ver), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
note: embassy operations suspended 21 August 1997
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US embassy in Kabul
has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the
emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions
above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by
a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by
two crossed scimitars
note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag

Economy

Economy--overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked
country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep
and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to
political and military upheavals during two decades of war,
including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended
15 February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population
fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak
of more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 750,000 registered Afghan
refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.2 million in Iran. Another 1
million have probably moved into and around urban areas within
Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over
the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the
disruption of trade and transport. Much of the population continues
to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical
care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country,
with one estimate putting the rate at 240% in Kabul in 1996.
International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian
problem, let alone promote economic development. Government efforts
to encourage foreign investment have not worked. The economic
situation did not improve in 1998. Numerical data are likely to be
either unavailable or unreliable.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$20 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 53%
industry