Official name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Geographic coordinates: 33° 00 N, 65° 00 E

Land area: 647,500 sq km

Total area: 647,500 sq km

Population: 31,889,923 (July 2007 est.)

Government: Islamic republic

President: Hamid Karzai

Vice President: Ahmad Zia Massoud, Karim Khalili

Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Capital and Largest city: Kabul

Religion: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi’a Muslim 19%, other 1%

Currency: Afghani (AFN)

Race: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%

Literacy rate: 28.1% (2001)

Independence Day: 19th August (1919)

Time zone: (UTC +4:30)

Country calling code: +93

Internet TLD: .af