| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | AFISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | AFGISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | KabulGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AsiaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | AfghanistanCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021); current country name disputedCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | AfghanistanCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| 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"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban GovernmentCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| 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 jihadCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | No authoritative open source found |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | AFNISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | AfghaniISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 34ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | Badakhshān / Baghlān / Balkh / Bādghīs / Bāmyān / Dāykundī / Farāh / Fāryāb / Ghaznī / Ghōr / Helmand / Herāt / Jowzjān / Kandahār / Khōst / Kunaṟ / Kunduz / Kābul / Kāpīsā / Laghmān / Lōgar / Nangarhār / Nīmrōz / Nūristān / Paktiyā / Paktīkā / Panjshayr / Parwān / Samangān / Sar-e Pul / Takhār / Uruzgān / Wardak / ZābulISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | lionCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem); lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA; history: adopted 2006CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | red, green, blackCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | 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 yearsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
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"
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
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
