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Afghanistan: Quick Facts

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News •

International Criminal Court limits Afghanistan investigation to Taliban crimes • Nov. 13, 2026, 12:36 PM ET (AP)
Pakistan's army says it killed 74 militants in raids on their hideouts • Nov. 13, 2026, 2:36 AM ET (AP)
Russian delegation visits Afghanistan to discuss trade and investment with the Taliban • Nov. 12, 2026, 10:54 AM ET (AP)
Pat Tillman still inspiring millions 22 years after his death in Afghanistan • Nov. 6, 2026, 11:56 AM ET (AP)
US plans to deport Afghans back to their home country through Pakistan, documents show • Oct. 31, 2026, 7:29 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Republic of Afghanistan • Democratic Republic of Afghanistan • Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan • Islamic Republic of Afghanistan • Islamic State of Afghanistan
Head Of State And Government President: Ashraf Ghani; de facto leader Hibatullah Akhundzada4
Capital Kabul
Population (2026 est.) 36,977,000
Form Of Government Islamic republic1 with two legislative houses (House of Elders [1022]; House of the People [2503]); de facto transitional government4
Official Languages Dari; Pashto5
Official Religion Islam
Official Name Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Afghānestān [Dari]; Da Afghanestan Eslami Jamhuriyat [Pashto]); de facto, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Emārat Eslāmī-ye Afghānestān [Dari]); Da Afghanestan Eslami Imarat [Pashto])1
Total Area (Sq Km) 652,867
Total Area (Sq Mi) 252,073
Monetary Unit afghani (Af)
Population Rank (2026) 42
Population Projection 2030 39,330,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 146.7
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 56.6
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2022–2023) 25% • Rural: (2022–2023) 75%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2024–2025) 64.6 years • Female: (2024–2025) 67.9 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2023) 15,545
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2023) 370
1The internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established by the constitution promulgated on January 26, 2004. On September 7, 2021, the Taliban declared the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and formed the country’s de facto government.2Thirty-four members are appointed by the president, while the remainder are indirectly elected.3Three seats are reserved for Kuchis, Afghan Pashtun nomads.4Since September 7, 2021, following the Taliban’s takeover of the country.5Six additional locally official languages per the 2004 constitution are Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Nuristani, Pashai, and Pamiri.

Photos

Afghanistan
Political map of Afghanistan showing international boundaries in red, major cities including Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar-e Sharif, and neighboring countries: Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, and India. An inset locator map highlights Afghanistan's position within Asia.
Mazār-e Sharīf, Afghanistan: Blue Mosque
Map highlighting Afghanistan in orange within South Asia, showing its location relative to neighboring countries including Iran, Pakistan, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean are labeled, and a small inset globe indicates the region's position in the world.
The Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, features turquoise domes and intricate blue tilework; people are gathered near the entrance on a marble courtyard.
Kabul: Ministry of Public Health
Kabul: outdoor theater
Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Bamiyan valley
Tall, octagonal brick minaret with intricate geometric carvings, Mas'ud III Minaret stands against a clear sky in Ghazni, Afghanistan, with low hills in the background.
National anthem of Afghanistan
See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
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Abdul Ahad Mohmand
Afghan pilot and cosmonaut
Dōst Moḥammad Khan
Dōst Moḥammad Khān
ruler of Afghanistan
Close-up of Hibatullah Akhundzada, Taliban's leader and the de facto leader of Afghanistan.
Hibatullah Akhundzada
Afghan political and religious leader
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Saudi Arabian militant and al-Qaeda leader
Afghan President Hamid Karzai gestures with his right hand while speaking, wearing a traditional cap and striped cloak at an event.
Hamid Karzai
president of Afghanistan
Mohammad Najibullah, President of the Communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, standing at a podium during a People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) rally in Kabul, addresses a crowd.
Najibullah
president of Afghanistan
Abdul Ghani Baradar
Abdul Ghani Baradar
Islamic militant
Mohammad Omar
Mohammad Omar
emir of Afghanistan
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Nur Mohammad Taraki
prime minister of Afghanistan
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Babrak Karmal
president of Afghanistan
Ahmad Shah Durrani, Amir of Afghanistan, is shown in a portrait wearing a green fur-trimmed coat over a red garment and holding an axe, facing slightly to the side.
Ahmad Shah Durrani
ruler of Afghanistan
Abdur Rahman Khan
Abdur Rahman Khan
emir of Afghanistan
Amin, Hafizullah
Hafizullah Amin
president of Afghanistan
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Mohammad Zahir Shah
king of Afghanistan
King Amanollah Khan of Afghanistan stands indoors wearing a dark Western-style suit with striped trousers, in front of an ornate table with glass domes.
Amānullāh Khan
ruler of Afghanistan
default image
Mohammad Daud Khan
prime minister of Afghanistan
Ḥabībullāh Khan
Ḥabībullāh Khan
emir of Afghanistan
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Shāh Shojāʿ
king of Afghanistan
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Shīr ʿAlī Khān
emir of Afghanistan
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Sebüktigin
Ghaznavid ruler

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