The 1990 CIA World Factbook | Page 7

have that nationality but
are subject to a separate set of maritime rules from those on the main
national register. These differences usually include lower taxation of
profits, manning by foreign nationals, and, usually, ownership outside
the flag state (when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian
International Ship Register and Danish International Ship Register are
the most notable examples of an internal register. Both have been
instrumental in stemming flight from the national flag to flags of
convenience and in attracting foreign-owned ships to the Norwegian
and Danish flags. Merchant ship--A vessel that carries goods against

payment of freight. Commonly used to denote any nonmilitary ship but
accurately restricted to commercial vessels only. Register--The record
of a ship's ownership and nationality as listed with the maritime
authorities of a country. Also, the compendium of such individual
ships' registrations. Registration of a ship provides it with a nationality
and makes it subject to the laws of the country in which registered (the
flag state) regardless of the nationality of the ship's ultimate owner.
Money figures: All are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars
unless otherwise indicated. Net migration rate: The balance between
the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year
per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons
entering the country is referred to as net immigration (3.56
migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as
net emigration (-9.26 migrants/1,000 population). Population: Figures
are estimates from the Bureau of the Census based on statistics from
population censuses, vital registration systems, or sample surveys
pertaining to the recent past, and on assumptions about future trends.
Total fertility rate: The average number of children that would be born
per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and
bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. Years: All
year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal
year (FY).
------------------------------------------------------------------- THE WORLD
FACTBOOK 1990
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Country: Afghanistan - Geography Total area: 647,500 km2; land area:
647,500 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas Land
boundaries: 5,826 km total; China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430
km, USSR 2,384 km Coastline: none--landlocked Maritime claims:
none--landlocked Disputes: Pashtun question with Pakistan; Baloch
question with Iran and Pakistan; periodic disputes with Iran over
Helmand water rights; insurgency with Iranian and Pakistani
involvement; traditional tribal rivalries Climate: arid to semiarid; cold
winters and hot summers Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in
north and southwest Natural resources: natural gas, crude oil, coal,

copper, talc, barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones Land use: 12% arable land; NEGL% permanent
crops; 46% meadows and pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 39% other;
includes NEGL% irrigated Environment: damaging earthquakes occur
in Hindu Kush mountains; soil degradation, desertification, overgrazing,
deforestation, pollution Note: landlocked - People Population:
15,862,293 (July 1990), growth rate 7.7% (1990) Birth rate: 44
births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population
(1990) Net migration rate: 51 migrants/1,000 population (1990);
note--there are flows across the border in both directions, but data are
fragmentary and unreliable Infant mortality rate: 154 deaths/1,000 live
births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 46 years female
(1990) Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1990) Nationality:
noun--Afghan(s); adjective--Afghan Ethnic divisions: 50% Pashtun,
25% Tajik, 9% Uzbek, 12-15% Hazara; minor ethnic groups include
Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others Religion: 74% Sunni
Muslim, 15% Shia Muslim, 11% other Language: 50% Pashtu, 35%
Afghan Persian (Dari), 11% Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and
Turkmen), 4% thirty minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai);
much bilingualism Literacy: 12% Labor force: 4,980,000; 67.8%
agriculture and animal husbandry, 10.2% industry, 6.3% construction,
5.0% commerce, 10.7% services and other (1980 est.) Organized labor:
some small government-controlled unions - Government Long-form
name: Republic of Afghanistan Type: authoritarian Capital: Kabul
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular--velayat);
Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni,
Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar,
Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia,
Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol;
note--there may be a new province of Nurestan (Nuristan)
Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK) Constitution: adopted 30
November 1987 Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction National holiday: Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, 27
April (1978) Executive branch: president, four vice presidents, prime
minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Meli Shura) consists
of an upper house or Senate (Sena) and a lower house or House of

Representatives (Wolasi Jirgah) Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President
(Mohammad) NAJIBULLAH (Ahmadzai) (since 30 November 1987);
Chairman of the Council of Ministers Executive Committee Soltan Ali
KESHTMAND (since 21 February 1989); Prime Minister Fazil Haq
KHALIQYAR (since 21 May 1990) Political parties and leaders: only