Country name: Afghanistan (Islamic State of Afghanistan).
Data code: AF
Capital: Kabul Administrative divisions: 30 provinces.
Independence: 19 August 1919 [fr. UK control over Afghan foreign affairs].
Population: about 24,792,375 (1998)
Age structure:
**0-14 years: 43% [male 5,425,510; female 5,216,954]
**15-64 years: 54% [male 6,978,549; female 6,494,253]
**65 years and over: 3% [male 357,780; female 319,329]
Population growth rate: 4.21%
Death rate: 17.4 deaths/1,000 population
Birth rate: 42.37 births/1,000 population
Nationality:
adjective: Afghan, Afghanistani
Ethnic groups: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups ( Turkmen & Baloch etc)
Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (Uzbek & Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (Pashai & Balochi etc) 4%, much bilingualism
Literacy: (1996)
-Age 15 and over can read and write
-Total population: 31.5%
-Male: 47.2%
-Female: 15%
