- Capital / administrative city
- Kabul
- Region
- Asia
- Subregion
- Southern Asia
- Scope
- UN member state
- Area
- 652,230 km²
- Estimated population (2025)
- 43,844,111
- Country codes
- AF / AFG
- Currencies in dataset
- Afghan afghani (AFN)
- Languages in dataset
- Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
- Official name in dataset
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Population estimate: World Bank.
Afghanistan is listed in Asia, in the Southern Asia subregion. The atlas lists Kabul in its capital or administrative-city field.
Location on the map
Explore on OpenStreetMap · Pin shows an approximate reference point.
Land neighbors in the atlas
Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China
Read the map and coordinates
The atlas places the reference point for Afghanistan at 33° N, 65° E. Use the point to locate the entry on a world map, then zoom in to see the capital, islands, or coastline. The directory records this place as landlocked. Follow the land-neighbor links to trace a route from the interior to a coast.
Physical geography
The terrain notes for Afghanistan identify mountains and plains. The archived climate description includes arid or semiarid conditions.
- Highest point
- Noshak 7,492 m
- Lowest point
- Amu Darya 258 m
- Mean elevation
- 1,884 m
- Forest cover
- 1.9% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 58.4% (2023 est.)
Physical geography source: archived CIA World Factbook profile for Afghanistan.
Compare with Pakistan
Pakistan is a useful land-border comparison. The atlas lists Pakistan at 881,912 km² and Afghanistan at 652,230 km². On the map, locate Kabul and Islamabad. Trace the shared border, then compare where the capitals sit in relation to that boundary. Open the comparison tool with Afghanistan selected.
Afghanistan in context
By total area, Afghanistan ranks 40th among the 195 UN members and observers, at 652,230 km² (251,827 mi²). The nearest matches in size are Somalia and Myanmar. The World Bank estimate for 2025 is 43,844,111 people, about 67 per km². That ranks 36th of 215 atlas entries with population data and makes Afghanistan less densely settled than the typical entry.
The reference point is at 33° N, 65° E, in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is landlocked and shares land borders with 6 sovereign neighbors: Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. It is one of 9 atlas entries in Southern Asia, within Asia. The dataset lists 3 languages: Dari, Pashto, and Turkmen; 1 currency: Afghan afghani (AFN).
Landscape and climate
Afghanistan is landlocked and mountainous. The Hindu Kush range crosses the northeast and center, with the highest peaks near the border with Pakistan, while plains and deserts cover the north and southwest. The Amu Darya forms much of the northern border, and the Helmand is the longest river within the country. The Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip in the northeast, reaches toward China. Winters are cold in the highlands and summers are hot in the lowlands.
Facts worth knowing about Afghanistan
- The Hindu Kush range separates the Amu Darya basin in the north from the Indus basin to the south and east.
- The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip that touches the border with China.
- Kabul sits at about 1,800 meters above sea level.
- The Helmand River flows southwest toward the Sistan basin.
Common questions
What is the capital of Afghanistan?
The atlas lists Kabul as the capital.
How many people live in Afghanistan?
The World Bank estimate for 2025 is 43,844,111. The series is dated and can be revised. Check that the geographic coverage matches before comparing it with another source.