Afghanistan Geography

Afghanistan's Information

Land Area	652,230 km²
Total Area	652,230km² (#40)
Population	33,332,025 (#40)
Population Density	51.10/km²
Government Type	Presidential Islamic Republic
GDP (PPP)	$64.08 Billion
GDP Per Capita	$2,000
Currency	Afghani (AFN)
More Information	Afghanistan
Largest Cities	Kabul (3,043,532) Kandahar (391,190) Mazar-e Sharif (303,282) Herat (272,806) Jalalabad (200,331) Kunduz (161,902) Ghazni (141,000) Balkh (114,883) Baghlan (108,449) Gardez (103,601) View all cities in Afghanistan

About the size of the U.S. State of Texas, most of Afghanistan is a rugged, inhospitable mountainous landscape.

More than 50% of the total land area lies above 6,500 ft. (2,000 m). It all culminates in the high peaks of the Hindu Kush, where extensions of the Pamir Mountains, Karakorum Mountains and the Himalayas all come together.

Afghanistan's highest point is Mt. Nowshak which peaks at 24,446 ft. (7,485 m).

In the north a fertile plain fronts the Anu Dar'ya River. In the south, below the mountains, rolling desert and scattered salt flats cover the land.

Afghanistan is drained by numerous rivers; significant ones include the Amu Dar'ya, Hari, Helmand, and the Kabul - directly east of the capital city, flowing down into the Indus River in Pakistan.

In 2009 Afghanistan designated a portion of the Hindu Kush Mountains, known as Band-e Amir, their first national park. The park contains six deep blue lakes, Band-e Gholaman, Band-e Qambar, Band-e Haibat, Band-e Panir, Band-e Pudina and Band-e Zulfiqar, all of which are separated by natural dams.

This page was last updated on September 29, 2015.

Afghanistan Trivia

What are the Major Ethnic Groups of Afghanistan?

Pashtun peoples are the largest ethnic group in the south of the country, while Tajiks and Uzbeks are concentrated along the norther borders, and the Hazara in the central highlands. Around 42% of the country's population is Pashtun.

The Ethnic Groups Of Afghanistan

What Languages Are Spoken In Afghanistan?

In the multilingual country of Afghanistan, Dari and Pashto are the official and most widely spoken languages. Uzbek, Balochi, Turkmen, Nuristani, Pashayi, etc., are some of the country’s regional languages.

What Languages Are Spoken In Afghanistan?

Which Countries Border Afghanistan?

Afghanistan is a landlocked country that is bordered by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran.

Which Countries Border Afghanistan?

What Kind of Government Does Afghanistan Have?

The President, the council of ministers, provincial governors, and the national assembly, constitute the Government of Afghanistan. The elected president and his two vice presidents as dictated by the new constitution adopted in 2004 have a 5-year term. The National Assembly of Afghanistan makes up the national legislature.