Afghanistan (افغانستان)

Official name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Also known as: Da Afghānestān Eslāmī Jamhūrīyat, Da Afghānestān Jamhawrīyat, Dowlat-e Eslāmī-ye Afghānestān, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Islamic State of Afghanistan, Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Afghānestān, Republic of Afghanistan

Afghanistan Map OutlineCapital: Kabul
Total Area: 652,867 km² (252,073 mi²) (42th)
Approximate population: 43,328,565
Location: Central Asia
Languages: Dari, Pushtu, Uzbek,Turkmen
Religions: Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim
Currency: Afghani (AFN)
Organizations: United Nations
World's 41st largest country
Border countries (6): China 91 km (57 mi). Iran 921 km (572 mi), Pakistan 2,670 km (1,660 mi), Tajikistan 1,357 km (843 mi), Turkmenistan 804 km (500 mi), Uzbekistan 144 km (89 mi).
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Afghanistan is divided into (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.

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land.

Interesting facts:
- Buzkashi, meaning "goat grabbing", is the national sport of Afghanistan.
- Gudiparan Bazi or Kite Flying (Kite Fighting) is a popular sport in Afghanistan.