World Factbook
Afghanistan
Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021; current country name is disputed)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of black (left), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other bands; the emblem shows a mosque with a pulpit and flags on either side; below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); a border of wheat sheaves circles the mosque; above the mosque is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed), with rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"); under the mosque is a scroll with the name Afghanistan meaning: black stands for the past, and red for the blood shed for independence; green can represent hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam history: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century -- 19 by one count -- than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them
note: the United States has not recognized the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan and, accordingly, continues to display the flag of Afghanistan as set forth in the country's constitution of 2004
Capital
name
Kabul
etymology
named for the Kabul River, but the river's name is of unknown origin
time difference
UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
does not observe daylight savings time
geographic coordinates
34 31 N, 69 11 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest ratified in 2004, but not currently enforced by the Taliban
Country name
etymology
the name "Afghan" originally referred to the Pashtun people, but today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups; the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Afghanistan literally means the "Land of the Afghans"
local long form
Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021; current country name is disputed)
local short form
Afghanistan
conventional long form
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021); current country name disputed
conventional short form
Afghanistan
Independence
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Legal system
the Taliban is implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, which is partially based on the Hanifi school of Islamic jurisprudence and have enforced strict punishments; before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law (2021)
Government type
theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Taliban are purported to have appointed clerics, including a "Chief Justice," to Afghanistan's Supreme Court
subordinate courts
provincial courts, religious courts, and specialty courts
Executive branch
note
note: the United States has not yet made a decision whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan
cabinet
the Taliban have announced a “cabinet” for the “caretaker government,” including the “acting prime minister,” “acting deputy prime ministers,” and “ministers” who claim to represent 26 ministries
chief of state
Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada (since 15 August 2021)
head of government
overall Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada is the [so-called] Amir-ul Momineen of the Taliban and is effectively the head of government
most recent election date
28 September 2019
election/appointment process
the 2004 Afghan constitution directed that the president should be elected by majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the Taliban have given no indication that they intend to reinstate elections or any other mechanism of democratic governance
National holiday
previous: Independence Day, 19 August (1919); under the Taliban Government, 15 August (2022) is declared a national holiday, marking the anniversary of the victory of the Afghan jihad
National color(s)
red, green, black
National heritage
note
note: the monumental 6th- and 7th-century Buddha statues at Bamyan were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Minaret of Jam; Buddhas of Bamyan
Political parties
the Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian state and has banned other political parties the Taliban have banned other political parties but have allowed some party leaders, including the head of Hezb-e-Islami, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to continue to live and work in Afghanistan; Hekmatyar likely continues to enjoy some political support from loyalists; leaders of other parties, including Jamiat-e-Islami’s Salahuddin Rabbani and Jumbesh’s Rashid Dostum, operate from abroad but likely also command some following within Afghanistan
note: before 15 August 2021, the Ministry of Justice had licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019
Legislative branch
note: Afghanistan’s bicameral National Assembly consisted of the House of Elders and House of the People but was dissolved after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021
National anthem(s)
title
"Milli Surood" (National Anthem)
history
adopted 2006
lyrics/music
Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
34 provinces ( welayat , singular - welayat ); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Diplomatic representation in the US
none note : the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the United States does not maintain a presence in Afghanistan and its diplomatic mission to Afghanistan has relocated to Doha, Qatar
International organization participation
Afghanistan is a member of the following organizations but Taliban representatives do not participate: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction