50 General Knowledge Trivia Questions on Afghanistan

1.      What is the capital of Afghanistan?

The capital and largest city of Afghanistan is Kabul. Kabul is in the eastern part of the country, surrounded by mountains. It has been an important hub of trade and culture for centuries.

2.      What is the official and most widely spoken language of Afghanistan?

Dari and Pashto are the two official languages of Afghanistan. Dari, an Afghan dialect of Farsi, is the most widely spoken language and is used for inter-ethnic communication.

3.      Who was the last monarch of Afghanistan who was deposed in 1973?

The last king of Afghanistan was Mohammed Zahir Shah who reigned for four decades from 1933 until he was deposed in a bloodless coup by his cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan in 1973. This ended Afghanistan’s monarchy.

4.      What is Afghanistan’s landlocked country’s economy based on?

Afghanistan has a traditional economy largely based on agriculture and livestock with wheat, fruits, nuts and Karakul sheep pelts as major exports. Since 2001, international aid, illegal opium trade and service industry also contribute.

5.      What major crop is Afghanistan the world’s largest producer of?

Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium supplying more than 90% of the global opiate market. The major opium poppy growing regions are in the southern and western provinces.

6.      The Hindu Kush mountains stretch across which part of Afghanistan?

The Hindu Kush is an 800-km mountain range stretching across central Afghanistan from its center to the northern border. The rugged terrain makes internal travel difficult.

7.      What is Afghanistan’s official currency?

The afghani is the official currency of Afghanistan. It is issued by Da Afghanistan Bank and subdivided into 100 puls. After periods of high inflation, the afghani was redenominated in 2003.

8.      Who invaded Afghanistan in 1979 which began nearly 30 years of war?

In 1979 Soviet forces entered Afghanistan to back a communist regime which had recently come to power, starting a decade long occupation. This triggered conflict with mujahideen rebels that led to decades of ongoing turmoil.

9.      Who led Afghanistan as head of an Islamic state for 5 years until 2001?

The Taliban regime under spiritual leader Mullah Mohammed Omar ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 imposing strict interpretation of Islamic law. They were ousted by US-backed forces for harboring Osama Bin Laden after 9/11.

10. What ethnic group makes up about 40% of Afghanistan’s population?

Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan making up over 40% of the total population. They have been politically dominant for most of the country’s history. Other groups include Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.

11. What is Afghanistan’s main export commodity?

Afghanistan’s main export commodity is opium and its derivatives such as heroin and morphine. Afghanistan produces over 90% of the world’s illicit opium. Other exports include fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, and precious stones.

12. Kabul is located next to which mountains?

Kabul is located in a narrow valley next to the Hindu Kush mountain range which stretches across central Afghanistan. The mountains provide scenic views but make internal travel difficult.

13. Afghanistan connects Central Asia with which ocean through Iran?

Afghanistan being a landlocked country, relies on neighbors to access international waters. It connects with the Indian Ocean via Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, allowing trade ties with Central Asia.

14. What percentage of Afghanistan’s total land area is mountainous?

Around 75% of Afghanistan’s total land area is mountainous or semi mountainous terrain making it one of the most rugged countries on Earth. Major ranges include Hindu Kush, Pamir and Toba Kakar.

15. Which crop accounts for most of Afghanistan’s agricultural production?

Wheat accounts for the majority of Afghanistan’s legal agricultural production employing about 45% of the population. Other major crops are corn, rice, barley, fruits like grapes, apples, almonds and pistachios.

16. Who founded the Durrani Empire which ruled parts of modern Afghanistan?

Ahmad Shah Durrani, who served as a military commander under Nader Shah of Persia, founded the Durrani Empire in 1747. The Empire covered present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northeastern Iran.

17. What is Afghanistan’s national sport?

Afghanistan’s national sport is Buzkashi. It is a traditional Central Asian sport played on horse-back where riders attempt to place a headless goat carcass in a goal. It often has high stakes with the winning team keeping the goat hide.

18. Which dynasty ruled the Kabul Shahi kingdom based in Afghanistan?

The Hindu Shahi dynasty ruled the Kabul Shahi kingdom in the eastern part of modern Afghanistan during the 9th and 10th centuries CE. At its peak the kingdom stretched from Kabul to other parts of Gandhara.

19. What is the most widely practiced religion in Afghanistan?

Islam is the official and most widely practiced religion in Afghanistan with approximately 99.7% of Afghans identifying as Muslim. Of these, 80-89% are Sunni Muslims while 10-19% are Shias.

20. In 2004, Afghanistan adopted a new national currency to replace what old currency?

In 2004, the new Afghan afghani currency was adopted to replace the old Afghani that had undergone rampant inflation and devaluation during decades of war in Afghanistan essentially becoming worthless.

21. What major trade route linking Europe to South Asia historically passed through Afghanistan?

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes running across Central Asia connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. It passed through Afghanistan for trade in textiles, spices and other goods.

22. What Afghan city located on the Silk Road was almost completely destroyed by Genghis Khan?

The city of Herat located on the Silk Road in northwest Afghanistan has been destroyed more than a dozen times in its history. Genghis Khan’s son completely demolished and massacred the city’s population in 1221.

23. Which ethnic group ruled Afghanistan for about 250 years until 1973?

The Pashtun Durrani tribe ruled Afghanistan from 1747 founding the Durrani empire, through the establishment of the Barakzai dynasty and finally as Mohammadzai rulers until 1973 when the monarchy ended.

24. What is Afghanistan’s main import commodity?

Afghanistan’s main imports are petroleum products, machinery, food items, medicine, textiles and other consumer products. In recent years, there has also been large inflows of international aid, rebuilding funds and military supplies.

25. Who won the power struggle and became king after the Durrani Empire dissolved in 1826?

After the Durrani empire dissolved, Dost Mohammad Khan emerged as the most powerful ruler and became Emir in 1826 establishing the Barakzai dynasty. This paved the way for his successors to claim the title Shah, or king of Afghanistan.

26. Which mountain pass connects Afghanistan and Pakistan?

The famous Khyber Pass connects eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Spin Ghar mountain range. For centuries, it has been an important military and trade route between Central Asia and South Asia.

27. Who invaded Afghanistan in 1839 sparking the First Anglo-Afghan war?

British East Indian forces under Sir John Keane invaded Afghanistan in 1839, sparking the First Anglo-Afghan war. Incensed by Russia’s advances, Britain aimed to replace Afghanistan’s ruler Dost Mohammad Barakzai with Shuja Shah Durrani.

28. Afghanistan shares borders with how many countries?

Afghanistan is a landlocked country bordering 6 nations – Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north, and a small eastern border with China.

29. What are Afghanistan’s 2 official languages?

Afghanistan’s de facto official languages are Dari Persian spoken by a majority, and Pashto spoken widely as a second language. Both have official legal status at national level under the 2004 constitution recognizing Afghanistan’s ethnic diversity.

30. Masla-e-Koh is the second highest mountain peak located where in Afghanistan?

At 7,495 meters, Masla-e-Koh is Afghanistan’s second highest peak located in the Hindu Kush range about 50 miles northwest of Kabul near Bamiyan province.

31. Which Afghan city’s name means ‘Grandmother’?

The city of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province gets its name from Jalalabad – two Persian words meaning “grandmother city”. It is one of the largest and oldest cities in the region.

32. Who founded the Hotaki dynasty that ruled parts of modern Afghanistan from 1722 to 1729?

Gulam Khan Hotak, an ethnic Pashtun, founded the Hotaki dynasty based in Kandahar after his army rebelled against the Persian Safavids and conquered territory across Persia’s Afghan provinces in 1722.

33. What was the last Afghanistan province to fall to Taliban rule in 1998?

The Northern Alliance held out against attacking Taliban fighters until 1998 when the last opposition-controlled Afghan province of Bamiyan finally fell, marking the end of organized resistance, and bringing 90% of Afghanistan under Taliban regime.

34. What is Afghanistan’s main religion?

Islam is Afghanistan’s main and official state religion with 99.7% of Afghans identifying as Muslims. Most belong to the Sunni sect while a smaller minority are Shias. The remaining practice other faiths like Sikhism and Hinduism.

35. Name the 3 major ethnic groups in Afghanistan.

The 3 main ethnic groups are: 1. Pashtun 42% 2. Tajik 27% 3. Hazara 9%. Other groups include Uzbek, Aimak, Turkmen, Baloch and Nuristani constituting over 13 different ethnic tribes.

36. Which Afghan monarch acceded to the throne in 1933 when just 19 years old?

Mohammed Zahir Shah ascended to the Afghan throne in 1933 at age 19 after his father Nader Khan was assassinated. Zahir Shah reigned for 4 decades as king until he was overthrown in 1973, bringing an end to dynastic rule.

37. Which river forms part of Afghanistan’s border with Iran?

The Helmand river, one of the longest in Central Asia, forms part of Afghanistan’s western border with Iran, separating Nimruz province from Iran’s Sistan region. Dams and irrigation canals in Afghanistan reduce its flow downstream.

38. Which ethnic group are the traditional nomadic herders of Afghanistan?

Ethnic Kuchis or Kuchi nomads tending to large herds of sheep, goats and camels comprise about 10% of Afghans. For centuries they have migrated seasonally across Afghanistan’s remote deserts and mountains.

39. Which city served as Afghanistan’s capital during the 1980s Soviet occupation?

During the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the capital shifted from Kabul to the eastern city of Jalalabad due to intense fighting between Russian forces and mujahideen rebels in the capital region.

40. What is Afghanistan’s main airline?

Ariana Afghan Airlines set up in 1955 is Afghanistan’s oldest and largest airline. It operates domestic routes within Afghanistan as well as international flights to the Middle East, Europe and Asia from its base in Kabul and other cities.

41. What dry fruit is Afghanistan world’s largest producer and exporter of?

Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer and exporter of raisins accounting for about 15-20% of global production. Most of the golden colored seedless grapes grown for raisins come from Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

42. Who conquered Kabul in 1504 establishing the Mughal Empire’s rule over Afghanistan?

The founder of India’s Mughal Empire, Babur, conquered Kabul defeating the Argun dynasty in 1504. This marked the start of the Mughal dynasty’s dominance over the Kabul region for over 2 centuries until 1738.

43. Which dynasty emerged in Kandahar and ruled Afghanistan from 1747 to 1826?

The Durrani Empire was established by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747 with its capital in Kandahar. At its peak, it controlled modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and Punjab until internal rivalry ended it after Shah Shuja’s death.

44. Afghanistan connects Central Asia with which sea through Turkmenistan?

A landlocked country, Afghanistan reaches the Caspian Sea via Turkmenistan, facilitating trade links between Central and South Asia with access to seaports and maritime routes of Azerbaijan and Russia that border the Caspian.

45. What percentage of Afghanistan’s population lives below the national poverty line?

Despite international aid, 55% percent of Afghans live below the national poverty line as per asian development bank report in 2020. Poverty and unemployment rates in Afghanistan are still among the highest globally.

46. Which Afghan province was once called Khorasan meaning ‘Land of the Sun’?

The Afghanistan province of Balkh, with its capital city of Mazar-e-Sharif, was once part of the ancient region of Khorasan – translated as ‘Land where the sun rises’ or ‘Land of the sunrise and wisdom’ in Persian.

47. What do most Afghans do to celebrate the Islamic festival of Eid ul-Fitr?

On Eid ul-Fitr, Afghans dress in new clothes, exchange sweets and money, attend early morning prayers at local mosques followed by days of feasting, merry-making and family visits. Many also visit graveyards and make special food dishes.

48. Which Afghan city is home to the famous blue Minaret of Jam mosque tower?

The UNESCO heritage site Minaret of Jam built in 1190s is a stunning 65-meter blue brick minaret located next to the Hari river near the remote Ghor province city of Firozkoh, also called Chishti Sharif.

49. What soft drink company built Afghanistan’s first bottling factory in 2006?

Coca-Cola built Afghanistan’s first soft drink bottling factory in 2006 near Kabul which produces Coke, Fanta and Sprite to address rising local demand. This aided job creation and now supplies Afghan vendors and small stores.

50. Which Afghan province contains Osama bin Laden’s former training base and hideout?

Bin Laden’s former military headquarters called the Tora Bora cave complex is located near the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan. It was built with CIA support when bin Laden fought the Soviets in Afghanistan.