Office of Public and Agency Information

B

Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups

Birth rate

The average annual number of births during a year per 1,000

Branches

the military still does not yet exist on a national scale; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias remain intact but are factionalized among the various mujahedin and former regime leaders

C

International Organizations and Groups

D

Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements

Dates of information

In general, information available as of 1 January 1994 was

Death rate

The average annual number of deaths during a year per l,000

Defense expenditures

the new government has not yet adopted a defense budget

Digraphs

The digraph is a two-letter "country code" that precisely identifies

Diplomatic representation

The US Government has diplomatic relations with 183

E

Selected International Environmental Agreements

Economic aid

This entry refers to bilateral commitments of official development

Entities

Some of the nations, dependent areas, areas of special sovereignty,

Environmental Agreements and Appendix E

Selected International Environmental

Exchange rate

The value of a nation's monetary unit at a given date or over a

F

Weights and Measures

G

Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names appendixes have been added--Appendix D: Abbreviations for Selected International

GNP/GDP methodology

In the "Economy" section, GNP/GDP dollar estimates for the cut the real output of these countries by half. One additional caution: the

Gross domestic product (GDP)

The value of all final goods and services produced

Gross national product (GNP)

The value of all final goods and services produced

Gross world product (GWP)

The aggregate value of all goods and services

Growth rate (population)

The annual percent change in the population, resulting

Illicit drugs

There are five categories of illicit drugs--narcotics,

Infant mortality rate

The number of deaths to infants under one year old in a

International disputes

This category includes a wide variety of situations that

Irrigated land

The figure refers to the land area that is artificially supplied

Land use

Human use of the land surface is categorized as arable land--land

Leaders

The chief of state is the titular leader of the country who represents

Life expectancy at birth

The average number of years to be lived by a group of

Literacy

There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 4,188,036; fit for military service 2,245,196; reach military age (22) annually 158,335 (1994 est.)

Maritime claims

The proximity of neighboring states may prevent some national

Merchant marine

All ships engaged in the carriage of goods. All commercial

Money figures

All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars

National product

The total output of goods and services in a country in a given

Net migration rate

The balance between the number of persons entering and

Note

Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from material in

Population

Figures are estimates from the Bureau of the Census based on

Telephone

(202) 783-3238

Telephone

(202) 707-9527 magnetic tape, or diskettes for microcomputers from:

Telephone

(703) 487-4650

Telephone

(202) 707-5640

Telephone

(703) 351-2053

Total fertility rate

The average number of children that would be born per

Years

All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as

Area

total area: 647,500 sq km land area: 647,500 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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 (one measured 6.8 on the Richter scale in 1991); flooding international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

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

Irrigated land

26,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

total 5,529 km, China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Land use

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 3% other: 39%

Location

Southern Asia, between Iran and Pakistan

Map references

Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

none; landlocked

Natural resources

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

Note

landlocked

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Administrative divisions

30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol note: there may be a new province of Nurestan (Nuristan)

Agriculture

largely subsistence farming and nomadic animal husbandry; cash products - wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Capital

Kabul

Constitution

none

Currency

1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls

Digraph

AF

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-3770 or 3771

Economic aid

recipient: $450 million US assistance provided 1985-1993; USAID will stop all programs by mid-1994; the UN provides assistance in the form of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons

Electricity

capacity: 480,000 kW production: 1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 60 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991), 700 (1989-90), 220 (1988-89); note - these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rates

Executive branch

chief of state: President Burhanuddin RABBANI (Interim President July - December 1992; President since 2 January 1993); First Vice President Mohammad NABI Mohammadi (since NA); First Vice President Mohammad SHAH Fazli (since NA); election last held NA December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1994); results - Burhanuddin RABBANI was elected to a two-year term by a national shura, later amended by multi-party agreement to 18 months. head of government: Prime Minister Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR (since 17 March 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Qutbuddin HELAL (since 17 March 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Arsala RAHMANI (since 17 March 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers

Exports

$243 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia

External debt

$2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)

FAX

(202) 328-3516

Fiscal year

21 March - 20 March

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with the national coat of arms superimposed in the middle of the white band and large Islamic lettering superimposed over the green and white bands

Illicit drugs

an illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer after Burma (680 metric tons in 1993) and a major source of hashish

Imports

$737 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany

Independence

19 August 1919 (from UK)

Industrial production

growth rate 2.3% (FY91 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Judicial branch

an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been appointed, but a new court system has not yet been organized

Legal system

a new legal system has not been adopted but the transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law (Shari'a)

Legislative branch

a unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members was chosen by the shura in January 1993; non-functioning as of June 1993

Member of

AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Names

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

National holiday

Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

Other political or pressure groups

the former resistance commanders are the major power brokers in the countryside; shuras (councils) of commanders are now administering most cities outside Kabul; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders

Overview

Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more than 14 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). Over the past decade, one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering more than 3 million refugees and Iran about 3 million. About 1.4 million Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 2 million in Iran. Another 1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic product is lower than 12 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport.

Political parties and leaders

current political organizations include Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI, Ahmad Shah MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI; Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI; Hizbi Wahdat (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Ali MAZARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Rashid DOSTUM note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded

Suffrage

undetermined; previously universal, male ages 15-50

Type

transitional government

US diplomatic representation

none; embassy was closed in January 1989

Unemployment rate

NA%

Birth rate

43.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate

18.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

155.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force

4.98 million by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)

Languages

Pashtu 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

total population: 44.89 years male: 45.53 years female: 44.21 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 29% male: 44% female: 14%

Nationality

noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population

16,903,400 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.45% (1994 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

6.27 children born/woman (1994 est.)