Afghanistan is a country with many cultures and ethnicities.
It has a population of 34 million people (34,124,811).
The total land area of Afghanistan is 652,230 sq km.
Afghanistan is a landlocked country that shares borders with six other countries, which are Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
This means it is a land surrounded by other lands and no water boundaries.
The largest city is Kabul which is also the capital city.
The official language is Pashto; while you can have several languages like Dari (Persian), Turkic Languages, Balochi, and pashai.
Afghanistan gained independence on August 19, 1919, from the British, and because of that; the national holiday is on August 19.
The New Year is celebrated on 21st March and they call it “Nawroz”. This is a gathering of Afghans from across the country to the city of Mazar-e-sharif.
In the center of the city stands a mosque known as the blue mosque or the shrine of Hazrat Ali.
The longest river in Afghanistan is the Helmand River.
Afghanistan is a Muslim country with 99% of its people being Muslim while the 1% being Hindus, Sikhs, and Jew.
Among the Muslims, you have 80% Sunni Muslims, 19% Shia Muslims and 1% others.
There is literally only one Jew living in Afghanistan, his name is Zablon Simintov. He is a carpet trader.
Afghan rugs are very popular around the world.
Afghanistan follows Islamic law that means Friday is known as an only day for prayer.
The people of Afghanistan are called Afghans and the money used is called Afghanis.
Agriculture is the way Afghans make most of their money, but they also have crude oil and natural gas.
The major exports of Afghanistan are Opium, fruits and nuts, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, hand-woven carpets, and precious and semi-precious gems while the imports are machinery and other capital goods, food, textiles, and petroleum products.
The land has many resources including the vibrant blue stone called lapis lazuli, the same stone which has been used to beautify the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamen.
Not many go to school in Afghanistan, as the country is not known for caring too much about Human development.
Only about 28.1% of age 15 and above of the population educated in Afghanistan that means 71.9% of the adults can neither read a book or can write properly
Human beings have been living in Afghanistan for at least 50,000years
The city of Heat was captured by Alexander the Great in 300BC (before Christ) and he built its ancient citadel.
The world’s first oil paintings were drawn in the caves of “Bamiyan” in 650BC
The national game of Afghanistan is called Buzkashi (Goat-grabbing)
Afghans are known poetry lovers and they celebrate poetry night on Thursdays in the city of Herat.
Before Islam, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism were the main religions. Two of the world’s largest Buddhas were built in Afghanistan before being destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
Afghanistan is the birthplace of Zoroastrianism
The national language of Afghanistan is Pashto but 35% of the population speaks Pashto while 50% speak Dari(Persian).
Bringing a gift while visiting an afghan is seen as respectful especially when invited for tea or food.
Food is served on the floor, on clothes from various materials; with the food shared from the same plate.
When eating, it is expected of you to sit in a respectful position with your feet not facing people or your leg outstretched.
Women are respected in Afghanistan and are not allowed to talk to the men except they are related or married
NATO installed its first complete air traffic capability in a non-NATO country in the Kandahar airfield which was once the busiest single runway in the world when it handled 1,700 to 5,000 flights a week.
Afghanistan is the 40th most populous country in the world and is home to a lot of historical sites.
Headscarves for women are advisable. Women must always wear clothes that honor their modesty and are not revealing, tight western clothes are not welcomed in the society; most especially in the rural areas.
A handshake is a usual form of greeting in Afghanistan’s culture, some people also place their hand on their heart and nod slightly to show respect to the visitor/acquaintance or friend. But a handshake between man and woman is to avoid except she is a member of your family.
The Hindu Kush is an 800-km long mountain range that extends connecting central Afghanistan & the northern Pakistan that rises over 18,000 feet, it is in Afghanistan.
