People of Afghanistan

The population of Afghanistan is mostly Muslim.

Population: 25,838,797 (July 2000 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.37% (male 5,598,403; female 5,371,054) 15-64 years: 54.86% (male 7,362,961; female 6,839,914) 65 years and over: 2.77% (male 378,741; female 337,724) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.54% (2000 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued return of refugee?s from Iran

Birth rate: 41.82 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 18.01 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 149.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.88 years male: 46.62 years female: 45.1 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality: noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

Ethnic groups: Pashtun? 38%, Tajik? 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimak?s, Turkmen?, Baloch?, and others)

Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%

Languages: Pashtu? 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: 31.5% male: 47.2% female: 15% (1999 est.)