Afghanistan Facts

The formal name of Afghanistan is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Dowlat-e Eslami-ye-Afghanestan. Afghanistan became fully independent on August 19, 1919, from British rule. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China.

Interesting facts about Afghanistan

  • Official Name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
  • Form of Government: Islamic republic
  • GDP: 19.36 billion USD (2018)
  • Capital: Kabul
  • Population: 37.17 million
  • Official Languages: Dari, Pashto
  • Currency: Afghan afghani
  • Timezone: GMT+4
  • Area: 652,237 km²
  • Dialing Code: +93
  • Major Mountain Ranges: Arma Mountains, Mount Imeon, Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Pamir Mountains, Western Himalaya
  • Major Rivers: Sistan Basin, Ab-i Istana,rakum Desert, Aral Sea basin
  • Continent: Asia
  • Border Countries: Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south; Iran to the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north; and China to the northeast.

Afghanistan Provinces List

ProvinceCapitalArea
(km²)
No. of
Districts
BadakhshanFayzabad44,83529
BadghisQala i Naw20,7917
BaghlanPuli Khumri18,25516
BalkhMazar-i-Sharif16,18615
BamyanBamyan18,0297
DaykundiNili17,5158
FarahFarah49,33911
FaryabMaymana20,79314
GhazniGhazni22,46019
GhorChaghcharan36,67611
HelmandLashkargah58,30513
HeratHerat55,86815
JowzjanSheberghan11,2919
KabulKabul4,52318
KandaharKandahar54,86416
KapisaMahmud-i-Raqi1,9087
KhostKhost4,23513
KunarAsadabad4,92515
KunduzKunduz8,0807
LaghmanMihtarlam3,9775
LogarPul-i-Alam4,5687
NangarharJalalabad7,64123
NimruzZaranj42,4095
NuristanParun9,2557
PaktiaGardez5,68311
PaktikaSharana19,51515
PanjshirBazarak3,7717
ParwanCharikar5,7159
SamanganSamangan13,4375
Sar-e PolSar-e Pol16,3857
TakharTaloqan12,45716
UruzganTarinkot11,4736
WardakMaidan Shar10,3489
ZabulQalat17,4719

List of Cities in Afghanistan

NameProvincePopulation 2020
KabulKabul4,273,156
KandaharKandahar614,254
HeratHerat556,205
Mazar-i-SharifBalkh469,247
KunduzKunduz356,536
JalalabadNangarhar263,312
TaloqanTakhar253,735
Puli KhumriBaghlan237,888
CharikarParwan198,306
LashkargahHelmand190,555
SheberghanJowzjan188,808
GhazniGhazni183,051
KhostKhost180,214
Sar-e PolSar-e Pol173,719
ChaghcharanGhor150,892
MihtarlamLaghman144,162
FarahFarah125,570
Puli AlamLogar117,698

Map of Afghanistan

National Symbols of Afghanistan

  • National Bird: Golden eagle
  • National Animal: Snow leopard
  • National Flower: Tulip
  • National Tree: Afghan Pine
  • National Fruit: Pomegranate
  • National Dish: Kabuli Palaw
  • National Sport: Buzkashi
  • National Poet: Khushal Khattak