Country Guide • Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country. It is bound by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the north west, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north and China to the north east. Further to the actions over the last twenty years and the recent military action Afghanistan is not a country visited by tourists of any kind.
| Official Name | Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Area | 647,500km² (250,001mile²) |
| Population | 28,700,000 |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population per mile² | 115 |
| Capital City | Kabul |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim (84%), Shi'a Muslim (15%), Other (1%) |
| Language | Afghan Persian (Dari; 50%), Pashtu (35%), Turkic (Uzbek and Turkmen; 11%); other (4%) |
| Government | In June 2002 a multiparty republic government was set up |
| Currency | Afghani |
| GDP | $21 billion |
| GDP per Head | $800 |
| Natural Resources | Coal, Copper, Chromite, Iron ore, Lead, Natural gas, Petroleum, Salt, Precious and Semiprecious Stones, Zinc |
| Land Use | Arable Land 12.5% |
| Agriculture | Fruit, Nuts, Wheat and Sheep Products, i.e wool, mutton, sheepskin, and lambskin |
| Industry | Small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; hand woven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper and petroleum exports |
| Tourism | Although in the past used by many backpackers there is no tourism here at present |
| Natural Hazards | Damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts |
| Health Risks | Current Situation |
| Climate | Afghanistan has a continental dry climate with large differences between day and night temperatures as well as quick seasonal transitions. Summer temperatures in the plains can reach 46°C while in the higher plateaux winter temperatures can fall to -26°C. Between June to September there are extremely high winds with speeds up to 180 kmph. The rainy season is from October to April, although rainfall is very irregular. Average temperature ranges in Kabul are from -8 to 2°C in January to 16 to 33°C in July |
| Time | GMT/UTC+4.5 hours |
| National Days | Navrus—March 21, Liberation Day—April 18, Revolution Day—April 27, Labour Day - May 1, Independence Day—August 18 |
| Visas | Visitors intending to travel to Afghanistan for essential business should ensure they obtain a visa before travelling from the Embassy of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. Visas are not issued on arrival in country |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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