Geography & environment — Afghanistan
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Afghanistan: Asia
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Asia
- Geographic Coordinates
33 00 N, 65 00 E
- Total Area
251,826 Square Miles 652,230 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
251,826 Square Miles 652,230 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
3,436 Miles 5,529 Kilometers
- Border Countries
China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Physical geography
- Terrain
Mostly rugged mountains; plains in the north and southwest
- Highest Point
7,485 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Nowshak 7,485 meters
- Lowest Point
258 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
Amu Darya 258 meters
- Natural Resources
Natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
- Irrigated Land
7,696 Square Miles 19,933 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
does not observe daylight savings time
Climate
- Climate
Afghanistan's climate compromises a cold, snowy winter and hot, dry summer. Extreme temperature changes occur from night to day, season to season, and from place to place. During summer in Kabul (altitude 5,800 feet) the temperature may be 50°F at sunrise but reach 100°F by noon. In the Jalalabad Plains (1,800 feet and 90 miles from Kabul) and southwestern parts of the country, summer temperatures can reach 115°F. The chief characteristic of Afghanistan's climate is a blue cloudless sky with over 300 days of sunshine yearly. Even during the winter, skies usually remain clear between snowfalls. Since rainfall is scarce from May to November, this period can be extremely dry and dusty. In recent years, drought has impaired agricultural production in some areas.
- Terrain
Mostly rugged mountains; plains in the north and southwest
- Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
- Total Area
251,826 Square Miles 652,230 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
Limited natural fresh water resources
inadequate supplies of potable water
soil degradation
overgrazing
deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials)
desertification
air and water pollution
- Environment - International Agreements
Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
