2001 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.59% (male 12,313,585; female 11,739,072) 15-64 years: 61.6% (male 21,614,284; female 21,217,978) 65 years and over: 3.81% (male 1,160,967; female 1,490,758) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Airports

90 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 69 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2000 est.)

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

Background

Nominally 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. Egypt Geography

Birth rate

24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $22.6 billion expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99)

Capital

Cairo

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

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)

Currency

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code

EGP

Death rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$31 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: [20] (2) 795-7371

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nabil FAHMY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400

Disputes - international

Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)

Economy - overview

A series of IMF arrangements - along with massive external debt relief resulting from Egypt's participation in the Gulf war coalition - helped Egypt improve its macroeconomic performance during the 1990s. Sound fiscal and monetary policies through the mid-1990s helped to tame inflation, slash budget deficits, and build up foreign reserves, while structural reforms such as privatization and new business legislation prompted increased foreign investment. By mid-1998, however, the pace of structural reform slackened, and lower combined hard currency earnings resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and sporadic US dollar shortages. External payments were not in crisis, but Cairo's attempts to curb demand for foreign exchange convinced some investors and currency traders that government financial operations lacked transparency and coordination. Monetary pressures have since eased, however, with the 1999-2000 higher oil prices, a rebound in tourism, and a series of mini-devaluations of the pound. The development of a gas export market is a major plus factor in future growth.

Electricity - consumption

60.157 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

64.685 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 76.59% hydro: 23.41% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

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 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 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 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds per US dollar - market rate - 3.8400 (January 2001), 3.6900 (2000), 3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Atef OBEID (since 5 October 1999) 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 26 September 1999 (next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term

Exports

$7.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 35%, Middle East 17%, Afro-Asian countries 14%, US 12% (1999)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

[20] (2) 797-2000

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Egypt Communications

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, which 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 Egypt Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $247 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 17% industry: 32% services: 51% (1999)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

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; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees Egypt People

Government type

republic

Heliports

2 (2000 est.) Egypt Military

Highways

total: 64,000 km paved: 50,000 km unpaved: 14,000 km (1996)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.02% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)

Illicit drugs

a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers

Imports

$17 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners

EU 36%, US 14%, Afro-Asian countries 14%, Middle East 6% (1999)

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

60.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2000)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.eg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

50 (2000)

Internet users

300,000 (2000) Egypt Transportation

Irrigated land

32,460 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Labor force

19.9 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 29%, services 49%, industry 22% (FY99)

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.)

Languages

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

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 - three-phase voting - last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA) election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP 7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.69 years male: 61.62 years female: 65.85 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

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

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

Merchant marine

total: 181 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336,678 GRT/1,982,220 DWT ships by type: bulk 23, cargo 61, container 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 61, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 15, short-sea passenger 3 (2000 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.04 billion (FY99/00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.1% (FY99/00) Egypt Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 18,562,994 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 12,020,059 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 712,983 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Nationality

noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian

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

Net migration rate

-0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Pipelines

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

Political parties and leaders

Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA] 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 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

Population

69,536,644 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

22.9% (FY95/96 est.)

Population growth rate

1.69% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios

20.5 million (1997)

Railways

total: 4,955 km standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double track) (2000)

Religions

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

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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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: 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; a participant in Medarabtel and a signatory to Project Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system)

Telephones - main lines in use

3,971,500 (December 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

380,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

98 (September 1995)

Televisions

7.7 million (1997)

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Total fertility rate

3.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.5% (2000 est.)

Waterways

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