2007 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, As Suways, Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female 12,548,346) 15-64 years: 62.9% (male 25,102,754/female 24,519,698) 65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,510,280/female 2,033,288) (2006 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

22.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Thursday in September

geographic coordinates

30 03 N, 31 15 E

name

Cairo

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

Constitution

11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980 and 25 May 2005

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

5.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek, 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

Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)

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

700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

Infant mortality rate

female

30.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

32.04 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.33 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

34,220 sq km (2003)

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

2.92%

other

96.58% (2005)

permanent crops

0.5%

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 six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members)

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 - NA

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 2004 (next to be held May-June 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.93 years (2006 est.)

male

68.77 years

total population

71.29 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

24.3 years (2006 est.)

male

23.6 years

total

24 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

-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governing party)]; 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

Population

78,887,007 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

1.75% (2006 est.)

Religions

Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Total fertility rate

2.83 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

88 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

total

72

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)

Budget

expenditures

$31.83 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$21.32 billion

Currency (code)

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code

EGP

Current account balance

$2.697 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$29.59 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr.

embassy

8 Kamal El Din Salah 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 Nabil FAHMY

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Disputes - international

Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the two triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt is developing the Hala'ib Triangle north of the Treaty line; since the attack on Taba and other Egyptian resort towns on the Red Sea in October 2004, Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip; 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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.4 (2001)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)

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.

Electricity - consumption

84.49 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

91.72 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

81%

hydro

19%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.75 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002)

Exports

$24.22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 13%, Italy 9.2%, Spain 7.7%, Syria 5.5%, France 4.9%, Germany 4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, UK 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319

[20] (2) 797-3200

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Egypt

Flag description

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 Egypt

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

14.7%

industry

35.5%

services

49.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$84.51 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$328.1 billion (2006 est.)

Heliports

3 (2006)

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 enforcement of financial regulations This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$35.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 10.5%, Germany 7%, China 6.4%, France 6.3%, Italy 5.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.8% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2006 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, COMESA, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.eg

Internet hosts

2,254 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

50 (2000)

Internet users

5 million (2005) Transportation Egypt

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force

21.8 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

32%

industry

17%

services

51% (2001 est.)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

17,683,904 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

18,347,560

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

14,939,378 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

15,540,234

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

764,176 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

802,920

Merchant marine

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)

total

76 ships (1000 GRT or over) 987,524 GRT/1,467,139 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.44 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (2004) Transnational Issues Egypt

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for conscript military service; three-year service obligation (2001)

Natural gas - consumption

31.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

32.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.657 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

590,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

134,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

700,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2.6 billion bbl (2006 est.)

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)

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

Population below poverty line

20% (2005 est.)

Ports and terminals

Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit Military Egypt

Public debt

102.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

20.5 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2005)

total

5,063 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

100,000 (Iraq), 70,255 (Palestinian Territories), 13,446 (Sudan) (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$26.3 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

74,820 km

total

92,370 km

unpaved

17,550 km (2004)

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

country code - 20; 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

Telephones - main lines in use

10,396,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14,045,134 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

98 (September 1995)

Televisions

7.7 million (1997)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

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

Unemployment rate

10.3% (2006 est.)

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 (2005)