Afghanistan's ethnically and linguistically mixed population reflects its location astride historic trade and invasion routes leading from Central Asia into South and Southwest Asia. Pashtuns are the dominant ethnic group, accounting for about 44% of the population. Tajik (25%), Hazara (10%), Uzbek (8%), Aimaq, Turkmen, Baluch and other small groups also are represented. Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto are official languages. Dari is spoken by more than one-third of the population as a first language and serves as a lingua franca for most Afghans, though the Taliban use Pashto. Tajik, Uzbek, and Turkmen are spoken widely in the north. Smaller groups throughout the country also speak more than 70 other languages and numerous dialects.

Afghanistan is an Islamic country. An estimated 84% of the population is Sunni, following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence; the remainder is predominantly Shi'a, mainly Hazara. Despite attempts during the years of communist rule to secularize Afghan society, Islamic practices pervade all aspects of life. In fact, Islam served as the principal basis for expressing opposition to the communists and the Soviet invasion. Likewise, Islamic religious tradition and codes, together with traditional practices, provide the principal means of controlling personal conduct and settling legal disputes. Excluding urban populations in the principal cities, most Afghans are divided into tribal and other kinship-based groups, which follow traditional customs and religious practices.

Population: 28,513,677 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:

• 0-14 years: 44.7% (male 6,525,929; female 6,222,497)
• 15-64 years: 52.9% (male 7,733,707; female 7,346,226)
• 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 334,427; female 350,891) (2004 est.)

Median age:

• Total: 17.5 years
• Male: 17.5 years
• Female: 17.6 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.29% (2004 est.) note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and its continuing impact

Birth rate: 47.27 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate: 21.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate: 23.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:

• at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
• under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
• 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
• 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
• total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

• Total: 165.96 deaths/1,000 live births
• Female: 160.82 deaths/1,000 live births
• Male: 170.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

• total population: 42.46 years
• male: 42.27 years
• female: 42.66 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.78 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality:

• noun: Afghan(s)
• adjective: Afghan

Ethnic groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%

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

Literacy:

• definition: age 15 and over can read and write
• total population: 36%
• male: 51%
• female: 21% (1999 est.)

Reference

Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2003 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.