Part 2

Map ---

Location: 33 00 N, 65 00 E -- Southern Asia, north of Pakistan

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, north of Pakistan

Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area: total area: 647,500 sq km land area: 647,500 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: total: 5,529 km border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights; Iran supports clients in country, private Pakistani and Saudi sources also are active; power struggles among various groups for control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging warlords, traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan (Durand Line); support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions

Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m

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

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 3% other: 39%

Irrigated land: 26,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 22,664,136 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,972,469; female 4,784,900) 15-64 years: 54% (male 6,377,231; female 5,916,954) 65 years and over: 3% (male 325,808; female 286,774) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.78% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 43.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 18.16 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 22.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)