2010 Edition

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 with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. 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 meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

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

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

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; 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

923 cu m/yr (2000)

total

68.3 cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%)

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

Irrigated land

34,220 sq km (2003)

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%

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

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, rare earth elements, zinc

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Total renewable water resources

86.8 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 13,308,407/female 12,711,900) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 25,138,546/female 24,342,230) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,546,774/female 1,818,778) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

25.02 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,200 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

24.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

27.84 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.1 years (2010 est.)

male

69.82 years

total population

72.4 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

59.4% (2005 est.)

male

83%

total population

71.4%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

Rift Valley fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

female

24.3 years (2010 est.)

male

23.8 years

total

24 years

Nationality

adjective

Egyptian

noun

Egyptian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

80,471,869 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.997% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

11 years (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.01 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

43% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

29 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia), Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur, Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf (Beni Suef), Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Helwan, Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina (Qena), Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Sittah Uktubar, Suhaj (Sohag)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends first Friday in August

geographic coordinates

30 03 N, 31 15 E

name

Cairo

time difference

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

Constitution

11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March 2007

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY

embassy

8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo

FAX

[20] (2) 2797-3200

mailing address

Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo

telephone

[20] (2) 2797-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Mohamed 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 a 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 on 26 September 1999; first election under terms of the constitutional amendment held on 7 September 2005 (next scheduled for 2011)

head of government

Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)

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; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

Government type

republic

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn 18 June 1956); note - it was in ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Legal system

based on Islamic and civil law (particularly 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 Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (Shura Council) that traditionally functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 members elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members) and the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (518 seats; 508 members elected by popular vote, 64 seats reserved for women, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

election results

Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 80, Al-Geel 1, Nasserist 1, NWP 1, Tagammu 1, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 3; People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 419, NWP 6, Tagammu 5, Democratic Peace Party 1, Social Justice Party 1, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 71, seats undecided 4, seats appointed by president 10

elections

Advisory Council - last held in June 2007 (next to be held in 2013); People's Assembly - last held in November-December 2010 in one round of voting and one run-off election (next to be held in 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH note: adopted 1979; after the signing of the 1979 peace with Israel, Egypt sought to create an anthem less militaristic than its previous one; Sayed DARWISH, commonly considered the father of modern Egyptian music, composed the anthem

name

"Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Political parties and leaders

Al-Geel; Democratic Peace Party; Nasserist Party [Ahmed HASSAN]; National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Sayed EL-BEDAWY]; Social Justice Party [Mohamed Abdel Al HASAN]; Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOURI] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are listed

Political pressure groups and leaders

Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal) note: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Egypt's most potentially significant political opposition; President MUBARAK has alternated between tolerating limited political activity by the Brotherhood and blocking its influence (its members compete as independents in elections but do not currently hold any seats in the legislature); civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; only trade unions and professional associations affiliated with the government are officially sanctioned; Internet social networking groups and bloggers

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

8.5% (31 December 2009) 11.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.98% (31 December 2009 est.) 12.33% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$270 million (2010 est.) -$3.195 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$30.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $29.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.4 (2001)

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. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but has opened up considerably under former President Anwar EL-SADAT and current President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth. The global financial crisis has slowed the reform efforts. The budget deficit climbed to over 8% of GDP and Egypt's GDP growth slowed to 4.6% in 2009, predominately due to reduced growth in export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism, and Suez Canal revenues. In 2010, the government spent more on infrastructure and public projects, and exports drove GDP growth to more than 5%, but GDP growth in 2011 is unlikely to bounce back to pre-global financial recession levels, when it stood at 7%. Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor.

Electricity - consumption

104.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

814 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

251 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

118.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.6124 (2010), 5.545 (2009), 5.4 (2008), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006)

Exports

$25.34 billion (2010 est.) $23.09 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 7.95%, Italy 7.26%, Spain 6.78%, India 6.69%, Saudi Arabia 5.53%, Syria 5.3%, France 4.39%, South Korea 4.27% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

13.5%

industry

37.9%

services

48.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2010 est.) $6,000 (2009 est.) $5,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.3% (2010 est.) 4.6% (2009 est.) 7.2% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$216.8 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$500.9 billion (2010 est.) $475.7 billion (2009 est.) $454.8 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 27.6% (2005)

Imports

$46.52 billion (2010 est.) $45.56 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 9.92%, China 9.63%, Germany 6.98%, Italy 6.88%, Turkey 4.94% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.8% (2010 est.) 11.9% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

26.1 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

32%

industry

17%

services

51% (2001 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$89.95 billion (31 December 2009) $85.89 billion (31 December 2008) $139.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

42.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

8.55 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

62.7 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

683,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

89,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

48,450 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

680,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

4.3 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

20% (2005 est.)

Public debt

80.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 80.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$35.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$166.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $146.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$4.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.272 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$72.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $66.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$145.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $131.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$37.8 billion (31 December 2010 est) $33.42 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

9.7% (2010 est.) 9.4% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks; 2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)

Internet country code

.eg

Internet hosts

187,197 (2010)

Internet users

20.136 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2010 there were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 55 million subscribers

general assessment

underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s; principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay

international

country code - 20; landing point for Aletar, the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks, Link Around the Globe (FLAG) Falcon and FLAG FEA; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

10.313 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

55.352 million (2009)

Airports

86 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

73 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2010)

Heliports

6 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 11, cargo 24, container 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 9

foreign-owned

13 (Denmark 1, France 1, Greece 8, Jordan 2, Lebanon 1)

registered in other countries

52 (Cambodia 12, Cook Islands 1, Georgia 11, Honduras 2, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2010)

total

66

Pipelines

condensate 320 km; condensate/gas 13 km; gas 6,262 km; liquid petroleum gas 956 km; oil 4,319 km; oil/gas/water 3 km; refined products 895 km; unknown 59 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Sidi Kurayr, Suez

Railways

standard gauge

5,500 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2009)

total

5,500 km

Roadways

paved

47,500 km

total

65,050 km

unpaved

17,550 km (2009)

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 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 20,619,887 females age 16-49: 19,785,004 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,733,851 females age 16-49: 16,942,010 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

764,602 (2010 est.)

male

799,377

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)

Disputes - international

Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

Illicit drugs

transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198 (Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)