Profiles of Countries
Country: Islamic State of Afghanistan
GNP: $800 per capita
Population: 23.7 million (1997 est.)
Life expectancy: 46.34 years
Ethnic groups: Pushtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shiite Muslim 15%
Size comparison: Slightly smaller than Texas
Area: 250,000 sq. miles
State Dept. evaluation: “Islamic extremists from around the world ... use Afghanistan as a training ground and home base.”
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Country: Republic of the Sudan
GNP: $860 per capita
Population: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
Life expectancy: 55.54 years
Ethnic groups: Black 52%, Arab 39%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70%, indigenous 25%, Christian 5%
Size comparison: About one-quarter of U.S.
Area: 967,500 sq. miles
State Dept. evaluation: “A haven, meeting place and training hub for a number of international terrorist organizations, primarily of Middle East origin.”
Sources: CIA World Factbook
Researched by DAVID COLKER / Los Angeles Times
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