Official name
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
Capital
Kabul
Area
652,225 sq km
251,825 sq mi

Population
28,717,213 (2003 estimate)

Population growth rate
3.38 percent (2003 estimate)

Population density
44 persons per sq km (2003 estimate)
114 persons per sq mi (2003 estimate)

Urban/rural distribution
Share urban
22 percent (2001 estimate)
Share rural
78 percent (2001 estimate)

Largest cities, with population
Kabul
2,450,000 (1999 estimate)
Kandahar
225,500 (1988 estimate)
Herat
177,300 (1988 estimate)

Languages
The official languages are Afghan Persian (Dari) and Pashto.

Religious affiliations
Muslim
99 percent
Other
1 percent
Health and Education

Life expectancy
Total
47 years (2003 estimate)
Female
46.2 years (2003 estimate)
Male
47.7 years (2003 estimate)
Infant mortality rate
142 deaths per 1,000 live births (2003 estimate)
Population per physician
9,092 people (1997)
Population per hospital bed
4,003 people (1990)

Literacy rate
Total
36.3 percent (2000)
Female
20.8 percent (2000)
Male
51 percent (2000)
Education expenditure as a share of gross national product (GNP)
2 percent (1980)
Number of years of compulsory schooling
6 years (2000)
Number of students per teacher, primary school
58 students per teacher (1997)

Government
Form of government
Islamic state
Voting qualifications
18 years of age

Employment
Number of workers
11,414,163 (2001)
Workforce share of economic sector
Agriculture, forestry, fishing
70 percent (1990)
Industry
11 percent (1990)
Services
19 percent (1990)
Monetary unit
1 afghani (AF), consisting of 100 puls
1 (U.S. $) = 49 afghanis.