The Crossroads of Asia
Afghanistan's total territory of 647,500 sq. km. makes it slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Texas with a population of approximately 31,056,997 (June 2006 est.). The terrain is landlocked; mostly mountains and desert.
The climate is mostly dry.
Ethnically, the population is Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, Aimaq, Baluch, Nuristani, Kizilbash.
Religion is officially Islam with Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, and other at 1%.
The main languages are Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto.
