The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in central and western Asia. It borders Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, Iran to the west, Pakistan to the south and east, and China to the northeast through a narrow strip of land. The country has a land area of 647500 square kilometers and its capital is Kabul. Afghanistan is one of the least developed countries in the world. After experiencing wars and economic destruction, it heavily relies on foreign aid. [8]
The Kingdom of Afghanistan was established in 1747. After the 19th century, China’s national strength gradually declined, becoming a battleground between Britain and Tsarist Russia. In 1919, it gained independence from British colonial rule. [8] In 1978, the Afghan People’s Democratic Party overthrew the Daud regime and established the Afghan Democratic Republic. [2] In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. In February 1989, the Soviet army withdrew. Due to various anti Soviet armed groups vying for power and power, Afghanistan fell into civil war. In 1994, the Taliban emerged in Afghanistan and captured Kabul in September 1996, establishing political power and implementing Islamic rule in Afghanistan. In 2001, after the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan collapsed under US military strikes. In December 2001, Afghanistan established an interim government. In April 2021, the United States, its allies, and NATO countries announced simultaneous withdrawal of troops; On August 15th, the Afghan Taliban entered Kabul; On September 7th, the Taliban in Afghanistan formed an interim government. [8]
As of August 2024, the population of Afghanistan is approximately 35.7 million, with Pashtuns accounting for 40%, Tajiks accounting for 25%, and over 20 ethnic minorities including Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Turkmen. Pashto and Dari are the official languages, and other languages include Uzbek, Baluchi, Turkish, etc. Sunni Muslims account for 86%, Shia Muslims account for 13%, and others account for 1%. [8] Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces, each with counties, districts, townships, and villages. [8] In 2023, Afghanistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 17.23 billion US dollars; Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 493 US dollars.
Chinese name
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Foreign Name
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
abbreviation
Afghanistan
Belonging continent
Asia
Capital City
Kabul
major city
Herat, Kandahar, Mazar Sharif
National Day
August 19, 1919 [10]
National Anthem
Milli Surood
Country code
AFG
official language
Pashto, Dari
Currency
Afghani
Time Zone
UTC+4.5
population size
Approximately 35.7 million (Afghanistan National Bureau of Statistics and Information Management, August 2024)
Main ethnic groups
Pashtun ethnic group
Main religions
Islam (Sunni)
land area
647500 km²
Total GDP
17.23 billion US dollars (2023)
Per Capita GDP
493 USD (2023)
International telephone area code
ninety-three
International Domain Abbreviations
.af
Road traffic
Drive on the right side
Central bank
Central Bank of Afghanistan
Main universities
Kabul University
Approximately 35.7 million (Afghanistan National Bureau of Statistics and Information Management, August 2024). Pashtun ethnic group accounts for 40%, Tajik ethnic group accounts for 25%, and there are more than 20 ethnic minorities such as Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, etc. Pashto and Dari are the official languages, and other languages include Uzbek, Baluchi, Turkish, etc. Sunni Muslims account for 86%, Shia Muslims account for 13%, and others account for 1%. [2] [23]
According to United Nations statistics, nearly a quarter of Afghanistan’s 32.2 million population has been displaced from their homes. There are still 4.6 million Afghan refugees in exile worldwide, of whom 2.7 million have obtained refugee status. Pakistan and Iran respectively host 1.4 million and 1 million Afghan refugees. The Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs stated that over 540000 refugees returned to Afghanistan from March 2019 to March 2020. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2019, various armed conflicts, unstable security situations, and other reasons caused over 400000 people to be displaced throughout Afghanistan. These people lack shelter, food, water, medical resources, as well as opportunities for education and employment.
There are about 30 ethnic groups in Afghanistan, with 21 being the main ethnic groups. Among them, the Pashtun ethnic group accounts for about 40%, the Tajik ethnic group accounts for about 25%, the Hazara ethnic group accounts for 19%, and the Uzbek ethnic group accounts for 8% (due to the lack of a census in Afghanistan for many years, the accurate number and proportion of each ethnic group are difficult to determine, and there are significant differences in data sources). The rest include more than 20 ethnic minorities such as Turkmen, Baloch, Chalamak, Nuristan, Kyrgyz, Timurid, etc. The southern region includes the border areas of Aba and Ayi, mainly composed of Pashtun ethnic groups; The areas bordering Central Asian countries are mainly inhabited by Tajik, Uzbek, and Turkmen ethnic groups; The Hazara ethnic group is mainly distributed in the central provinces of Bamyan, Daikundi, and Ghazni.