Surface

652.225 km2  (19,2 x Netherlands)

Capital

Kabul

Population

approx. 29,9 mil (2005, CIA source)

Population Density

approx. 45,8 inhabitants per km2 (2005)

Religion

Sunni moslim (Hanafitische school) 80%; Shi'a moslim 19%; Hindu, Sikh 1%

Language

Pashtu 35%; Dari (Afghan Persian) 50%; Turkish languages (Uzbeeks, Turkmanish) 11%; 30 minority languages (mainly Baluchi en Pashai) 4%. In Afghanistan there is much bilingualism.

National holidays

 1,2 and 10,11,12 January Eid al Adha, 31 January Islamic New Year, 21 March Nouroz, 19 August - Independence Day. See further Embassy holidays

Climate

Afghanistan has an arid or semiarid steppe climate. In the east some areas stand under the predominated influence of the monsoons rains. The west has a semi desert climate. The centre part of the country has mostly rugged mountain climate. The north part is subarctic with dry and cold winters.