Country Name   Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Government   Islamic Presidential Republic
Country Area   647,500 sq km
Region   Asia
Location   east of Iran, north and west of Pakistan, southern Asia
Population   32,738,000 (July 2008 est.)
Religion   Sunni Muslim 
Capital   Kabul
Major Provinces   Kandahar, Mazar-i Sharif, Charikar, Herat
Official Language   Dari Persian, Pashtu

Viewow’s Traveler Notes in Afghanistan
International Dialling Code   +93
Internet Country Code   .af
Time Zone   GMT +4:30
Monetary Unit   Afghani (AFN)
Electric Power   220 V / 50 Hz
Electric Plug   C &  F

Round pin attachment plug

"Schuko" plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts
Tip Etiquette   Tipping is not expected when a fee is explicitly charged for the service, however there are regional variations
Infectious Diseases   High Risk

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever, malaria, rabies

Emergency Call in Afghanistan
Medical  only local numbers
Police    only local numbers
Fire       only local numbers
Other   only local numbers

View of Geography in Afghanistan
Coordinates   33 00 N, 65 00 E

Total  Area   647,500 sq km
Land Area   647,500 sq km
Water Area   0 sq km
Land Boundaries   5,529 km
Border Countries   China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206   Turkmenistan  744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Costline  0 km
Highets Point   Nowshak 7,485 m
Lowest Point   Amu Darya 258 m
Terrain    Mostly rugged mountain; splains in north and southwest
Climate   Cold winters and hot summer, sarid to semiarid

View of People in Afghanistan
National Name   Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan
Nationality   Afghan
Ethnicity   Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
Languages   Afghan Persian or Dari  50%, Pashto 35%,

Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek&Turkmen) 11%,

30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%,
much bilingualism
Religious   Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%
İndependance day   9 August (1919)

View of Demographics in Afghanistan
Population Density   50.6%  per sq km (July 2008 est.)
Population Growth   2.626% (2008 est.)
Urban Population Rate   21.5% (2006)
Infant Mortality Rate  154.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Total Fertility Rates   6.6 (2008 est.)
Life expectancy   44.21 years
Birth rate   45.82 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate  19.56 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex Ratio   1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Literacy Rate   28.1%
Literacy Rate (female)   12.6% (2000 est.)
Suffrage   18 years of age

View of Economy in Afghanistan
Gdp (ppp)   $35 billion (2007 est.)
Budget   revenues: $715 million,  expenditures: $2.6 billion (2007 est.)
Exports   $274 million (2006)
Imports   $3.823 billion (2006)
Unemployment Rate   40% (2005 est.)
Labor Force   15 million (2004 est.)
Inflation Rate   13% (2007 est.)
Growth Rate   12.4% (2007 est.)
Arable Land   12.13% (2005)
Industries   soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper, small-scale production of textiles
Agriculture   wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins; opium, wheat, fruits, nuts
Natural Resources   natural
gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead,
zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones

View of Some Facts in Afghanistan
Main Lines Phones   280,000 (2005)
Mobile Phones   4.668 million (2007)
Internet Hosts   21
Internet users   535,000 (2006) 
Airports   46 (2007)
Gsm   GSM 900 / GSM 1800
Gsm Operator   Roshan, Areeba, Etisalat, AWCC
Highways   34,782 km
Waterways   1,200 km
Ports and Terminals   Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Business Week in Afghanistan

---- Offices

Saturday - Wednesday   8a.m. to noon, 1p.m. to 4:30p.m.  

Thursday   8:30a.m. to 1p.m 

Friday   closed
---- Retails

Saturday - Wednesday   10a.m. to 8p.m. One-hour break at 1p.m.
Some shops and restaurants maintain Sunday hours and close on Mondays
Large open-air bazaars open from 8a.m. to 8p.m. during summer months. 

Thursday   closed

Friday   closed

---- Banks

Saturday - Wednesday   8a.m. to noon, 1p.m. to 4:30p.m.

Thursday   8a.m. to 1:30p.m.

Friday   closed

----  Government

Monday - Friday   10a.m. to 6p.m.

Friday   closed

---- Notes All offices and businesses make allowances for Islamic prayer and holidays

Official Holidays of Afghanistan
International Labor Day   May 1

Rememberance Day for Martyr's and Disabled   May 4

Independence Day    August 19
Pashtoonistan Day   August 30
Ramadan Feast
Sacrifice Feast
Arafat Day
Islamic New Year
Ascent of the Prophet