Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a landlocked, mountainous country in South-Central Asia, sitting at the historic crossroads of Persian, Indian and Central Asian civilisations along the ancient Silk Road.

Geography & landscape

Afghanistan sits in Southern Asia, in the northern hemisphere of Asia. With an area of approximately 652,230 km², it is a mid-sized country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the sub-tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Kabul, lies near coordinates 33°, 65°.

The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Asia, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Southern Asia region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Afghanistan.

People & society

The population of Afghanistan is around 41M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.

Afghanistan recognises multiple official languages — Pashto and Dari — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.

Government & politics

Afghanistan is structured as a islamic emirate. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Kabul, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.

Economy & currency

The official currency of Afghanistan is the Afghan Afghani (AFN). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Kabul and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.

Culture & everyday life

The cultural footprint of Afghanistan shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Afghanistan through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.

Travel essentials

The capital, Kabul, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +93, and clocks are set to the AFT (UTC+4:30) time zone. ISO standards identify Afghanistan as AF (alpha-2) and AFG (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇦🇫, appears at every border post and on every passport.

By the numbers

Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.

Did you know?

Afghanistan is one of only two countries (with Iran) that uses a half-hour offset from UTC, on Afghanistan Time UTC+04:30.