Afghanistan has a long and complex history of political and civil unrest. Because Afghanistan, often known as the crossroads of central Asia, was such a diverse region it continued to endure fighting and bloodshed off and on throughout the centuries. Today Afghanistan is an Islamic nation. Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in the country at 47%. Tajiks make up the second largest ethnic group at 27%. Hazaras make up a smaller ethnic group at 9% along with Uzbeks. The most common languages in Afghanistan are Dari and Pashto, however over 70 other dialects exist in the various regions outside of the cities. Obviously Afghanistan's wide diversity is cause for many of the problems the country faces today. The mains religions of the country are Sunni Muslim 80% and Shi'a Muslim.19% The life expectancy in this war devestated region is only 44 years for both men and women. The life expectancy in the U.S. is almost double that. The literacy rate is low as well with approximately 43% of males literate and only 12% literacy rates for females. Islam in Afghanistan is embedded into every aspect of culture as are the the age old traditions and cultural practices of the country. It was not until 2004 that the first democratic election took place in Afghanistan. Voter turnout totaled over 8 million. Hamid Karzai, the currect Afghan president, was elected for a five year term.

On October 9, 2004, Afghanistan held its first national democratic presidential election. More than 8 million Afghans voted, 41% of whom were women. Hamid Karzai was announced as the official winner on November 3 and inaugurated on December 7 for a 5-year term as Afghanistan's first democratically elected president.

About 85% of the citizens in Afghanistan depend on farming and agriculture to survive. Because of the desperate need these people face daily drugs has become an important cash crop, specifically poppies that contain the chemcial used to manufacture heroin.

This map shows the country and its major cities. Kabul is the capitol but Kandahar, Jalalabad and Herat are all large cities as well. Afghanistn contains 37 districts or proviences and is only the size of Texas. It lays west of Paksitan and borders Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.