1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Administrative divisions
29 provinces with centrally appointed governors
Boundary disputes
none; Pushtunistan and Baluchistan questions with Pakistan; periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights
Branches
Revolutionary Council acts as legislature and final court of appeal; Chairman of Council acts as chief of state; Cabinet and judiciary responsible to Council; Presidium chosen by Council has full authority when Council not in session; Loya Jirga (Grand National Assembly) supposed to convene eventually and approve permanent constitution
Capital
Kabul
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Communists
the PDPA claims 160,000 members (1986)
Comparative area
about the size of Texas
Environment
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; soil degradation, desertification, overgrazing, deforestation, pollution
Ethnic divisions
50% Pushtun, 25% Tajik, 9% Uzbek, 9% Hazara; minor ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baluch, and others
Government leaders
NAJIB, General Secretary, People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (since May 1986); Haji Mohammad CHAMKANI, Acting Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (since November 1986); Soltan Ali KESHTMAND, Prime Minister (since June 1981)
Labor force
4.98 million (1980 est); 67.8% agriculture and animal husbandry, 10.2% industry, 6.3% construction, 5.0% commerce, 7.7% services and other; current figures unavailable because of fighting (1986)
Land boundaries
5,510 km total
Land use
12% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 46% meadows and pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 39% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Language
50% Pashtu, 35% Afghan Persian (Dari), 11% Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen), 4% thirty minor languages (primarily Baluchi and Pashai); much bilingualism
Legal system
not established; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Life expectancy
men 42.53, women 40.87 (1986)
Literacy
12%
Member of
ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDE— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, ITU, NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO, WSG; suspended from QIC in January 1980
Nationality
noun — Afghan(s); adjective — Afghan
Organized labor
government-controlled unions are being established
Other political or pressure groups
the military and other branches of internal security are being rebuilt by the Soviets; insurgency continues throughout the country; widespread opposition on religious grounds; widespread anti-Soviet sentiment
Population
14,183,671 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.44%; these estimates include an adjustment for emigration to Pakistan and Iran during recent years, but do not take into account other demographic consequences of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan
Religion
74% Sunni Muslim, 25% Shi'a Muslim, 1% other
Special notes
landlocked; narrow and strategic Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) provides direct access to China and separates Pakistan from USSR
Suffrage
universal from age 18 Political parties and leaders: the ruling People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) has two factions — the Parchami faction has been in power since December 1979; members of the deposed Khalqi faction continue to hold some important posts
Terrain
mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Total area
647,500 km2; land area: 647,500 km2
Total area
300km Set regional map VIII
Type
Communist regime backed by multidivisional Soviet force
Government
Official name
Democratic Republic of
Economy
Agriculture
subsistence farming and animal husbandry; main crops — wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton; an illegal producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade
Electric power
476,000 kW capacity; 1,390 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$778 million (f.o.b., 1985); mostly fruits and nuts, natural gas, and carpets
GNP
$3.52 billion, $250 per capita (1985); real growth rate 2.5% (1975-79); current growth rate figures not available (1986)
Imports
$902 million (c.i.f., 1985); mostly food supplies and petroleum products
Major industries
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement for domestic use; handwoven carpets for export
Major trade partners
exports — mostly USSR and other Eastern bloc countries; imports— mostly USSR and other Eastern bloc countries
Natural resources
natural gas, oil, coal, copper, talc, barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron, salt, precious and semiprecious stones