2016 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, 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 EL SISI president. Egypt elected a new legislature in December 2015, the first parliament since 2012.

Area

1,001,450 sq km 995,450 sq km 6,000 sq km

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

321 m lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m

highest point

Mount Catherine 2,629 m

mean elevation

321 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

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 none of the selected 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

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

36,500 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

2,612 km Gaza Strip 13 km, Israel 208 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,276 km

border countries (4)

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

total

2,612 km

Land use

3.6% arable land 2.8%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 0% 0.1% 96.3% (2011 est.)

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

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus 200 nm

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

Population - distribution

approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Age structure

33.21% (male 16,268,862/female 15,169,039) 19.24% (male 9,371,819/female 8,839,999) 37.47% (male 18,020,332/female 17,448,871) 5.91% (male 2,771,399/female 2,826,094) 4.17% (male 1,937,119/female 2,013,459) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

33.21% (male 16,268,862/female 15,169,039)

15-24 years

19.24% (male 9,371,819/female 8,839,999)

25-54 years

37.47% (male 18,020,332/female 17,448,871)

55-64 years

5.91% (male 2,771,399/female 2,826,094)

65 years and over

4.17% (male 1,937,119/female 2,013,459) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

30.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

7% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

60.3% (2008)

Death rate

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world and the third most populous country in Africa, behind Nigeria and Ethiopia. Most of the country is desert, so about 95% of the population is concentrated in a narrow strip of fertile land along the Nile River, which represents only about 5% of Egypt’s land area. Egypt’s rapid population growth – 46% between 1994 and 2014 – stresses limited natural resources, jobs, housing, sanitation, education, and health care. Although the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) fell from roughly 5.5 children per woman in 1980 to just over 3 in the late 1990s, largely as a result of state-sponsored family planning programs, the population growth rate dropped more modestly because of decreased mortality rates and longer life expectancies. During the last decade, Egypt’s TFR decline stalled for several years and then reversed, reaching 3.6 in 2011, and has plateaued the last few years. Contraceptive use has held steady at about 60%, while preferences for larger families and early marriage may have strengthened in the wake of the recent 2011 revolution. The large cohort of women of or nearing childbearing age will sustain high population growth for the foreseeable future (an effect called population momentum). Nevertheless, post-MUBARAK governments have not made curbing population growth a priority. To increase contraceptive use and to prevent further overpopulation will require greater government commitment and substantial social change, including encouraging smaller families and better educating and empowering women. Currently, literacy, educational attainment, and labor force participation rates are much lower for women than men. In addition, the prevalence of violence against women, the lack of female political representation, and the perpetuation of the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continue to keep women from playing a more significant role in Egypt’s public sphere. Population pressure, poverty, high unemployment, and the fragmentation of inherited land holdings have historically motivated Egyptians, primarily young men, to migrate internally from rural and smaller urban areas in the Nile Delta region and the poorer rural south to Cairo, Alexandria, and other urban centers in the north, while a much smaller number migrated to the Red Sea and Sinai areas. Waves of forced internal migration also resulted from the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and the floods caused by the completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1970. Limited numbers of students and professionals emigrated temporarily prior to the early 1970s, when economic problems and high unemployment pushed the Egyptian Government to lift restrictions on labor migration. At the same time, high oil revenues enabled Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and other Gulf states, as well as Libya and Jordan, to fund development projects, creating a demand for unskilled labor (mainly in construction), which attracted tens of thousands of young Egyptian men. Between 1970 and 1974 alone, Egyptian migrants in the Gulf countries increased from approximately 70,000 to 370,000. Egyptian officials encouraged legal labor migration both to alleviate unemployment and to generate remittance income (remittances continue to be one of Egypt’s largest sources of foreign currency and GDP). During the mid-1980s, however, depressed oil prices resulting from the Iran-Iraq War, decreased demand for low-skilled labor, competition from less costly South Asian workers, and efforts to replace foreign workers with locals significantly reduced Egyptian migration to the Gulf States. The number of Egyptian migrants dropped from a peak of almost 3.3 million in 1983 to about 2.2 million at the start of the 1990s, but numbers gradually recovered. In the 2000s, Egypt began facilitating more labor migration through bilateral agreements, notably with Arab countries and Italy, but illegal migration to Europe through overstayed visas or maritime human smuggling via Libya also rose. The Egyptian Government estimated there were 6.5 million Egyptian migrants in 2009, with roughly 75% being temporary migrants in other Arab countries (Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates) and 25% being predominantly permanent migrants in the West (US, UK, Italy, France, and Canada). During the 2000s, Egypt became an increasingly important transit and destination country for economic migrants and asylum seekers, including Palestinians, East Africans, and South Asians and, more recently, Iraqis and Syrians. Egypt draws many refugees because of its resettlement programs with the West; Cairo has one of the largest urban refugee populations in the world. Many East African migrants are interned or live in temporary encampments along the Egypt-Israel border, and some have been shot and killed by Egyptian border guards.

Dependency ratios

62.3% 53.8% 8.5% 11.8% (2015 est.)

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.)

rural

1% of population

total

0.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.02% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

300 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,500 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

19.7 deaths/1,000 live births 21 deaths/1,000 live births 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

21 deaths/1,000 live births

total

19.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

72.7 years 71.4 years 74.2 years (2016 est.)

female

74.2 years (2016 est.)

male

71.4 years

total population

72.7 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 73.8% 82.2% 65.4% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

65.4% (2015 est.)

male

82.2%

total population

73.8%

Major infectious diseases

intermediate bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever schistosomiasis (2016)

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality rate

33 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

23.8 years 23.5 years 24.1 years (2016 est.)

female

24.1 years (2016 est.)

male

23.5 years

total

23.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.7 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2014 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2014 est.)

Nationality

Egyptian(s) Egyptian

adjective

Egyptian

noun

Egyptian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.7% (2014)

Physicians density

2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

94,666,993 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited

Population growth rate

2.51% (2016 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.)

rural

6.9% of population

total

5.3% of population (2015 est.)

urban

3.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 13 years 13 years (2014)

female

13 years (2014)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.53 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

34.3% 28.7% 52.2% (2013 est.)

female

52.2% (2013 est.)

male

28.7%

total

34.3%

Urbanization

43.1% of total population (2015) 1.68% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Cairo 30 03 N, 31 15 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

30 03 N, 31 15 E

name

Cairo

time difference

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

Citizenship

no if the father was born in Egypt only with prior permission from the government 10 years

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

if the father was born in Egypt

dual citizenship recognized

only with prior permission from the government

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referendum held on 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president on 19 January 2014 (2016)

Country name

Arab Republic of Egypt Egypt Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah Misr United Arab Republic (with Syria) the English name "Egypt" derives from the ancient Greek name for the country "Aigyptos"; the Arabic name "Misr" can be traced to the ancient Akkadian "misru" meaning border or frontier

conventional long form

Arab Republic of Egypt

conventional short form

Egypt

etymology

the English name "Egypt" derives from the ancient Greek name for the country "Aigyptos"; the Arabic name "Misr" can be traced to the ancient Akkadian "misru" meaning border or frontier

former

United Arab Republic (with Syria)

local long form

Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

local short form

Misr

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador R. Stephen BEECROFT (since 18 December 2014) 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo [20] (2) 2797-3300 [20] (2) 2797-3200

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

Ambassador Yasser REDA (since 19 September 2015) 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 895-5400 [1] (202) 244-4319 Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

chancery

3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Yasser REDA (since 19 September 2015)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Executive branch

President Abdelfattah Said ELSISI (since 8 June 2014) Prime Minister Sherif ISMAIL (since 12 September 2015); note - Prime Minister Ibrahim MEHLAB resigned 12 September 2015 Cabinet sworn in 19 September 2015 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 Abdelfattah Said ELSISI elected president; percent of vote in 1 round - Abdelfattah Said ELSISI (independent) 96.6%, Hamdeen SABAHI (Egyptian Current Party) 3.4%

cabinet

Cabinet sworn in 19 September 2015

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) 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

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

presidential 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

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 under the 2014 constitution, all judges and justices selected by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the president of the Republic; judges appointed for life Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)

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; judges appointed for life

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

unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nowaab); 596 seats; 448 members directly elected by individual candidacy system, 120 members - with quotas for women, youth, Christians and workers - elected in party-list constituencies by simple majority popular vote, and 28 members selected by the president; member term NA; note - inaugural session held on 10 January 2016 multi-phase election completed on 16 December 2015 (next election NA) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

description

unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nowaab); 596 seats; 448 members directly elected by individual candidacy system, 120 members - with quotas for women, youth, Christians and workers - elected in party-list constituencies by simple majority popular vote, and 28 members selected by the president; member term NA; note - inaugural session held on 10 January 2016

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

multi-phase election completed on 16 December 2015 (next election NA)

National anthem

"Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland) Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH 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

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

golden eagle, white lotus; national colors

red, white, black

Political parties and leaders

Al-Dustour (Constitution) Party [Tamer GOMAA] 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 [Yomna EL-HAMAKI] Conference Party [Omar EL-MOKHTAR] Congress Party [Omar Mokhtar SEMEIDA] Egyptian National Movement Party [Ahmed SHAFIK] Egyptian Social Democratic Party [Mervat TALAWAY] El Tagamu'u Party [Sayed Abdel AAL] Free Egyptians Party [Essam KHALIL] Future of Homeland Party [Qadry ABU HUSSEIN] Knights of Egypt Party [General Abdel Rafe DARWISH] Mostaqbal Watan Party [Mohamed BADRAN] New Wafd Party [Sayed al-BADADWI] Popular Current Party [Ahmed Kamel AL-BEHERI] Reform and Development Party [Mohamad Anwar al-SADAT] Socialist Popular Alliance [Abu Al-Izz AL-HARIRI] Strong Egypt Party [Abdel Moneim Aboul FOTOUH]

officially recognized

Al-Dustour (Constitution) Party [Tamer GOMAA]

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

$69.02 billion $107.7 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$107.7 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$69.02 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-11.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9.75% (30 October 2014) 8.75% (5 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.63% (31 December 2015 est.) 11.71% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$12.18 billion (2015 est.) -$2.356 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$44.61 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $39.62 billion (31 December 2014 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. In 2015, higher levels of foreign investment contributed to a slight rebound in GDP growth after a particularly depressed post-revolution period.

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 7.7133 (2015 est.) 7.08 (2014 est.) 7.08 (2013 est.) 6.06 (2012 est.) 5.9358 (2011 est.)

Exports

$19.03 billion (2015 est.) $25.27 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 9.1%, Italy 7.5%, Turkey 5.8%, UAE 5.1%, US 5.1%, UK 4.4%, India 4.1% (2015)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

82.2% 11.8% 13.7% 0.6% 13.2% -21.6% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

13.2%

government consumption

11.8%

household consumption

82.2%

imports of goods and services

-21.6% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

13.7%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

11.2% 36.3% 52.5% (2015 est.)

agriculture

11.2%

industry

36.3%

services

52.5% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,800 (2015 est.) $11,600 (2014 est.) $11,600 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2015 est.) 2.2% (2014 est.) 2.1% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$330.8 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.048 trillion (2015 est.) $1.006 trillion (2014 est.) $984 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

9.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 11.8% of GDP (2014 est.) 13% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

4% 26.6% (2008)

highest 10%

26.6% (2008)

lowest 10%

4%

Imports

$57.17 billion (2015 est.) $64.45 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 13%, Germany 7.7%, US 5.9%, Turkey 4.5%, Russia 4.4%, Italy 4.4%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.4% (2015 est.) 10.1% (2014 est.)

Labor force

31.14 million (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

29.2% 23.5% 47.3% (2013 est.)

agriculture

29.2%

industry

23.5%

services

47.3% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$73.04 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $58.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $48.68 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.2% (2011 est.)

Public debt

90.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 89.1% of GDP (2014 est.) data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury, treasury debt held by foreign entities, 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

note

data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury, treasury debt held by foreign entities, 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

$15.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $14.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$245.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $224.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.362 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $6.839 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$89.65 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $84.39 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$297.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $259.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$66.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $62.34 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.8% (2015 est.) 13% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

207 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

193,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

59,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

511,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

143 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

500 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

87.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

9.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

81 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

38 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

162 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

300,000 99.6% 100% 99.3% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

99.3% (2013)

electrification - total population

99.6%

electrification - urban areas

100%

population without electricity

300,000

Natural gas - consumption

48.08 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

720 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.832 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

48.8 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.186 trillion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

797,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

45,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

215,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

547,800 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

31.767 million 35.9% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

35.9% (July 2015 est.)

total

31.767 million

Telephone system

Telecom Egypt remains largely state owned; principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay largest fixed-line system in Africa and the Arab region; multiple mobile-cellular networks with a near 100-percent penetration of the market 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)

domestic

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

general assessment

Telecom Egypt remains largely state owned; 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

6,235,133 7 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

6,235,133

Telephones - mobile cellular

94.016 million 106 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (July 2015 est.)

total

94.016 million

Airports

83 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

6 (2013)

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

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

SU (2016)

Heliports

7 (2013)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 16, cargo 20, container 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 9 13 (Denmark 1, France 1, Greece 8, Jordan 2, Lebanon 1) 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)

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

National air transport system

10,159,464 397,531,535 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

397,531,535 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

10,159,464

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

101

number of registered air carriers

14

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

Mediterranean Sea - Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said; Gulf of Suez - Suez Ain Sukhna terminal, Sidi Kerir terminal Alexandria (1,108,826), Port Said (East) (2,617,043), Port Said (West) (1,138,753) Damietta, Idku (Abu Qir Bay)

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

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

standard gauge

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

total

5,085 km

Roadways

137,430 km 126,742 km (includes 838 km of expressways) 10,688 km (2010)

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)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.76% of GDP (2014) 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

70,021 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 11,296 (Sudan) (2015); 115,204 (Syria); 6,231 (Somalia) (2016) 78,000 (2015) 22 (2015)

IDPs

78,000 (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

70,021 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 11,296 (Sudan) (2015); 115,204 (Syria); 6,231 (Somalia) (2016)

stateless persons

22 (2015)

Trafficking in persons

Egypt is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Egyptian children, including the large population of street children are vulnerable to forced labor in domestic service, begging and agriculture or may be victims of sex trafficking or child sex tourism, which occurs in Cairo, Alexandria, and Luxor; some Egyptian women and girls are sold into “temporary” or “summer” marriages with Gulf men, through the complicity of their parents or marriage brokers, and are exploited for prostitution or forced labor; Egyptian men are subject to forced labor in neighboring countries, while adults from South and Southeast Asia and East Africa – and increasingly Syrian refugees – are forced to work in domestic service, construction, cleaning, and begging in Egypt; women and girls, including migrants and refugees, from Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East are sex trafficked in Egypt; the Egyptian military cracked down on criminal group’s smuggling, abducting, trafficking, and extorting African migrants in the Sinai Peninsula, but the practice has reemerged in along Egypt’s western border with Libya Tier 2 Watch List – Egypt does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government gathered data nationwide on trafficking cases to better allocated and prioritize anti-trafficking efforts, but overall it did not demonstrate increased progress; prosecutions increased in 2014, but no offenders were convicted for the second consecutive year; fewer trafficking victims were identified in 2014, which represents a significant and ongoing decrease from the previous two reporting periods; the government relied on NGOs and international organizations to identify and refer victims to protective services, and focused on Egyptian victims and refused to provide some services to foreign victims, at times including shelter (2015)

current situation

Egypt is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Egyptian children, including the large population of street children are vulnerable to forced labor in domestic service, begging and agriculture or may be victims of sex trafficking or child sex tourism, which occurs in Cairo, Alexandria, and Luxor; some Egyptian women and girls are sold into “temporary” or “summer” marriages with Gulf men, through the complicity of their parents or marriage brokers, and are exploited for prostitution or forced labor; Egyptian men are subject to forced labor in neighboring countries, while adults from South and Southeast Asia and East Africa – and increasingly Syrian refugees – are forced to work in domestic service, construction, cleaning, and begging in Egypt; women and girls, including migrants and refugees, from Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East are sex trafficked in Egypt; the Egyptian military cracked down on criminal group’s smuggling, abducting, trafficking, and extorting African migrants in the Sinai Peninsula, but the practice has reemerged in along Egypt’s western border with Libya

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Egypt does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government gathered data nationwide on trafficking cases to better allocated and prioritize anti-trafficking efforts, but overall it did not demonstrate increased progress; prosecutions increased in 2014, but no offenders were convicted for the second consecutive year; fewer trafficking victims were identified in 2014, which represents a significant and ongoing decrease from the previous two reporting periods; the government relied on NGOs and international organizations to identify and refer victims to protective services, and focused on Egyptian victims and refused to provide some services to foreign victims, at times including shelter (2015)