D, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
UN, NCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516
consulate(s) general: New York
consulate(s): Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation:
none; embassy was closed in January 1989

Flag: NA; note - the flag has changed at least twice since 1992

@Afghanistan:Economy

Overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly
dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock raising (sheep
and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to
political and military upheavals during more than 15 years of war,
including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended
15 February 1989). Over the past decade, one-third of the population
fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering more than 3 million
refugees and Iran about 3 million. About 1.4 million Afghan refugees
remain in Pakistan and about 2 million in Iran. Another 1 million
probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan.
Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic product is
lower than 13 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital and
the disruption of trade and transport.

National product: GDP $NA

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 56.7% (1991)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1991
est.)

Exports: $188.2 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides
and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia

Imports: $616.4 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods
partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
South Korea, Germany

External debt: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (FY90/91 est.); accounts for
about 25% of GDP

Electricity:
capacity: 480,000 kW
production: 550 million kWh
consumption per capita: 39 kWh (1993)

Industries: small-scale prod