The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates
27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total
1,001,450 sq km
land
995,450 sq km
water
6,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries
total
2,665 km
border countries
Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline
2,450 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
24 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain
vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees
Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Religions
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%
Languages
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
71.4%
male
83%
female
59.4% (2005 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form
Egypt
local long form
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form
Misr
former
United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Government type
republic
Capital
name
Cairo
geographic coordinates
30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Thursday in September
Administrative divisions
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, As Suways, Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence
28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution
11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980 and 25 May 2005
Legal system
based on Islamic and civil law (particularly Napoleonic codes); judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch
chief of state
President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)
head of government
Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
elections
president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura that functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and 20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December 2010); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2007 (next to be held May-June 2010)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10 seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 84, Tagammu 1, independents 3
Judicial branch
Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders
National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow Party [Naji AL-GHATRIFI]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government
Political pressure groups and leaders
despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Hosni MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
Economy - overview
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew about 5% per year in 2005-06. Despite these achievements, the government has failed to raise living standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have contributed to a growing budget deficit - more than 10% of GDP each year - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreign direct investment remains low. To achieve higher GDP growth the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit of reform, especially in the energy sector. Egypt's export sectors - particularly natural gas - have bright prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$334.4 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$85.37 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
6.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,200 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
14.7%
industry
35.5%
services
49.8% (2006 est.)
Labor force
21.8 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
32%
industry
17%
services
51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
10.3% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
20% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
4.4%
highest 10%
25% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
34.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$21.32 billion
expenditures
$31.83 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2006 est.)
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Exports - partners
Italy 12.2%, US 11.4%, Spain 8.6%, UK 5.6%, France 5.4%, Syria 5.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.4%, Germany 4.2% (2006)
Imports
$35.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners
US 11.4%, China 8.2%, Germany 6.4%, Italy 5.4%, Saudi Arabia 5%, France 4.6% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$26.3 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$29.59 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)
Currency (code)
Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code
EGP
Exchange rates
Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Telephones - main lines in use
10.396 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
14.045 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available
domestic
principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
international
country code - 20; 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (1998)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios
20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
98 (September 1995)
Televisions
7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code
.eg
Internet hosts
2,254 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
50 (2000)
Internet users
5 million (2005)
Airports
88 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
72
over 3,047 m
13
2,438 to 3,047 m
38
1,524 to 2,437 m
16
under 914 m
5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
16
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
914 to 1,523 m
5
under 914 m
7 (2006)
Heliports
3 (2006)
Pipelines
condensate 464 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,021 km; liquid petroleum gas 897 km; oil 5,120 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined products 897 km (2006)
Railways
total
5,063 km
standard gauge
5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways
total
92,370 km
paved
74,820 km
unpaved
17,550 km (2004)
Waterways
3,500 km
note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2006)
Merchant marine
total
76 ships (1000 GRT or over) 987,524 GRT/1,467,139 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 14, cargo 33, container 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned
9 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2)
registered in other countries
49 (Bolivia 2, Cambodia 8, Georgia 8, Honduras 4, North Korea 2, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Sierra Leone 1, Thailand 1, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year service obligation (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
18,347,560
females age 18-49
17,683,904 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
15,540,234
females age 18-49
14,939,378 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
802,920
females age 18-49
764,176 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
3.4% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
while Sudan retains claim to the Hala'ib Triangle north of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, both states withdrew their military presence in the 1990s and Egypt has invested in and effectively administers the area; Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip to deter terrorist, smuggling, and other illegal activities; Egypt does not extend domestic asylum to some 70,000 persons who identify themselves as Palestinians but who largely lack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognition as refugees
Egypt is a transit country for women trafficked from Eastern Europe to Israel for the purpose of sexual exploitation; these women generally arrive as tourists and are subsequently trafficked through the Sinai Desert by Bedouin tribes; men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are believed to be trafficked through the Sinai Desert to Israel and Europe for labor exploitation; some Egyptian children from rural areas are trafficked within the country to work as domestic servants or laborers in the agriculture industry
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List - Egypt is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking over the past year, particularly in the area of law enforcement
Illicit drugs
transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations
