Facts about Afghanistan
Official languages: Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, Turkmen
Capital: Kabul
Area: 647,500 km²
Population: 29.1 million residents
Population density: 44.97 residents per km²
Currency: AFN
Internet TLD: .af
ISO codes: AF , AFG, 4
The prefix for Afghanistan is +93
Flag of Afghanistan
The current flag of Afghanistan has been in use since 2004, when the Taliban regime was overthrown in the country. Since independence in 1919, the flag has undergone many changes depending on political events. Its current form is inspired by the flag from the period of the monarchy and differs only in the coat of arms in the middle of the flag. It therefore consists of a vertical tricolor of black, red and green and the national emblem in the middle of a red stripe. The interpretation of the colors is as follows: black signifies the former Abbasid Caliphate, red royal dignity and green is the traditional color of Islam. The yellow national emblem consists of a mihrab (niche in a mosque) and a minbar (pulpit) placed in a wreath bearing the inscription “God is great”.
Afghanistan (Pashtun and Persian (Dari) افغانستان Afghānestān, officially Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) is a landlocked country of strategic importance in the region. It lies at the intersection of South and Central Asia, which borders Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the People’s Republic of China and Pakistan. See Afghanistan Location on World Map. The country is mostly mountainous. Less than 10% of the country’s area is below 600 m. The main mountain system – consisting of the Sefid cow, Hindu Kush and Pamir – extends over 1,000 km from the northeast to the west of the country.
The country has been an Islamic republic since 2004. Afghanistan is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite the growth rates in the last decade, Afghanistan’s economic development continues to be stimulated not by self-sustaining economic growth, but by inflows from the international donor community.
Great economic expectations are attached to the increasing development of Afghan raw material resources. The world’s largest copper deposits as well as oil, natural gas, coal, lithium, gold, precious stones and rare earths are stored in Afghanistan.
We urgently warn against traveling to Afghanistan!
Anyone who travels anyway must be aware of the risk posed by acts of violence motivated by terrorism or crime. The following applies to essential business trips to Afghanistan: Staying in large parts of the country remains dangerous.
Biggest Cities of Afghanistan by Population
Kabul is the largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of over 5 million people, and is also the capital. It is located in the eastern part of the country and is bordered by Pakistan to the south and east. Kabul has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to at least 2000 BC. The city has been an important trading center for centuries, connecting people from different parts of Central Asia. Today, Kabul is an important cultural hub and a major economic center in Afghanistan.
The second largest city in Afghanistan is Kandahar, located in the southern part of the country. With a population of over 1 million people, Kandahar serves as an important agricultural center for Afghanistan’s economy. The city has also played an important role in Afghan politics throughout history and has been home to several influential rulers. Today, Kandahar remains an important cultural center but its significance as a political power has decreased since 2001.
The third largest city in Afghanistan is Herat, located in western Afghanistan near the border with Iran. With a population of around 600 thousand people, Herat serves as an important trade center for goods coming from Central Asia into Iran and beyond. Herat has been home to many famous poets and writers throughout its long history and continues to be a major cultural hub today. Additionally, Herat is home to some impressive monuments such as Minaret of Jam which dates back to 1194 AD and remains one of the oldest standing monuments in all of Central Asia.
# | City | Population | Latitude | Longitude |
1 | Kabul, Afghanistan | 3,043,643 | 34.5281 | 69.1723 |
2 | Kandahar, Afghanistan | 391,301 | 31.6133 | 65.7101 |
3 | Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan | 303,393 | 36.709 | 67.1109 |
4 | Herat, Afghanistan | 272,917 | 34.3482 | 62.1997 |
5 | Jalalabad, Afghanistan | 200,442 | 34.4265 | 70.4515 |
6 | Kunduz, Afghanistan | 162,013 | 36.729 | 68.857 |
7 | Ghazni, Afghanistan | 141,111 | 33.5539 | 68.421 |
8 | Balkh, Afghanistan | 114,994 | 36.7564 | 66.8972 |
9 | Baghlan, Afghanistan | 108,560 | 36.1307 | 68.7083 |
10 | Gardez, Afghanistan | 103,712 | 33.5974 | 69.2259 |
11 | Khost, Afghanistan | 96,234 | 33.3395 | 69.9204 |
12 | Maymana, Afghanistan | 76,011 | 35.9214 | 64.7836 |
13 | Khanabad, Afghanistan | 71,642 | 36.6825 | 69.1156 |
14 | Bazarak, Afghanistan | 65,111 | 35.3129 | 69.5152 |
15 | Khulm, Afghanistan | 65,044 | 36.6974 | 67.6983 |
16 | Taloqan, Afghanistan | 64,367 | 36.736 | 69.5345 |
17 | Bamyan, Afghanistan | 61,974 | 34.8216 | 67.8273 |
18 | Pul-e Khumri, Afghanistan | 56,480 | 35.9446 | 68.7151 |
19 | Shibirghan, Afghanistan | 55,752 | 36.6676 | 65.7529 |
20 | Charikar, Afghanistan | 53,787 | 35.0136 | 69.1714 |
21 | Sar-e Pul, Afghanistan | 52,232 | 36.2154 | 65.9325 |
22 | Zaranj, Afghanistan | 49,962 | 30.9596 | 61.8604 |
23 | Paghman, Afghanistan | 49,268 | 34.5879 | 68.9509 |
24 | Asadabad, Afghanistan | 48,511 | 34.8731 | 71.147 |
25 | Aibak, Afghanistan | 47,934 | 36.2647 | 68.0155 |
26 | Fayzabad, Afghanistan | 44,532 | 37.1166 | 70.58 |
27 | Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan | 44,045 | 31.5938 | 64.3716 |
28 | Gereshk, Afghanistan | 43,699 | 31.8209 | 64.5701 |
29 | Farah, Afghanistan | 43,672 | 32.3745 | 62.1164 |
30 | Ghormach, Afghanistan | 30,111 | 35.7306 | 63.7826 |
31 | Shindand, Afghanistan | 29,375 | 33.3029 | 62.1474 |
32 | Andkhoy, Afghanistan | 29,319 | 36.9529 | 65.1238 |
33 | Rustaq, Afghanistan | 25,747 | 37.126 | 69.8305 |
34 | Qarawul, Afghanistan | 24,655 | 37.2196 | 68.7802 |
35 | Nahrin, Afghanistan | 22,474 | 36.0649 | 69.1334 |
36 | Baraki Barak, Afghanistan | 22,416 | 33.9674 | 68.9492 |
37 | Art Khwajah, Afghanistan | 18,734 | 37.0857 | 69.4796 |
38 | Kafir Qala, Afghanistan | 18,197 | 34.6667 | 61.0667 |
39 | Karukh, Afghanistan | 17,595 | 34.4811 | 62.5863 |
40 | Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan | 17,456 | 34.6714 | 70.2094 |
41 | Kushk, Afghanistan | 17,063 | 33.2957 | 61.9522 |
42 | Shahrak, Afghanistan | 16,078 | 34.1074 | 64.3052 |
43 | Asmar, Afghanistan | 15,819 | 35.0333 | 71.3581 |
44 | Sang-e Charak, Afghanistan | 15,488 | 35.8497 | 66.4369 |
45 | Khash, Afghanistan | 15,244 | 31.5292 | 62.7906 |
46 | Markaz-e Woluswali-ye Achin, Afghanistan | 15,209 | 34.1258 | 70.7078 |
47 | Jabal os Saraj, Afghanistan | 15,143 | 35.1183 | 69.2378 |
48 | Qarqin, Afghanistan | 15,129 | 37.4185 | 66.0436 |
49 | Fayroz Koh, Afghanistan | 15,111 | 34.5195 | 65.2509 |
50 | Mirabad, Afghanistan | 14,271 | 30.4362 | 61.8383 |
51 | Zarghun Shahr, Afghanistan | 13,848 | 32.8473 | 68.4457 |
52 | Sangin, Afghanistan | 13,690 | 32.0728 | 64.8359 |
53 | Panjab, Afghanistan | 13,582 | 34.388 | 67.0233 |
54 | Uruzgan, Afghanistan | 13,499 | 32.9277 | 66.6325 |
55 | Pul-e ‘Alam, Afghanistan | 13,358 | 33.9953 | 69.0227 |
56 | Chiras, Afghanistan | 12,890 | 35.4167 | 65.9823 |
57 | Hukumati Azrah, Afghanistan | 12,637 | 34.1735 | 69.6457 |
58 | Qarah Bagh, Afghanistan | 12,523 | 34.9402 | 61.7759 |
59 | Qalat, Afghanistan | 12,302 | 32.1058 | 66.9083 |
60 | Ashkasham, Afghanistan | 12,231 | 36.6833 | 71.5333 |
61 | Jurm, Afghanistan | 12,217 | 36.8648 | 70.8342 |
62 | Kuhsan, Afghanistan | 12,198 | 34.6539 | 61.1978 |
63 | Tukzar, Afghanistan | 12,132 | 35.9483 | 66.4213 |
64 | Chahar Burj, Afghanistan | 12,046 | 34.2448 | 62.1917 |
65 | Larkird, Afghanistan | 11,746 | 35.4894 | 66.6641 |
66 | Rudbar, Afghanistan | 11,145 | 30.15 | 62.6 |
67 | Farkhar, Afghanistan | 10,591 | 36.5729 | 69.8578 |
68 | Zindah Jan, Afghanistan | 10,215 | 34.3426 | 61.7467 |
69 | Anar Darah, Afghanistan | 10,134 | 32.7587 | 61.654 |
70 | Tarinkot, Afghanistan | 10,111 | 32.63 | 65.8781 |
71 | Imam Sahib, Afghanistan | 9,770 | 37.189 | 68.9364 |
72 | Darzab, Afghanistan | 9,753 | 35.9774 | 65.3783 |
73 | Alaqahdari Dishu, Afghanistan | 9,307 | 30.4321 | 63.298 |
74 | Tagaw-Bay, Afghanistan | 9,207 | 35.6994 | 66.0616 |
75 | Markaz-e Hukumat-e Darweshan, Afghanistan | 9,123 | 31.1323 | 64.1934 |
76 | Qala i Naw, Afghanistan | 9,111 | 34.9874 | 63.1289 |
77 | Qarchi Gak, Afghanistan | 9,053 | 37.04 | 66.7889 |
78 | Dasht-e Archi, Afghanistan | 8,374 | 37.1333 | 69.1667 |
79 | Qal’ah-ye Shahr, Afghanistan | 7,867 | 35.5473 | 65.5676 |
80 | Sidqabad, Afghanistan | 7,518 | 35.023 | 69.3511 |
81 | Zarah Sharan, Afghanistan | 7,477 | 33.1464 | 68.7921 |
82 | Tir Pul, Afghanistan | 7,090 | 34.5943 | 61.269 |
83 | Basawul, Afghanistan | 6,946 | 34.2475 | 70.8722 |
84 | Yangi Qal’ah, Afghanistan | 6,652 | 37.4657 | 69.6113 |
85 | Tagab, Afghanistan | 6,511 | 34.855 | 69.6492 |
86 | Khandud, Afghanistan | 5,632 | 36.9513 | 72.318 |
87 | Mir Bachah Kot, Afghanistan | 5,516 | 34.75 | 69.119 |
88 | Sharan, Afghanistan | 2,311 | 33.1757 | 68.7305 |
89 | Maydanshakhr, Afghanistan | 1,711 | 34.3956 | 68.8662 |
90 | Parun, Afghanistan | 1,111 | 35.4206 | 70.9226 |
Afghanistan: Kabul
According to Abbreviation Finder, the largest city and capital of the country is Kabul, followed by Kandahar, which is located in the south of Afghanistan. Other larger cities are Herat and Mazar-e Sharif in the north.
The Afghan capital has 4.3 million people (as of January 2020), making it the city with the most inhabitants in the country. Kabul is in the east of Afghanistan. The population is growing steadily. All ministries as well as the parliament and the highest court are also located here. There are many gardens and parks in Kabul. There is also a large airport in Kabul. The Kabul River of the same name flows through the capital.
Neighboring countries of Afghanistan
- China
- Iran (Islamic Republic)
- Pakistan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan