Population: 31,889,923
Capital: Kabul
Time Zone: UTC+4.5
Currency Name: afghani (AFA)
Government Type: Islamic republic
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
Ethnic Breakdown: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
Religion: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%
Major Cities: Kabul
Phone Country Code: 93
Health Concerns: high risk of food, waterborne, vectorborne, and animal contact diseases (diarrhea, Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, rabies, avian flu)
Official Tourism Website:
High Travel Season: no peak season
Voltage: 220 V - 50 Hz
Electrical Plug Type: c, f
Major Holidays: Ashura, Mount Arafat Day, Navruz, Roze-Maulud, April 18 (Liberation Day), April 28 (Revolution Day), May 1 (Labor Day), August 19 (National Day), Ramadan
Misc Fact / Good to Know: The Taliban took over in 1996.
