Afghan turmoil
Last reviewed: 25-11-2009
Afghanistan
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BASIC FACTS
Capital
Kabul
Language
Pashto and Persian (Dari) are the official languages. There is also a great variety of languages -- mainly with Persian or Turkic roots -- such as Hazaragi, Turkmen, Uzbek and Aimaq.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Area size
652090 sq. km
Area comparison
Slightly larger than Spain and Portugal combined
Population
| 2009 | 28.2 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 26.2 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 25.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 25.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 24.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 23.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 22.2 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 21.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 20.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
73.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
PEOPLE
Language
Pashto and Persian (Dari) are the official languages. There is also a great variety of languages -- mainly with Persian or Turkic roots -- such as Hazaragi, Turkmen, Uzbek and Aimaq.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
73.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
Pashtun 44 percent, Tajik 25 percent, Hazara 10 percent, Uzbek 8 percent. The rest of the population is comprised of peoples of Turkic origin and nomads of Mongolian origin.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Muslims make up 99 percent of the population (74 percent Sunni, 15 percent Shia and 10 percent others).
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
Pashto and Persian (Dari) are the official languages. There is also a great variety of languages -- mainly with Persian or Turkic roots -- such as Hazaragi, Turkmen, Uzbek and Aimaq.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2009 | 28.2 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 26.2 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 25.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 25.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 24.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 23.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 22.2 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 21.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 20.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
73.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
Pashtun 44 percent, Tajik 25 percent, Hazara 10 percent, Uzbek 8 percent. The rest of the population is comprised of peoples of Turkic origin and nomads of Mongolian origin.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Muslims make up 99 percent of the population (74 percent Sunni, 15 percent Shia and 10 percent others).
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 23.6 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 23.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 22.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 22.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 22.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 21.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 21.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 21.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 47 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.6 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 46.7 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
USEFUL INFORMATION
Time zone
GMT +4 1/2
Climate description
Severe winter at higher altitudes, summers are warm throughout the mountainous country but very hot at lower levels. Rain in the spring, dry period between June and October
Currency
Afghani
Telephone dialling code
(+) 93
Driving (left/right)
Right
GMT +4 1/2
Climate description
Severe winter at higher altitudes, summers are warm throughout the mountainous country but very hot at lower levels. Rain in the spring, dry period between June and October
Currency
Afghani
Telephone dialling code
(+) 93
Driving (left/right)
Right
STANDARD OF LIVING
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
No data available
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
No data available percent
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
28.1 percent (2004)
Source: UNDP 2006
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 42.9 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.4 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 46.2 years | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available years | |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 42.9 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.2 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available years | |
| 2002 | No data available years | |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 42.8 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.7 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available years | |
| 2002 | No data available years | |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Infant mortality
| 2007 | 165 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 165 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 165 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 165 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available per 1,000 live births | |
| 2002 | No data available per 1,000 live births | |
| 2001 | 165 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2007 | 257 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNDP 2004 |
| 2001 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 14 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 14 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 14 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2001 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | No data available per 100,000 live births | |
| 2000 | 1900 per 100,000 live births | UNDP 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
No data available
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2007 | 39 percent | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2000-2006 | 39 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 39 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 39 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2001 | 48 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Percentage of undernourished population
No data available percent
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 22 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 39 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | 30 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 34 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - average
28.1 percent (2004)
Source: UNDP 2006
Literacy - male
| 2005 | 43.1 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 43.1 percent | UNDP 2006 |
Literacy - female
| 2005 | 12.6 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 12.6 percent | UNDP 2006 |
Landlines telephones
| 2008 | 4 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 3 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 4 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 4 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 2 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 2 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 2 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2008 | 290 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 178 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 99 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 49 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 25 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 9 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | No data available per 1,000 people | |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 people |
Internet users
| 2008 | 18 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 18 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 17 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 10 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 0.7 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | No data available per 1,000 people | |
| 2001 | No data available per 1,000 people | |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 people |
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
| 2008 | 176 | Transparency International 2008 |
| 2007 | 172 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | Not ranked | |
| 2005 | 117 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 133 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | Not ranked | |
| 2002 | Not ranked | |
| 2001 | Not ranked | |
| 2000 | Not ranked |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
ECONOMY & AID
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2007 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2006 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2005 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2004 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2003 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2002 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2001 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2000 | No data available current US$ |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2007 | No data available current US$ billions | |
| 2006 | 8.4 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2005 | 7.3 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2004 | 6.0 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2003 | 4.6 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2002 | 4.0 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2001 | 2.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2000 | No data available current US$ billions |
Annual GDP growth
| 2006 | 5.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 14.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 8.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 15.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual inflation
| 2007 | No data available percent | |
| 2006 | 9.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2005 | 11.9 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2004 | 17.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2003 | 6.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
HEALTH
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Risk from P. vivax and P. falciparum from May through November below 2000 metres altitude. P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | 19 per 100,000 people | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 1990-2004 | 19 per 100,000 people | UNDP 2006 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2007 | No data available percent | |
| 2006 | No data available percent | |
| 2005 | No data available percent | |
| 2004 | No data available percent | |
| 2003 | No data available percent |
Malaria
Risk from P. vivax and P. falciparum from May through November below 2000 metres altitude. P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2007 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2006 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2005 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2004 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2003 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2002 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2001 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2000 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
CONFLICT & MIGRATION
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2002)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
9.9 percent (2005)
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2008 | 1817913 | UNHCR |
| 2007 | 1909911 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 2107519 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 1908052 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 2084925 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 2136043 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 2510294 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 3809767 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 3587336 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2008 | 37 | UNHCR |
| 2007 | 42 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 35 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 32 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 30 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 22 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 3 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 6 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | No data available |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| 2009 | At least 235000 | Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2009 | |
| 2008 | 161000 | IDMC 2008 | |
| 2007 | 161000 | IDMC 2008 | |
| 2006 | 132000 | Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2006 | |
| 2005 | 153192 - 200000 | IDMC 2006 | |
Landmine casualties per year
| 2007 | 811 | Landmine Monitor Report 2008 |
| 2006 | 796 | Landmine Monitor Report 2008 |
| 2004 | 878 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 1018 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2002)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
9.9 percent (2005)
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 0.7 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2003-2004 | No data available percent | |
| 2002 | 3.1 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
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