1998 Edition

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

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

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

Environment-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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

27 00 N, 30 00 E

Geography-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

Irrigated land

32,460 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,689 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)

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 hazards

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

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 36% (male 12,173,882; female 11,637,239) 15-64 years: 60% (male 20,108,426; female 19,718,302) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,074,271; female 1,337,884) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

27.31 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.41 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

69.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.07 years male: 60.09 years female: 64.14 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.4% male: 63.6% female: 38.8% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian

Net migration rate

-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

66,050,004 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.86% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.41 children born/woman (1998 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

Constitution

11 September 1971

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)

Data code

EG

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4 January 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum; national referendum last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third term

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel KURTZER embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: [20] (2) 3557371

[20] (2) 3573200 branch office: Alexandria

Flag 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

Government type

republic

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed MAHER al-Sayed chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court 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 'ABDAL-'AL note: formation of political parties must be approved by government Political pressure groups and leaders: 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 two years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned

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 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-which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms) elections: People's Assembly-last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Advisory Council-last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA) election results: People's Assembly-percent of vote by party-NDP 72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party-NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1; Advisory Council-percent of vote by party-NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party-NA

National capital

Cairo

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $19.2 billion expenditures: $19.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $4 billion (FY96/97 est.)

Currency

1 Egyptian pound (£E) = 100 piasters

Debt-external

$30.5 billion (1996/97 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $1.713 billion (1993)

Economy-overview

At the end of the 1980s, Egypt faced problems of low productivity and poor economic management, compounded by the adverse social effects of excessive population growth, high inflation, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures, in 1991 Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has been supported by three successive IMF arrangements, the last of which was concluded in October 1996. Egypt's reform efforts-and its participation in the Gulf war coalition-also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. Although the pace of reform has been uneven and slower than envisaged under the IMF programs, substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance. Budget deficits have been slashed while foreign reserves in 1997 were at an all-time high. And Egypt has been moving toward a more decentralized, market-oriented economy. These economic reforms and growing investment opportunities have prompted increasing foreign investment, but incoming capital has largely been concentrated in stock market portfolio flows. Egypt's economy also has been hit by a sharp downturn in tourism-a key foreign exchange and job producing sector-following the 17 November 1997 massacre of foreign tourists at Luxor. Although Egypt will probably regain these revenues over time, the slump in tourism is likely to slow the GDP growth rate in 1998.

Electricity-capacity

13.04 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

778 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

48.5 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (£E) per US$1-3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992); market rate-3.3880 (January 1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994), 3.3718 (1993)

Exports

total value: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., FY96/97 est.) commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals partners: EU, US, Japan

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$267.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 17% industry: 32% services: 51% (1996)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$4,400 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

5.2% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $15.5 billion (c.i.f., FY96/97 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods partners: US, EU, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

4.9% (1997)

Labor force

total: 17.4 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, services, including government 38%, industry 22% (1990 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.)

Unemployment rate

9.4% (1997 est.)

Airports

89 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)

Heliports

2 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 161 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,225,989 GRT/1,899,818 DWT ships by type: bulk 24, cargo 60, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 15, passenger 42, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 3 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km Ports and harbors: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez

Railways

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

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

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$3.28 billion (FY95/96)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

8.2% (FY95/96)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 17,350,925 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 11,247,896 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

20 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 683,868 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km

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