Afghanistan — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Afghanistan: capital Kabul, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Afghanistan is in Asia. Its capital is Kabul.

Climate

Arid to semi-arid; cold winters and hot summers; extreme temperature variations between day and night

Mostly rugged mountains; plains in the north and southwest; Hindu Kush range dominates the center

Afghanistan is known as the "Graveyard of Empires" for defeating many invaders.

The game of buzkashi, where horsemen compete to carry a goat carcass to a goal, is the national sport.

Afghanistan sits on an estimated $1-3 trillion in untapped mineral deposits, including vast lithium reserves.

330: Alexander the Great conquers the region

1747: Ahmad Shah Durrani founds the Durrani Empire, the beginning of modern Afghanistan

1919: Afghanistan gains full independence from British influence after the Third Anglo-Afghan War

1979: Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, sparking a decade-long war

2001: US-led invasion topples the Taliban regime after September 11 attacks

2021: Taliban retakes control of Afghanistan as US forces withdraw