2015 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. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. 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 from Britain 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 population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, and massive antigovernment demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MORSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and in May 2014 elected Abdel Fattah Al SISI president. Legislative elections are expected by the end of 2015.

Area

land

995,450 sq km

total

1,001,450 sq km

water

6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

more than eight times the size of Ohio; 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 freshwater 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

973.3 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 from Sudan and the Palestinian territories

Irrigated land

34,220 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Gaza Strip 13 km, Israel 208 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,276 km

total

2,612 km

Land use

arable land 2.8%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

3.6%

forest

0.1%

other

96.3% (2011 est.)

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 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorms called khamsin occur 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

57.3 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

31.89% (male 14,430,312/female 13,790,448)

15-24 years

17.64% (male 7,985,589/female 7,620,404)

25-54 years

38.45% (male 17,307,230/female 16,715,153)

55-64 years

6.86% (male 2,971,475/female 3,100,747)

65 years and over

5.16% (male 2,058,911/female 2,507,127) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

22.9 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

7% (2005 est.)

total number

1,066,526

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.8% (2008)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

60.3% (2008)

Death rate

4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

8.5%

potential support ratio

11.8% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

62.3%

youth dependency ratio

53.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 99.4% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)

Health expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.02% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

300 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,800 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

20.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

21.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.47 years (2015 est.)

male

71.06 years

total population

73.7 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

65.4% (2015 est.)

male

82.2%

total population

73.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

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 (2013)

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

CAIRO (capital) 18.772 million; Alexandria 4.778 million (2015)

Median age

female

25.6 years (2015 est.)

male

24.9 years

total

25.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Egyptian

noun

Egyptian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.7% (2014)

Physicians density

2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

88,487,396 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.79% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.8% of population

rural: 93.1% of population

total: 94.7% of population

urban: 3.2% of population

rural: 6.9% of population

total: 5.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.83 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

54.1% (2010 est.)

male

14.7%

total

24.8%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.68% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

43.1% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

30 03 N, 31 15 E

name

Cairo

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referendum 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president 19 January 2014 (2015)

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 R. Stephen BEECROFT (since 18 December 2014)

embassy

5 Tawfik Diab 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 Yasser REDA (since 17 September 2015)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet sworn in 17 June 2014

Chief of state

President Abdelfattah Said ELSISI (since 8 June 2014)

election results

Abdelfattah Said ELSISI elected president; percent of vote in 1 round - Abdelfattah Said ELSISI (independent) 96.6%, Hamdeen SABAHI (Egyptian Current Party ) 3.4%

elections/appointments

president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26-28 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2018); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives

head of government

Prime Minister Sherif ISMAIL (since 12 September 2015); note - Prime Minister Ibrahim MEHLAB resigned 12 September 2015

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Constitutional Court or SCC (consists of the court president and 10 justices); the SCC serves as the final court of arbitrator on the constitutionality of laws and conflicts between lower courts regarding jurisdiction and rulings; Court of Cassation (CC) (consists of the court president and 550 judges organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the CC is the highest appeals body for civil and criminal cases, also known as “ordinary justices"; Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) - consists of the court president and organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the SAC is the highest court of the State Council

judge selection and term of office

under the 2014 constitution, all judges and justices selected by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the president of the Republic; tenure NA

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)

Legal system

mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws; judicial review of the constitutionality of laws by the Supreme Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

description

unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nowaab); according to 2014 election laws, will consist of up to 567 members; 420 members to be in elected in single- and multi-seat districts by simple majority vote, 120 members to be elected in party-list districts by simple majority vote, and up to 27 seats as presidential appointees

election results (for previous legislature)

Advisory Council (held 29 January and 14 February 2012) - percent of vote by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 45%, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 28.6%, New Wafd Party 8.5%, Egyptian Bloc 5.4%, other 12.5%; seats by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 105, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 45, New Wafd Party 14, Egyptian Bloc 8, other 4, independents 4, presidential appointees 90; People's Assembly (held in three stages 28 November 2011 to 11 January 2012) - percent of vote by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 37.5%, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 27.8%, New Wafd Party 9.2%, Egyptian Bloc 8.9%, Al-Wasat Party 3.7%, The Revolution Continues Alliance 2.8%, Reform and Development Party 2.2%, National Party of Egypt 1.6%, Freedom Party 1.9%, Egyptian Citizen Party 0.9%, other 3.5%; seats by party - Democratic Alliance of Egypt 235, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 123, New Wafd Party 38, Egyptian Bloc 35, Al-Wasat 10, Reform and Development Party 9, The Revolution Continues Alliance 8, National Party of Egypt 5, Egyptian Citizen Party 4, Freedom Party 4, independents 21, other 6, SCAF appointees 10

elections (for new House of Representatives)

initially scheduled for late December 2014, changed several times, latest to 18 October 2015

National anthem

lyrics/music

Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH

name

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

note

adopted 1979; the current anthem, less militaristic than the previous one, was created after the signing of the 1979 peace treaty with Israel; Sayed DARWISH, commonly considered the father of modern Egyptian music, composed the anthem

National holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle, white lotus; national colors: red, white, black

Political parties and leaders

Al-Dustour (Constitution) Party [Hala SHOKRALLAH]

Al-Karama Party [Mohamed SAMY]

Al-Nour [Yunis MAKHYUN]

Al-Wasat Party [Mohamad Abdel LATIF]

Al-Watan [Imad Abd al-GHAFUR]

Building and Development Party or BDP [Tarek al-ZOMOR]

Congress Party [Omar Mokhtar SEMEIDA]

Egyptian National Movement Party [Ahmed SHAFIK]

Egyptian Social Democratic Party [Mohamed Aboul GHAR]

El Tagamu'u Party [Sayed Abdel AAL]

Free Egyptians Party [Essam KHALIL]

New Wafd Party [Sayed al-BADADWI]

Popular Current Party [Hamdeen SABAHI]

Reform and Development Party [Mohamad Anwar al-SADAT]

Socialist Popular Alliance [Abdel Ghafar SHOUKR]

Strong Egypt Party [Abdel Moneim Aboul FOTOUH]

officially recognized

Al-Asala [Ehab SHIHA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$99.14 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$65.48 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-11.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9.75% (30 October 2014)

8.75% (5 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.8% (31 December 2014 est.)

12.29% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.356 billion (2014 est.)

$6.39 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$55.86 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$49.28 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.8 (2008)

32.1 (2005)

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 opened up considerably under former Presidents Anwar EL-SADAT and Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 pursued business climate reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate growth. Poor living conditions and limited job opportunities for the average Egyptian contribute to public discontent, a major factor leading to the January 2011 revolution that ousted Mubarak. The uncertain political, security, and policy environment since 2011 caused economic growth to slow significantly, hurting tourism, manufacturing, and other sectors and pushing up unemployment. Weak growth and limited foreign exchange earnings have made public finances unsustainable, leaving authorities dependent on expensive borrowing for deficit finance and on Gulf allies to help cover the import bill. Egypt's current Constitution passed in a referendum that took place in January 2014.

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar -

7.1 (2014 est.)

6.8708 (2013 est.)

6.06 (2012 est.)

5.9358 (2011 est.)

5.6219 (2010 est.)

Exports

$27.15 billion (2014 est.)

$27.87 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 7.4%, India 7.2%, Turkey 5.4%, US 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

15%

government consumption

12%

household consumption

80.3%

imports of goods and services

-20.7%

investment in fixed capital

13%

investment in inventories

0.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

14.6%

industry

38.9%

services

46.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,900 (2014 est.)

$10,600 (2013 est.)

$10,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2014 est.)

2.1% (2013 est.)

2.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$286.4 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$943.1 billion (2014 est.)

$923.1 billion (2013 est.)

$904.1 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

13.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

11.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

12.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.6% (2008)

lowest 10%

4%

Imports

$55.26 billion (2014 est.)

$55.46 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 11.2%, Germany 7.9%, US 7.4%, Kuwait 5.1%, Italy 4.6%, Ukraine 4.4%, Russia 4.2%, Turkey 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.1% (2014 est.)

9.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

28.26 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

29%

industry

24%

services

47% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$73.04 billion (30 November 2014 est.)

$58.01 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$48.68 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.2% (2011 est.)

Public debt

93.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

91.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover central government debt and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$15.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$16.12 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$219 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$199.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.684 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.475 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$79.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$76.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$225.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$217.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$60.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$53.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.4% (2014 est.)

13.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

206.3 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

189,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

80,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

700,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

129.4 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.679 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

90% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

102 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

27 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

152 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

53.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

3.823 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.832 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

56.63 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.18 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

770,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

83,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

170,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

445,000 bbl/day (2013 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 users

percent of population

48.3% (2014 est.)

total

42 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 22, shortwave 1 (2010)

Telephone system

domestic

largest fixed-line system in the region; multiple mobile-cellular networks with a near 100-percent penetration of the market

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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

6.32 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (2014 est.)

total

95.3 million

Television broadcast stations

64 (2010)

Airports

83 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

15

2,438 to 3,047 m

36

over 3,047 m

15

total

72

under 914 m

6 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

3 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

11

Heliports

7 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 16, cargo 20, 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

42 (Cambodia 4, Georgia 7, Honduras 2, Liberia 3, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5, Panama 11, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3, unknown 1) (2010)

total

67

Pipelines

condensate 486 km; condensate/gas 74 km; gas 7,986 km; liquid petroleum gas 957 km; oil 5,225 km; oil/gas/water 37 km; refined products 895 km; water 65 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Alexandria (1,108,826), Port Said(East) (2,617,043), Port Said(West) (1,138,753)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Damietta, Idku (Abu Qir Bay)

major seaport(s)

Mediterranean Sea - Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said; Gulf of Suez - Suez

oil terminal(s)

Ain Sukhna terminal, Sidi Kerir terminal

Railways

standard gauge

5,085 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2014)

total

5,085 km

Roadways

paved

126,742 km (includes 838 km of expressways)

total

137,430 km

unpaved

10,688 km (2010)

Waterways

3,500 km (includes the Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in Nile Delta; the Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) is navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

20,145,021 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

21,012,199

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

17,244,838 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

18,060,543

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

748,647 (2010 est.)

male

783,405

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces (2015)

Military expenditures

1.67% of GDP (2013)

1.72% of GDP (2012)

1.86% of GDP (2011)

1.72% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation - 18-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 (2012)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

70,023 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 12,730 (Sudan); 5,149 (Iraq) (2014); 132,375 (Syria); 7,365 (Somalia) (2015)

stateless persons

20 (2014)