Afghanistan
Quick
Facts |
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Official Name
Islamic State of Afghanistan |
Former Name
Republic of Afghanistan |
Area
647,500 sq km |
Neighboring Countries
China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan |
Date of Independence
August 19, 1919 (from UK) |
Capital
Kabul |
Ethnic Groups
Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%,
Other 12% |
Monetary Unit
Afghani |
Type of Government
On 26 Sept 1996 members of the Islamic Taliban
movement overthrew the Afghan Government. The Taliban have declared
themselves the legitimate government of Afghanistan but have not received
international recognition. |
Languages
Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic
languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily
Balochi and Pashai) 4% - Many people are bilingual |
Religions
Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, Other 1%
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President
Nursultan A. Nazarbayev |
President
Nursultan A. Nazarbayev |
National Name
Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan |
Flag
This is
the flag used by the Afghanistan government before the Taliban overthrow.
The Taliban use a white flag with the
Shahada in its center as the country's flag. |
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Kazakhstan
Quick
Facts |
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Official Name
Republic of Kazakhstan
National Name
Qazaqstan Respublikasy
Former Name
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Type of Government
Republic
President
Nursultan A. Nazarbayev
Capital
Astana (in the north central part of Kazakhstan)
Date of Independence
16 December
1991
Constitution
Adopted 28 January 1993
Date of UN Membership
National Flag
A
sky-blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays
above a golden steppe eagle in the center. The hoist side features a
"national ornamentation" in gold.
National Anthem
Political Parties
Location and Boundaries
Government
Administrative Regions |
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Population (thousands)
16,172 (UN 2000 projection)
14,896.1 (Source: 1999 Kazakhstan
census)
16,538 (Source: 12 Jan 1989 Soviet census)
14,684 (Source: 1979 Soviet census)
13,009 (Source: 1970 Soviet census)
9,295 (Source: 1959 Soviet census)
Population Projections (thousands)
15,957
(UN 2015 projection)
16,090 (UN 2025 projection)
15,302 (UN 2050 projection)
Ethnic Groups
Kazakh 46%, Russian 34.7 %, Ukrainian 4.9%, German
3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, Other 7.1% (1996)
Religions
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%,
Protestant 2%, Other 7%
Languages
Kazakh (state language) 40%,
Russian (used in everyday business) 66%
Neighboring Countries
China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan
Area
2,717,300 sq. km
Currency
Tenge (T) - established 15 November 1993
National Emblem
A
shanyrak ( the cupola of a yurta) on a blue background, from which uyks
(body bracket) like sun rays are being radiated and are framed by the wings
of mythical horses. At the bottom of the emblem is the inscription
Kazakhstan.
Climate
Coastline |
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Kyrgyzstan
Quick Facts |
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Official Name
Kyrgyz Republic
Former Name
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
President
Ishengbay Kadyrbekov, interim
president
Date of Independence
31 August 1991
Date of UN Membership
2
March 1992
Neighboring Countries
China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Ethnic Groups
Kyrgyz
64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Other 8.8% (1999
census)
Languages
Kyrgyz and Russian are both official languages
National Flag
A red
field with a yellow sun in the center with 40 rays representing the 40
Kyrgyz tribes. In the center of the sun is a stylized representation of the
roof of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt (tent) formed by a red ring crossed
by two sets of three lines.
National Anthem
Kyrgyz
National Anthem
National Symbol
Location and Boundaries
Located in Central Asia, between China and Kazakhstan. The national boundary
length totals 2,410 miles (3,878 km).
Government
1. Legislative - Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council)
2. Executive - President and Ministries (appointed by the president)
3. Judiciary - Appointed by the President
Political Parties
Kyrgyz Communist Party, Pepublican People's Party, Social-Democrats of
Kyrgyzstan, People's Party of Kyrgyzstan, Ashar, Democratic Movement of
Kyrgyzstan (DDK), Asaba (Banner) |
National Name
Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Type of Government
Republic
Capital
Bishkek (In the north central part of Kyrgyzstan)
Constitution
Ratified 5 May 1995
Population (thousands)
4,921 (UN 2000 projection)
4,851
(Source: 1999 census)
4,291 (Source: 1989 Soviet census)
3,529 (Source: 1979 Soviet census)
2,934 (Source: 1970 Soviet census)
2,066 (Source: 1959 Soviet census)
Population Projections (thousands)
5,836
(UN 2015 projection)
6,460 (UN 2025 projection)
7,538 (UN 2050 projection)
Monetary Unit
Kyrgyzstani som - established in May 1993
Religions
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, Other 5%
Climate
Ranges
from continental to polar in the Tien Shan Mountains. In the Fergana Valley
the average temperature is 82°F (28° C) in July and -5°F (-21°C) in January.
Size
76, 641 square miles ( 198,500 sq. km)
Comparatively, it is slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota.
Administrative Regions
The republic is divided into six oblasttar (administrative regions,
Jalal-Abad Oblast, Jalal-Abad Oblast, Jalal-Abad Oblast, Osh Oblast, Talas
Oblast, Talas Oblast, plus the capital city of Bishkek.
Coastline
0 (landlocked) |
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Tajikistan
Quick Facts |
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Official Name
Republic of Tajikistan
Former Name
Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Type of Government
Republic
Population
6,102,854 (July 1999 est.)
Neighboring Countries
Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Ethnic Groups
Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%,
Russian 3.5%, Other 6.6% (1995)
Languages
Tajik is the official language, but Russian is
widely used in government and business
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
National Flag
The
Tajik flag has three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider strips of
white, and green plus a gold crown surmounted by seven five-pointed gold
stars in the center of the white stripe.3 |
Population (thousands)
6,087 (UN 2000 projection)
5,899 (Source: 1997 UN)
5,112 (Source: 12 Jan 1989 Soviet census)
3,801 (Source: 1979 Soviet census)
2,900 (Source: 1970 Soviet census)
1,981 (Source: 1959 Soviet census)
Population Projections (thousands)
7,097
(UN 2015 projection)
8,066 (UN 2025 projection)
9,763 (UN 2050 projection)
National Name
Jumhurii Tojikiston
Area
143,100 sq. km
Capital
Dushanbe
President
Emomali
Rahmonov
Date of Independence
9 September 1991
Monetary Unit
Tajikistani ruble |
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Turkmenistan
Quick Facts |
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Official Name
Turkmenistan
Former Name
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Type of Government
Republic
Neighboring Countries
Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Ethnic Groups
Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%Russian 6.7%,
Kazakh 2%, Other 5.1% (1995)
Languages
Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, Other 7%
Religions
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, Unknown 2%
National Flag
A green
field which includes a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret
vertical stripe in between with five white, black, and orange carpet guls,
which is an asymmetrical design used in rugs that is associated with the
five different tribes of the country. A white crescent and five white stars
are located in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls.3 |
Population
(thousands)
6,087
(UN 2000 projection)
4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)
3,534 (Source: 12 Jan 1989 Soviet census)
2,759 (Source: 1979 Soviet census)
2,159 (Source: 1970 Soviet census)
1,516 (Source: 1959 Soviet census)
Population Projections
(thousands)
7,097 (UN 2015 projection)
8,066 (UN 2025 projection)
9,763 (UN 2050 projection)
National Name
Turkmenistan
Area
488,100 sq. km
Capital
Ashgabat
President
Saparmurat Niyazov
Date of Independence
October 27, 1991
Monetary Unit
Turkmen Manat |
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Uzbekistan
Quick Facts |
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Official Name
Republic of Uzbekistan
Former Name
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Type of Government
Republic
Neighboring Countries
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
Ethnic Groups
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%,
Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5%
(1996)
Languages
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, Other 7.1%
Official language: Uzbek
Religions
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%,
Other 3%
National Flag
The
Uzbek flag has three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green
separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars located in
the upper hoist-side quadrant |
Population
24,881
(UN 2000 projection)
24,102,473 (July 1999 est.)
19,906 (Source: 12 Jan 1989)
15.391 (Source: 1979 Soviet census)
11,799 (Source: 1970 Soviet census)
8,119 (Source: 1959 Soviet census)
Population Projections (thousands)
30,554 (UN 2015 projection)
34,203 (UN 2025 projection)
40,513 (UN 2050 projection)
National Name
Uzbekiston Respublikasi
Area
172,740
sq. mi. (447,400 sq. km)
Capital
Tashkent
President
Islam
A. Karimov
Date of Independence
October 27, 1991
Monetary Unit
Uzbekistani som (sum) |
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