Afghanistan, which is slightly smaller than Texas, has a population of about 27 million people (July 2001). Although its refugee crisis and the dismal state of its health care system have gained worldwide attention since the terrorist attacks in the US, Afghanistan was in crisis long before Sept. 11. The following data are from The World Factbook, published by the US Central Intelligence Agency. Statistics for Afghanistan are presented first, with Canadian information in parentheses. All are 2001 data, unless indicated otherwise.
Annual population growth: 3.48% (0.99%)
Birth rate: 41.42/1000 population (11.21)
Death rate: 17.72/1000 population (7.47)
Life expectancy at birth: 46.97 [male], 45.47 [female] (76.16, 83.13)
Infant mortality rate: 147.02/1000 live births (5.02)
Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1.6)
Literacy: 31.5%, 1999 estimate (97%, 1986 estimate)
Age structure: 0–14, 42.2% (18.95%); 15–64, 55.01% (68.28%); 65 and over, 2.79% (12.77%).
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Patrick Sullivan
CMAJ