Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Afghanistan: Kabul — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul. Afghanistan sits in Asia, has a population of 41,128,771, and uses the AFN. Official languages include Pashto, Dari.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Kabul
  • Continent: Asia
  • Population: ~41,128,771
  • Area: 652,230 km²
  • Population density: 63.1 people per km²
  • Official languages: Pashto, Dari
  • Currency: AFN
  • ISO code: AF

How big is Afghanistan?

By population, Afghanistan ranks 36th in the world, holding roughly 0.52% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 40th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Afghanistan has 63.1 people per square kilometre, which is close to the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.

Within Asia, Afghanistan is the 15th most populous country of 48.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Afghanistan in population are Poland (39,857,145) and Canada (38,929,902).

By land area, its closest counterparts are South Sudan (644,329 km²) and France (643,801 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Pashto is listed as an official language of Afghanistan alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

Afghanistan uses the AFN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Afghanistan

Kabul sits on the Kabul River, high in the mountains. K for Kabul, K for the Hindu Kush around it.

The flag of Afghanistan: black, red and green

🇦🇫 The flag is the flag used in quizzes and at the United Nations has three vertical stripes of black, red and green with the national emblem in white in the centre; since 2021 the Taliban administration has used a white flag with black writing instead. On the tricolour, black is usually said to stand for the past, red for those who fought for independence and green for hope and Islam.

Region and neighbours

Afghanistan is a landlocked, mountainous country where Central Asia meets South Asia, crossed by the Hindu Kush mountains. It shares land borders with 6 countries: Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. The very short border with China is at the end of the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in the northeast. Afghanistan is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.

Three facts about Afghanistan

  1. The Hindu Kush mountains cover much of the country.
  2. The Wakhan Corridor, a long thin strip of land, gives Afghanistan a short border with China.
  3. The Minaret of Jam, a tall brick tower built in the 1100s in a remote valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sources: Wikipedia: Afghanistan, Wikipedia: Flag of Afghanistan, Wikipedia: Kabul, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Afghanistan

Afghanistan capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Afghanistan 🇦🇫?

    • Ashgabat
    • Kabul
    • Vientiane
    • Baku
    Show answer

    Kabul

  2. What is the capital of Iraq 🇮🇶?

    • Ramallah
    • Baghdad
    • Amman
    • Singapore
    Show answer

    Baghdad

  3. What is the capital of Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦?

    • Riyadh
    • Islamabad
    • Thimphu
    • Jerusalem
    Show answer

    Riyadh

  4. What is the capital of Uzbekistan 🇺🇿?

    • Doha
    • Tashkent
    • Colombo
    • Seoul
    Show answer

    Tashkent

  5. What is the capital of Malaysia 🇲🇾?

    • Doha
    • Bandar Seri Begawan
    • Kuala Lumpur
    • Jerusalem
    Show answer

    Kuala Lumpur

Afghanistan in Asia

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Afghanistan belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Afghanistan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Afghanistan?

The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul.

What is the population of Afghanistan?

About 41,128,771, making it the 36th most populous country in the world.

How big is Afghanistan?

652,230 square kilometres, ranking 40th by land area, at a density of 63.1 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Afghanistan use?

The AFN, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Afghanistan flag?

The flag of Afghanistan is the flag used in quizzes and at the United Nations has three vertical stripes of black, red and green with the national emblem in white in the centre; since 2021 the Taliban administration has used a white flag with black writing instead. On the tricolour, black is usually said to stand for the past, red for those who fought for independence and green for hope and Islam.

Which countries border Afghanistan?

Afghanistan shares land borders with Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. The very short border with China is at the end of the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in the northeast.

How can I remember the capital of Afghanistan?

Kabul sits on the Kabul River, high in the mountains. K for Kabul, K for the Hindu Kush around it.

More capitals to learn

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