5,808; female 286,774) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.78% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 43.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 18.16 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 22.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 149.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.85 years
male: 46.43 years
female: 45.24 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan

Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%,
minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)

Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%

Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages
(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily
Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 31.5%
male: 47.2%
female: 15%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan

Data code: AF

Type of government: transitional government

Capital: Kabul

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular -
velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah,
Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar,
Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan,
Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol
note: there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and
Khowst

Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK)

National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April;
Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day,
19 August

Constitution: none

Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but the
transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law
(Shari'a)

Suffrage: undetermined; previously males 15-50 years of age

Executive branch:
chief of state: Pres