50 Interesting Facts About Afghanistan

50 Interesting Facts About Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in South-Central Asia. With a population of 33,000,000, it is the 42nd most populous country in the world. With 252,000 square miles, it is the 41st largest country in the world in terms of area. The main religion here is Islam. The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul which is also the largest city in the country. The currency here is Afghani. The national flag of Afghanistan has black, red, and green stripes and the national emblem is in the middle. Let’s know some interesting facts about Afganistan and their history

FACT#1. The GDP of Afghanistan is $ 19.02 billion. The GDP of Afghanistan is $2000. 56 percent of the country’s GDP comes from the service sector, while the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is 22 percent.

FACT#2. The size of Afghanistan, spread over 250,000 square miles, is estimated to be equal to Texas of America.

FACT#3. According to UNICEF, 50% of the country’s population gets married at the age of 15. 33 percent (Afghanistan) population is married at the age of 18.

FACT#4. 36 percent of the population of Afghanistan is living below the poverty line.

FACT#5. Sometimes the people of Afghanistan are called Afghani while the currency here is Afghani and the people here are called Afghans.

FACT#6. Buzkashi is the national game of Afghanistan, in this game the players have to ride on a horse and catch a goat.

FACT#7. The caves of Bamia in Afghanistan are home to the world’s first oil paintings.

FACT#8. Dari and Pashtu are the official languages of Afghanistan while Turkish dialect is also spoken in some areas.

FACT#9. the English language is used the most among foreign languages.

FACT#10. 14 tribes live in Afghanistan.

FACT#11. The official religion of Afghanistan is Islam and 90 percent of the people here believe in Islam.

FACT#12. Although all Afghans are Muslims, they do not eat pork and do not drink alcohol.

FACT#13. New Year is celebrated in Afghanistan on 21st March, which is the first day of spring.

FACT#14. The percentage of people getting electricity in Afghanistan is the lowest in the world.

FACT#15. Despite the lack of electricity, 18 million Afghans use mobile phones.

FACT#16. Poetry is an important part of the culture of Afghanistan, whose history is more than 1000 years old.

FACT#17. Afghanistan has settled 9000 years ago.

FACT#18. Shops and businesses in Afghanistan are closed on Fridays because this day is considered a holy day in Afghanistan.

FACT#19. Fasting and prayer are necessary during Ramadan, it is not a compulsion only for foreigners and the sick. Although foreigners do not fast during Ramadan, they are prohibited from eating, drinking, and smoking in public.

FACT#20. Working hours are reduced to 6 hours during Ramadan.

FACT#21. Family is very important in Afghan people and after marriage, the whole family stays together.

FACT#22. Afghan women wear modest clothes, it is forbidden to wear loose clothes, most women wear headscarves.

FACT#23. Although it is normal to shake hands here, it is rare to meet a man and a woman.

FACT#24. In Afghanistan, men and women try not to even make eye contact with each other. Arrange marriage is more prevalent here.

FACT#25. Only less than 12 percent of the cultivable land is there.

FACT#26. Afghanistan shares its border with 6 countries. These countries are Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China, and Turkmenistan.

FACT#27. Kabul is the largest city in Afghanistan.

FACT#28. Afghanistan celebrates its independence day from Britain on 19 August. Although Afghanistan has never been a part of a British colony. There have been three wars between Afghanistan and Britain.

FACT#29. Before 2001, there was the world’s largest Buddhist statue here. It was built before the 6th century. The Taliban destroyed this idol.

FACT#30. Alexander, Arab, Mongol, British, Soviet Russia attacked here.

FACT#31. The official language here is Dari and Pashto. Apart from this, the people here also speak Uzbek, Turkman, and Persian.

FACT#32. Afghanistan’s living standards are among the worst in the world and heavily dependent on foreign aid.

FACT#33. While handshakes are a common greeting, it is rare and unusual for men and women to shake hands with each other.

FACT#34. Afghanistan’s Kandahar airfield is believed to be the busiest single-runway airstrip in the world.

FACT#35. Protecting the honor of an individual is the cause of violence in Afghanistan. It is not uncommon for someone to seek retribution when they or their family have been vilified.

FACT#36. Every year, Afghanistan has more than 300 days of sunshine.

FACT#37. In the Afghan city of Herat, Thursday nights are poetry nights, where men, women, and children gather to recite and listen to poetry.

FACT#38. Popular Afghan dishes include a steamed dumpling called manti, and rice cooked in broth called palao.

FACT#39. Hamid Karzai was the country’s first democratically elected president. He was voted into office in 2004.

FACT#40. The country is the world’s largest supplier of opium.

FACT#41. Afghanistan is one of the most illiterate countries in the world. At least 9 million people in the country are unable to read and write.

FACT#42. UNICEF data shows that around 25% of children are involved in child labor, mainly due to high rates of poverty.

FACT#43. Under Taliban rule, girls and women were not allowed to go to school in Afghanistan.

FACT#44. The Hindu Kush is the highest mountain in the country, and it rises over 18,000 feet.

FACT#45. Modern Afghanistan was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747.

FACT#46. Afghans drive on the right side of the road.

FACT#47. The world’s largest Buddha statues were first built in Afghanistan. These statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

FACT#48. Humans are estimated to have lived in Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago.

FACT#49. The country witnessed a civil war between 1992 and 1996 and it is estimated that at least 50,000 people died in the country in Mujahideen incursions during the civil war.

FACT#50. Afghanistan’s location on the Silk Road gave it various economic and cultural advantages.

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