2003 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: 33.9% (male 12,964,852; female 12,346,808) 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 23,375,037; female 22,865,190) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 1,359,685; female 1,807,225) (2003 est.)

Area

land

995,450 sq km

total

1,001,450 sq km

water

6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Background

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. Geography Egypt

Birth rate

24.36 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

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

former

United Arab Republic (with Syria)

local long form

Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

local short form

Misr

Death rate

5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Catherine 2,629 m

lowest point

Qattara Depression -133 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 the Nile and 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%

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)

election results

national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term

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

head of government

Prime Minister Atef Mohammed ABEID (since 5 October 1999)

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, 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 People Egypt

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,000 (2001 est.)

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

Infant mortality rate

female

34.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

36.02 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

33,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Land boundaries

border countries

Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km

total

2,665 km

Land use

arable land

2.85%

other

96.68% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.47%

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)

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

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73 years (2003 est.)

male

67.94 years

total population

70.41 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

46.9% (2003 est.) Government Egypt

male

68.3%

total population

57.7%

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

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

Median age

female

23.5 years (2002)

male

22.8 years

total

23.1 years

National holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Nationality

adjective

Egyptian

noun

Egyptian(s)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; 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

-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK] - 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 the

Population

74,718,797 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.88% (2003 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Total fertility rate

3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

89 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 38

total

71

under 914 m

3 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18

under 914 m

9 (2002) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6

Budget

expenditures

$26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2001)

revenues

$21.5 billion

Currency

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code

EGP

Debt - external

$30.5 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador C. David WELCH

embassy

5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo

mailing address

Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900

telephone

[20] (2) 797-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Disputes - international

Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence - Egypt is economically developing the "Hala'ib triangle" north of the Treaty line

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.9 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)

Economy - overview

Egypt improved its macroeconomic performance throughout most of the last decade by following IMF advice on fiscal, monetary, and structural reform policies. As a result, Egypt managed to tame inflation, slash budget deficits, and attract more foreign investment. In the past four years, however, the pace of reform has slackened, and excessive spending on national infrastructure projects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign exchange earnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and periodic dollar shortages. Monetary pressures have increased since 11 September 2001 because of declines in tourism and Suez Canal tolls, and Egypt has devalued the pound several times in the past year. The development of a gas export market is a major bright spot for future growth prospects. In the short term, regional tensions will continue to affect tourism and hold back prospects for economic expansion.

Electricity - consumption

69.96 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

75.23 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

81%

hydro

19%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 4.5 (2002), 3.97 (2001), 3.47 (2000), 3.4 (1999), 3.39 (1998)

Exports

$7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 18.3%, Italy 13.7%, UK 8.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319

[20] (2) 797-3200

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Egypt

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 Economy Egypt

GDP

purchasing power parity - $289.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

17%

industry

34%

services

49% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2002 est.)

Heliports

2 (2002) Military Egypt

Highways

paved

49,984 km

total

64,000 km

unpaved

14,016 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25% (1995)

lowest 10%

4.4%

Illicit drugs

transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax banking regulations This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$15.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 16.9%, Germany 7.9%, Italy 6.7%, France 6.5%, China 5%, UK 4.1% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.eg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

50 (2000)

Internet users

600,000 (2002) Transportation Egypt

Labor force

20.6 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 29%, industry 22%, services 49% (2000 est.)

Merchant marine

convenience

Denmark 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 3, Monaco 1, Ukraine 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 20, cargo 50, container 5, liquefied gas 1, passenger 63, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 3

total

170 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,284,197 GRT/1,907,734 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.04 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.1% (FY99) Transnational Issues Egypt

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

19,895,370 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

12,867,160 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

743,305 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.264 trillion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.308 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 327 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,145 km; liquid petroleum gas 382 km; oil 5,726 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; water 62 km (2003)

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 below poverty line

22.9% (FY 95/96 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

standard gauge

5,105 km 1.435-m gauge (42 km electrified) (2002)

total

5,105 km

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available

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)

Unemployment rate

12% (2001 est.)

Waterways

3,500 km

note

includes 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