Afghanistan, Travellers information
Region / Country specific information - Afghanistan
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
| Afghanistan | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | Afghanistan was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979. The USSR was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-communist mujahidin forces supplied and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, but the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban movement has been able to seize most of the country. In addition to the continuing civil strife, the country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land mines. |
| Afghanistan | Geography | Top of Page |
| Location: | Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran |
| Geographic coordinates: | 33 00 N, 65 00 E |
| Map references: | Asia |
| Area: | total: 647,500 sq km land: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | 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) |
| Climate: | arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers |
| Terrain: | mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m |
| Natural resources: | natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones |
| Land use: | arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 39% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | 30,000 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts |
| Environment - current issues: | soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Desertification, 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 |
| Geography - note: | landlocked |
| Afghanistan | People | Top of Page |
| Population: | 26,813,057 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 42.2% (male 5,775,921; female 5,538,836)
15-64 years: 55.01% (male 7,644,242; female 7,106,568) 65 years and over: 2.79% (male 394,444; female 353,046) (2001 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 3.48% (2001 est.)
note: this rate reflects the continued return of refugees from Iran |
| Birth rate: | 41.42 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death rate: | 17.72 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 11.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | 147.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 46.24 years
male: 46.97 years female: 45.47 years (2001 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 5.79 children born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.01% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan |
| 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: | Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31.5% male: 47.2% female: 15% (1999 est.) |
| Afghanistan | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan; note - the self-proclaimed Taliban government refers to the country as Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form: Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan |
| Government type: | no functioning central government, administered by factions |
| Capital: | Kabul |
| 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 two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst |
| Independence: | 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 19 August (1919) |
| Constitution: | none |
| Legal system: | a new legal system has not been adopted but all factions tacitly agree they will follow Shari'a (Islamic law) |
| Suffrage: | NA; previously males 15-50 years of age |
| Executive branch: | on 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban movement; the Islamic State of Afghanistan has no functioning government at this time, and the country remains divided among fighting factions
note: the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government of Afghanistan; however, the UN still recognizes the government of Burhanuddin RABBANI; the Organization of the Islamic Conference has left the Afghan seat vacant until the question of legitimacy can be resolved through negotiations among the warring factions; the country is essentially divided along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital of Kabul and approximately two-thirds of the country including the predominately ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing factions have their stronghold in the ethnically diverse north |
| Legislative branch: | non-functioning as of June 1993 |
| Judicial branch: | upper courts were non-functioning as of March 1995 (local Shari'a or Islamic law courts are functioning throughout the country) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Taliban (Religious Students Movement) [Mullah Mohammad OMAR]; United National Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan or UNIFSA [Burhanuddin RABBANI, chairman; Gen. Abdul Rashid DOSTAM, vice chairman; Ahmad Shah MASOOD, military commander; Mohammed Yunis QANUNI, spokesman]; note - made up of 13 parties opposed to the Taliban including Harakat-i-Islami Afghanistan (Islamic Movement of Afghanistan), Hizb-i-Islami (Islamic Party), Hizb-i-Wahdat-i-Islami (Islamic Unity Party), Jumaat-i-Islami Afghanistan (Islamic Afghan Society), Jumbish-i-Milli (National Front), Mahaz-i-Milli-i-Islami (National Islamic Front) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Australia, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; Mellat (Social Democratic Party) [leader NA]; Peshawar, Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in Afghanistan or CUNUA [Ishaq GAILANI]; tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Writers Union of Free Afghanistan or WUFA [A. Rasul AMIN] |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none; note - embassy operations suspended 21 August 1997
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US embassy in Kabul has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns |
| 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
note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag |
| Afghanistan | Economy | Top of Page |
| Economy - overview: | Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during two decades of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. In early 2000, 2 million Afghan refugees remained in Pakistan and about 1.4 million in Iran. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport; severe drought added to the nation's difficulties in 1998-2000. The majority of the population continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country. International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian problem, let alone promote economic development. In 1999-2000, internal civil strife continued, hampering both domestic economic policies and international aid efforts. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable. Afghanistan was by far the largest producer of opium poppies in 2000, and narcotics trafficking is a major source of revenue. |
| GDP: | purchasing power parity - $21 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | NA% |
| GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $800 (2000 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 53%
industry: 28.5% services: 18.5% (1990) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA% |
| Labor force: | 10 million (2000 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 70%, industry 15%, services 15% (1990 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | NA% |
| Budget: | revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Industries: | small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper |
| Electricity - production: | 420 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 35.71%
hydro: 64.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 480.6 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - imports: | 90 million kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture - products: | opium poppies, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, karakul pelts |
| Exports: | $80 million (does not include opium) (1996 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems |
| Exports - partners: | FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic |
| Imports: | $150 million (1996 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | capital goods, food and petroleum products; most consumer goods |
| Imports - partners: | FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany |
| Debt - external: | $5.5 billion (1996 est.) |
| Economic aid - recipient: | US provided about $70 million in humanitarian assistance in 1997; US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons |
| Currency: | afghani (AFA) |
| Currency code: | AFA |
| Exchange rates: | afghanis per US dollar - 4,700 (January 2000), 4,750 (February 1999), 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note - these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it rose to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00 per dollar in April 1996 |
| Fiscal year: | 21 March - 20 March |
| Afghanistan | Communications | Top of Page |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 29,000 (1996)
note: there were 21,000 main lines in service in Kabul in 1998 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul), FM 1, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pushtu, Dari, Urdu, and English) (1999) |
| Radios: | 167,000 (1999) |
| Television broadcast stations: | at least 10 (one government run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 30 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) |
| Televisions: | 100,000 (1999) |
| Internet country code: | .af |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000) |
| Internet users: | NA |
| Afghanistan | Transportation | Top of Page |
| Railways: | 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 |
| Highways: | total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1998 est.) |
| Waterways: | 1,200 km
note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels with DWT up to about 500 (2001) |
| Pipelines: | petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km |
| Ports and harbors: | Kheyrabad, Shir Khan |
| Airports: | 45 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 35
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 12 (2000 est.) |
| Heliports: | 3 (2000 est.) |
| Afghanistan | Military | Top of Page |
| Military branches: | NA; note - the military does not exist on a national basis; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various groups |
| Military manpower - military age: | 22 years of age |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 6,645,023 (2001 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 3,561,957 (2001 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 252,869 (2001 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $NA |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | NA% |
| Afghanistan | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| Disputes - international: | support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions; question over which group should hold Afghanistan's seat at the UN |
| Illicit drugs: | world's largest illicit opium producer, surpassing Burma (potential production in 1999 - 1,670 metric tons; cultivation in 1999 - 51,500 hectares, a 23% increase over 1998); a major source of hashish; increasing number of heroin-processing laboratories being set up in the country; major political factions in the country profit from drug trade |
From the CIA World Factbook
Global Rescue is the premier provider of medical, security and evacuation services worldwide and is the only company that will come to you, wherever you are, and evacuate you to your home hospital of choice.
Additionally, Global Rescue places no restrictions on country of citizenship - all nationalities are eligible to sign-up! Travel medical insurance is also available, currently the limit is 90 days. (TIP: For Evac insurance - Click Multiple Trips and 365 days to get year long insurance.)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes! NOTE: Travel medical insurance currently has a limit of 90 days.
Member login
Announcements
Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Are you an Overland Adventure Traveller?
Does the smell of spices wafting through the air make you think of Zanzibar, a cacophony of honking horns is Cairo, or a swirl of brilliantly patterned clothing Guatemala? Then this is the site for you!
Hosted by Grant and Susan Johnson, RTW 1987-1998
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
HU Achievable Dream is Online
and available now to stream on Vimeo!
ALL 15 chapters of the HU Achievable Dream Guide are available to download on Vimeo!
Binge watch over 18 hours of inspiring, informative and entertaining stories and tips from 150 travellers!
"a cross between entertaining stories, tech tips, and reference guide"
"A timeless introduction to Motorcycle Adventure Travel!"
Originally launched as a 7 DVD set, The Achievable Dream series can now be downloaded anywhere. OVER 18 hours of solid info take up zero space in your panniers. How convenient!
Books
All the best travel books and videos listed and often reviewed on HU's famous Books page. Check it out and get great travel books from all over the world.
NOTE: As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases - thanks for your help supporting HU when you start from an HU Amazon link!