Official Name:  Islamic State of Afghanistan

shortform: Afghanistan.

Term for Citizens: Afghanian.Capital: kabul.

GeographyArea:  648,000 sq. km. (252,000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Texas.  Cities (1993 est.):  Capital--Kabul(est. 800,000).  Other cities--Kandahar (226,000); Heart (177,000); Mazar-e-Sharif (131,000); Jalalabad (58,000);Konduz (57,000).

Terrain:  Landlocked; mostly mountains and desert.

Climate:  Dry, with cold winters and hot summers.

Nationality:  Noun and adjective--Afghan(s).Population:  17.7 million (1993 estimate, including about 1.4 million refugees in Pakistan and 2 million refugees in Iran).  Annual growth rate:  2.5% (1993 EST.).

Ethnic groups:  Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara, Aimaq,Turkmen, Baluch, Nuristani.

Religions:  Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%.

Languages:  Pashto, Dari (Afghan Persian).

Education: Years compulsory--6.  Literacy--about 29%.

Health: Infant mortality rate (1993)--169 /1,000.  Life expectancy (1992 est.)--45 yrs. (male); 43 yrs. (female). EconomyGDP:  $3 billion (1991 EST.).

Natural resources:  Natural gas, oil, coal, copper, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron, salt, precious and semiprecious stones.

Agriculture (at least 65% of GDP):  Wheat, corn, barley, Rice, cotton, fruit, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton.

Industry (estimated 20% of GDP):  Small-scale production For domestic use of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; hand-woven carpets for export.

Trade (1992 est.):  Exports--$1 billion:  carpets, rugs, fruit and nuts, natural gas, cotton, oil-cake, karakul.Major markets--Central Asian Republics, EEC, India, Pakistan.  Imports--$1.7 billion:  petroleum products, sugar, manufactured goods, edible oils, tea. Major suppliers--Central Asian Republics, Japan, Singapore, France, India, Pakistan.