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.”

****

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