Introduction
Background
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December. KARZAI was re-elected in August 2009 for a second term. Despite gains toward building a stable central government, a resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability - particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challenges for the Afghan Government.
Geography
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates
33 00 N, 65 00 E
Area (sq km)
total: 652,230 sq km
land: 652,230 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
almost six time the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Area comparison map
Land boundaries (km)
total: 5,987 km
border countries: China 91 km, Iran 921 km, Pakistan 2,670 km, Tajikistan 1,357 km, Turkmenistan 804 km, Uzbekistan 144 km
Coastline (km)
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain
mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Noshak 7,485 m
Natural resources
natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use (%)
arable land: 11.95%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 87.87% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
32,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
65.33 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 20.28 cu km/yr (1%/1%/98%)
per capita: 823.1 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Environment - current issues
limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups (%)
Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
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, but Dari functions as the lingua franca
note: the Turkic languages Uzbek and Turkmen, as well as Balochi, Pashai, Nuristani, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them
Religions (%)
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Population
31,822,848 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 42% (male 6,793,832/female 6,579,388)
15-24 years: 22.2% (male 3,600,264/female 3,464,781)
25-54 years: 29.4% (male 4,771,323/female 4,586,963)
55-64 years: 3.9% (male 603,197/female 622,539)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 371,753/female 428,808) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 18.1 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.2 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
2.29% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
38.84 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
14.12 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 23.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
KABUL (capital) 3.097 million (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
460 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 117.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 124.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 109.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 50.49 years
male: 49.17 years
female: 51.88 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
5.43 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
9.6% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 89.9% of population
rural: 56.1% of population
total: 64.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 10.1% of population
rural: 43.9% of population
total: 35.8% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 46.8% of population
rural: 23.4% of population
total: 29% of population
unimproved: urban: 53.2% of population
rural: 76.6% of population
total: 71% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
0.1% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
4,300 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
300 (2012 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
2.2% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
32.9% (2004)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.1%
male: 43.1%
female: 12.6% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)
total: 9 years
male: 11 years
female: 7 years (2011)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan
local short form: Afghanistan
former: Republic of Afghanistan
Government type
Islamic republic
Capital
name: Kabul
geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Independence
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution
several previous; latest drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004, signed 16 January 2004, ratified 26 January 2004 (2012)
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Yunis QANUNI (since March 2014); Second Vice President Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Yunis QANUNI (March 2014); Second Vice President Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004)
cabinet: 25 ministers; note - ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
elections: the president is elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if no candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a second round; first round of last election held on 5 April 2014 (second round held on 14 June 2014)
election results: first round results - Abdullah ABDULLAH 45%, Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai 31.6%, Zalmai RASOUL 11.4%, other 12%; second round results - expected on 22 July
Legislative branch
the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, two-thirds of members elected from provincial councils for four-year terms, and one-third nominated by the president for five-year terms) and the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (no more than 250 seats; members directly elected for five-year terms)
note: the constitution allows the government to convene a constitutional Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils; no Loya Jirga of this type has ever been held, and district councils have never been elected
elections: last held on 18 September 2010 (next expected in 2015)
election results: results by party - NA; note - ethnicity is the main factor influencing political alliances; approximate percentage of seats by ethnic group - Pashtun 39%, Hazara 24%, Tajik 21%, Uzbek 6%, other 10% (including Aimak, Arab, Baloch, Nuristani, Pahhai, Turkmen, Turkic); women hold 69 seats
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Stera Mahkama (consists of the Supreme Court Chief and 8 justices organized into criminal, public security, civil, and commercial divisions or dewans)
judge selection and term of office: court chief and justices appointed by the president with the approval of the Wolesi Jirga; court chief and justices serve single 10-year terms
subordinate courts: Appeals Courts; Primary Courts; Special Courts for issues including narcotics, security, property, family, and juveniles
Political parties and leaders
note - the Ministry of Justice licensed 84 political parties as of December 2012
Political pressure groups and leaders
other: religious groups, tribal leaders, ethnically based groups, Taliban
International organization participation
ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Eklil Ahmad HAKIMI (since 16 February 2011)
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard YONEOKA
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone: [93] 0700 108 001
FAX: [93] 0700 108 564
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam
note: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them
National symbol(s)
lion
National anthem
name: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
note: adopted 2006; the 2004 constitution of the post-Taliban government mandated that a new national anthem should be written containing the phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) and mentioning the names of Afghanistan's ethnic groups
Economy
Economy - overview
Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service sector growth. Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. Criminality, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure, and the Afghan Government's difficulty in extending rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. Afghanistan's living standards are among the lowest in the world. The international community remains committed to Afghanistan's development, pledging over $67 billion at nine donors' conferences between 2003-10. In July 2012, the donors at the Tokyo conference pledged an additional $16 billion in civilian aid through 2015. Despite this help, the Government of Afghanistan will need to overcome a number of challenges, including low revenue collection, anemic job creation, high levels of corruption, weak government capacity, and poor public infrastructure. Afghanistan's growth rate slowed markedly in 2013.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$45.3 billion (2013 est.)
$34.25 billion (2012 est.)
$30.45 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$20.65 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
3.1% (2013 est.)
12.5% (2012 est.)
6.1% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,100 (2013 est.)
$1,100 (2012 est.)
$1,000 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 20%
industry: 25.6%
services: 54.4%
note: data exclude opium production (2011 est.)
Labor force
7.512 million (2012 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 78.6%
industry: 5.7%
services: 15.7% (FY08/09 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
35% (2008 est.)
40% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
36% (FY08/09)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 24% (2008)
Budget
revenues: $2.333 billion
expenditures: $4.122 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
11.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-8.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
6.8% (2012 est.)
5.7% (2011 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
15% (31 December 2012 est.)
15.15% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$6.121 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$5.928 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money
$6.499 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$6.351 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$-819.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$-520.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture - products
opium, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
Industries
small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Current account balance
-$743.9 million (2011 est.)
-$736 million (2010 est.)
Exports
$376 million (2012 est.)
$388.5 million (2011 est.)
note: not including illicit exports or reexports
Exports - commodities (%)
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners (%)
Pakistan 32.2%, India 27%, Tajikistan 8.5%, US 6.2% (2012)
Imports
$6.39 billion (2012 est.)
$5.154 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
machinery and other capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
Imports - partners (%)
Pakistan 24.3%, US 18%, Russia 8.7%, India 5.8%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$5.983 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$5.268 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
External debt ($)
$1.28 billion (FY10/11)
$2.7 billion (FY08/09)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar -
50.92 (2012 est.)
46.75 (2011 est.)
46.45 (2010)
Fiscal year
21 December - 20 December
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
986.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
2.489 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
1.572 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
489,100 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
23.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
76.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
1,950 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
NA bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
4,229 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
36,250 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
140 million cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
140 million cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
6.589 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
13,500 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
18 million (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
domestic: aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2012)
Broadcast media
state-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), operates a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the provinces; an estimated 150 private radio stations, 50 TV stations, and about a dozen international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code
.af
Internet hosts
223 (2012)
Internet users
1 million (2009)
Communications - note
Transportation
Airports
52 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 29
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 6 (2013)
Heliports
9 (2013)
Pipelines (km)
gas 466 km (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 42,150 km
paved: 12,350 km
unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)
Waterways (km)
1,200 km; (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) (2011)
Ports and terminals
ariver port(s): Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Military
Military branches
Afghan Armed Forces: Afghan National Army (ANA, includes Afghan Air Force (AAF)) (2011)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 7,056,339
females age 16-49: 6,653,419 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 4,050,222
females age 16-49: 3,797,087 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 392,116
female: 370,295 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures (% of GDP)
NA% (2012)
4.74% of GDP (2011)
NA% (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 16,825 (Pakistan) (2013)
IDPs: 667,158 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in the south and west due to drought and instability) (2014)
Trafficking in persons
current situation: Afghanistan is a source transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, although domestic trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking; Afghan men are subjected to forced labor and debt bondage in Iran, Pakistan, Greece, Turkey, and the Gulf states; Afghan women and girls are forced into prostitution and domestic servitude in Pakistan, Iran, and India, while women and girls from the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and China are reportedly sexually exploited in Afghanistan; children are increasingly subjected to forced labor in carpet-making factories, domestic servitude, forced begging, and commercial sexual exploitation; some children are sold to settle debts
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Afghanistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts have improved, though official complicity in human trafficking remains a problem; the first known convictions were made under the government's 2008 anti-trafficking law; Afghanistan has not developed or employed systematic procedures to identify trafficking victims or refer them to protective services and continues to rely on NGOs to provide the vast majority of victim assistance; the government has not made discernible progress in preventing human trafficking or protecting victims but has adopted an anti-trafficking action plan (2013)
Illicit drugs
world's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation increased 57 percent, from 115,000 hectares in 2011 to 180,000 hectares in 2012; despite the increase in area under cultivation, the effects of poor weather and crop disease resulted in lower yield so potential opium production remained stable at 4,300 mt in 2012 compared to 4,400 mt in 2011; the Taliban and other antigovernment groups participate in and profit from the opiate trade, which is a key source of revenue for the Taliban inside Afghanistan; widespread corruption and instability impede counterdrug efforts; most of the heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan opium; Afghanistan is also struggling to respond to a burgeoning domestic opiate addiction problem; vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal financial networks; regional source of hashish (2013)
Largest cities of Afghanistan
These are the 50 largest cities of Afghanistan ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kabul | 3,043,589 |
| 2 | Qandahar | 391,230 |
| 3 | Herat | 272,880 |
| 4 | Jalalabad | 200,389 |
| 5 | Qunduz | 161,943 |
| 6 | Gazni | 143,049 |
| 7 | Baglan | 108,481 |
| 8 | Gardez | 103,732 |
| 9 | Khowst | 96,246 |
| 10 | Kholm | 64,954 |
| 11 | Taloqan | 64,275 |
| 12 | Shibarghan | 55,658 |
| 13 | Carikar | 53,693 |
| 14 | Sar-e Pul | 52,138 |
| 15 | Pagman | 49,173 |
| 16 | Asadabad | 48,400 |
| 17 | Aybak | 47,877 |
| 18 | Geresk | 43,638 |
| 19 | Farah | 43,574 |
| 20 | Zaranj | 33,894 |
| 21 | Bagrami | 30,256 |
| 22 | Sindand | 29,273 |
| 23 | Andarab | 27,034 |
| 24 | Deh Rawud | 25,683 |
| 25 | Rostaq | 25,644 |
| 26 | Cah Ab | 23,424 |
| 27 | Nahrin | 22,389 |
| 28 | Baraki Barak | 22,305 |
| 29 | Dawlatabad | 17,674 |
| 30 | Mehtar Lam | 17,350 |
| 31 | Nuristan | 17,072 |
| 32 | Kusk | 16,952 |
| 33 | Sahrak | 15,967 |
| 34 | Asmar | 15,708 |
| 35 | Acin | 15,098 |
| 36 | Qarqin | 15,023 |
| 37 | Taywarah | 14,398 |
| 38 | Mirabad | 14,160 |
| 39 | Dawlatabad | 13,603 |
| 40 | Sangin | 13,579 |
| 41 | Panjab | 13,471 |
| 42 | Uruzgan | 13,400 |
| 43 | Ciras | 12,778 |
| 44 | Azrow | 12,526 |
| 45 | Jurm | 12,121 |
| 46 | Eskasem | 12,120 |
| 47 | Kuhestan | 12,087 |
| 48 | Tokzar | 12,021 |
| 49 | Lar Gerd | 11,635 |
| 50 | Rudbar | 11,034 |