1996 Edition

Description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band

Location

27 00 N, 30 00 E -- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

land area

995,450 sq km

total area

1,001,450 sq km

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

Environment

current issues

agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salinization 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 natural resources

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber 94

natural hazards

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms

Geographic coordinates

27 00 N, 30 00 E

Geographic note

controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

International disputes

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high

Irrigated land

25,850 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km

total

2,689 km

Land use

arable land

3%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

95%

permanent crops

2%

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

highest point

Mount Catherine 2,629 m

lowest point

Qattara Depression -133 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 37% (male 11,970,197; female 11,462,689) 15-64 years: 60% (male 19,127,696; female 18,738,304) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,028,916; female 1,247,305) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

28.18 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

Infant mortality rate

72.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Life expectancy at birth

female

63.46 years (1996 est.)

male

59.51 years

total population

61.43 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

38.8%

male

63.6%

total population

51.4%

Nationality

adjective

Egyptian

noun

Egyptian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

63,575,107 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.91% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic Christian and other 6% (official estimate)

Sex ratio

all ages

1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.58 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina, Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina, Suhaj

Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)

functions only in a consultative role; elections last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA); results - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats - (264 total, 176 elected, 88 appointed by the president) seats by party NA

Capital

Cairo

Constitution

11 September 1971

Data code

EG

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (sworn in as president 14 October 1981, eight days after the assassination of President SADAT); national referendum held 4 October 1993 validated MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third six-year presidential term; note - the president is nominated by the People's Assembly and that nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum

head of government

Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed al-GANZOURI (since 4 January 1996) was appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319, 5131

[20] (2) 3573200

branch office

Alexandria

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Legal system

based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Arab Republic of Egypt

conventional short form

Egypt

former

United Arab Republic (with Syria)

local long form

Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

local short form

none

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)

Other political or pressure groups

despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past year to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned

People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b)

elections last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - NDP 72%, idependents 25%, opposition 3%; seats - (454 total, 444 elected, 10 appointed by the president) NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party;

legal opposition parties are as follows

New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party (SLP), Ibrahim SHUKRI; National Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid Muhi al-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party, Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), leader NA; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party, Muhammad 'ABD-AL-'AL

note

formation of political parties must be approved by government

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.

embassy

(North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo

mailing address

APO AE 09839-4900, Unit 64900, Cairo

telephone

[20] (2) 3557371

Agriculture

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons

Budget

expenditures

$19.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.8 billion (FY94/95 est.)

revenues

$18 billion

Currency

1 Egyptian pound (LE) = 100 piasters

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $1.713 billion (1993)

Economic overview

Half of Egypt's GDP originates in the public sector, most industrial plants being owned by the government. Overregulation holds back technical modernization and foreign investment. Even so, the economy grew rapidly during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but in 1986 the collapse of world oil prices and an increasingly heavy burden of debt servicing led Egypt to begin negotiations with the IMF for balance-of-payments support. Egypt's first IMF standby arrangement, concluded in mid-1987, was suspended in early 1988 because of the government's failure to adopt promised reforms. Egypt signed a follow-on program with the IMF and also negotiated a structural adjustment loan with the World Bank in 1991. In 1991-93 the government made solid progress on administrative reforms such as liberalizing exchange and interest rates, but resisted implementing major structural reforms like streamlining the public sector. As a result, the economy has not gained enough momentum to tackle the growing problem of unemployment. Egypt made uneven progress in implementing the successor programs it signed onto in late 1993 with the IMF and World Bank; currently it is negotiating another successor program with the IMF. President MUBARAK has cited population growth as the main cause of the country's economic troubles. The addition of about 1.2 million people a year to the already huge population of 63 million exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the land area available for agriculture along the Nile.

Electricity

capacity

11,830,000 kW

consumption per capita

695 kWh (1993)

production

44.5 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (LE) per US$1 - 3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990);

market rate

3.3920 (January 1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994), 3.3718 (1993), 3.3386 (1992), 3.3322 (1991)

Exports

$5.4 billion (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)

commodities

crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

partners

EU, US, Japan

External debt

$33.6 billion (FY93/94 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $171 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$2,760 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of hashish from Lebanon and Syria

Imports

$15.2 billion (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)

commodities

machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods

partners

US, EU, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.4% (yearend 1995)

Labor force

16 million (1994 est.)

by occupation

government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces 36%, agriculture 34%, privately owned service and manufacturing enterprises 20% (1984)

note

shortage of skilled labor; 2.5 million Egyptians work abroad, mostly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1995 est.)

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 8.2% of GDP (FY94/95 est.)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

16,530,460

males fit for military service

10,723,011

males reach military age (20) annually

660,453 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 39, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading

domestic

principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; participant in Medarabtel

Telephones

2.2 million (1993)

Television broadcast stations

41

Televisions

5 million (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

80

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

16

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

34

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2

with paved runways over 3 047 m

11

with paved runways under 914 m

9

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

4 (1995 est.)

Heliports

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

34,593 km

total

47,387 km

unpaved

12,794 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 22, cargo 74, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 33, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 4 (1995 est.)

total

164 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,187,290 GRT/1,833,108 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km

Ports

Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez

Railways

standard gauge

4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)

total

4,751 km

Waterways

3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water