Which country covers 652,230 square kilometers in South-Central Asia?

Afghanistan is the South-Central Asian country associated with an area of 652,230 square kilometers.

That figure is commonly given as Afghanistan’s land area; some references list a slightly larger total area of about 652,864 square kilometers after including inland water. The difference explains why quizzes and statistical tables sometimes show two nearby numbers for the same country.

Afghanistan is landlocked at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. The Hindu Kush dominates its terrain, separating northern plains from broad southwestern plateaus and basins. Kabul is the capital and largest city, while the country’s borders connect it with Pakistan, Tajikistan, China, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The number is often confused with Pakistan’s much larger area or Nepal’s much smaller Himalayan territory. Afghanistan has no coastline, and much of its water originates as winter snow that feeds rivers flowing toward neighboring countries. Its geographic position has also made it a historic meeting point for Persian, Central Asian, and South Asian cultures.