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Egypt Related Links & Information's
Introduction Geography People
Government Economy
Communications Transportation
Military
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Background: |
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood,
coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and
west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great
civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series
of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last
native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were
replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who
introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who
ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the
Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the
conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the
completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important
world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.
Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of
Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman
Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in
1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The
completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake
Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the
agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the
largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on
the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The
government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium
through economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates: |
27 00 N, 30 00 E |
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Area: |
total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 2,665 km
border countries: Gaza Strip
11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km |
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Coastline: |
2,450 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental
shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate: |
desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters |
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Terrain: |
vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest
point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m |
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Natural resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese,
limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc |
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Land use: |
arable land: 2.92%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 96.58% (2005) |
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Irrigated land: |
34,220 sq km (2003) |
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Natural hazards: |
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods,
landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
dust storms, sandstorms |
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Environment - current issues: |
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown
sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam;
desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and
marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides,
raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh
water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial
water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and
natural resources |
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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 |
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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 |
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Population: |
78,887,007 (July 2006 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female 12,548,346)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 25,102,754/female 24,519,698)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,510,280/female 2,033,288)
(2006 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 24 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.3 years (2006 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
1.75% (2006 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
22.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Death rate: |
5.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total
population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 31.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
32.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.58 deaths/1,000
live births (2006 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 71.29 years
male: 68.77
years
female: 73.93 years (2006 est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
2.83 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
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Nationality: |
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian |
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Ethnic groups: |
Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek,
Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1% |
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Religions: |
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1% |
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Languages: |
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by
educated classes |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.) |
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Country name: |
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long
form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form:
Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria) |
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Government type: |
republic |
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Capital: |
Cairo |
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Administrative divisions: |
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al
Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah,
Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya,
Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, As Suways, Ash
Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash
Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj |
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Independence: |
28 February 1922 (from UK) |
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National holiday: |
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952) |
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Constitution: |
11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980 |
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Legal system: |
based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;
judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees
validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch: |
chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since
14 October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed
NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by
the president
elections: president elected by popular
vote for six-year term; note - a national referendum in May 2005
approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential
election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president
was nominated by the People's Assembly and the nomination was
validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26
September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional
amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011
election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president;
percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA
2.9% |
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Legislative branch: |
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by
the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory
Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative
role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the
president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half
the members)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase
voting - last held 7 and 20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be
held November-December 2010); Advisory Council - last held May-June
2004 (next to be held May-June 2007)
election results:
People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 112 (12
seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10 seats appointed by
President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - NA |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Constitutional Court |
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Political parties and leaders: |
National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK
(governing party)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or
Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMAA];
Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOUR]
note: formation of political
parties must be approved by the government |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties,
the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Hosni
MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK
tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his
first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its
influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in
practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are
officially sanctioned |
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International organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, COMESA,
EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,
UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with
a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name
of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is
based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus
an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white
band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band |
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Economy - overview: |
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt
is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic
activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has
reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President
NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF reduced personal and
corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized
several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew nearly
5%. Despite these achievements, the government has failed to raise
living standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue
providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have
contributed to a growing budget deficit - more than 8% of GDP in
2005 - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreign
direct investment remains low. To achieve higher GDP growth the
NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit of
reform, especially in the energy sector. Egypt's export sectors -
particularly natural gas - have bright prospects. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$339.2 billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
$92.6 billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
4.7% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$4,400 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 15.5%
industry: 32.1%
services: 52.4% (2005 est.) |
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Labor force: |
21.34 million (2005 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
10% (2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
20% (2005 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
34.4 (2001) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
4.3% (2005 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
17.6% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $20.29 billion
expenditures: $27.68
billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2005 est.) |
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Public debt: |
93.6% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle,
water buffalo, sheep, goats |
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Industries: |
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
3.2% (2005 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
84.26 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
78.16 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports: |
450 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports: |
250 million kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production: |
700,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption: |
566,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports: |
NA bbl/day |
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Oil - imports: |
NA bbl/day |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
2.7 billion bbl (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - production: |
27 billion cu m (2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
27 billion cu m (2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
1.9 trillion cu m (2005) |
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Current account balance: |
$2.928 billion (2005 est.) |
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Exports: |
$14.33 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal
products, chemicals |
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Exports - partners: |
Italy 11.9%, US 10.8%, UK 7%, Syria 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, Spain
4.2% (2004) |
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Imports: |
$24.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products,
fuels |
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Imports - partners: |
US 12.2%, Germany 7%, Italy 6.6%, France 5.7%, China 5.4%, UK
4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$20.31 billion (2005 est.) |
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Debt - external: |
$28.95 billion (30 June 2005 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
ODA, $1.12 billion (2002) |
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Currency (code): |
Egyptian pound (EGP) |
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Exchange rates: |
Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004),
5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001) |
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Fiscal year: |
1
July - 30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
10.4 million (2005) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
14,045,134 (2005) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive
upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and
cellular service are available
domestic: principal
centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta
are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 20; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat,
and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to
Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
98 (September 1995) |
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Internet country code: |
.eg |
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Internet hosts: |
1,702 (2005) |
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Internet users: |
5 million (2005) |
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Airports: |
87 (2005) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to
3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
under 914
m: 4 (2005) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to
2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m:
7 (2005) |
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Heliports: |
2
(2005) |
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Pipelines: |
condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquid
petroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined
products 246 km (2004) |
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Railways: |
total: 5,063 km
standard gauge: 5,063 km
1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2004) |
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Roadways: |
total: 64,000 km
paved: 49,984 km
unpaved: 14,016 km (1999) |
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Waterways: |
3,500 km
note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser,
Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta;
Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing
vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2005) |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 76 ships (1000 GRT or over) 987,524 GRT/1,467,139
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 33, container 2,
passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2)
registered in other countries: 40 (The Bahamas 1, Bolivia
1, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 1, Georgia 6, Honduras 1, Panama 17, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia
1, Syria 1, unknown 1) (2005) |
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Ports and terminals: |
Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit
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Military branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command |
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Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for conscript military service; three-year
service obligation (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service: |
males age 18-49: 18,347,560
females age 18-49:
17,683,904 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 18-49: 15,540,234
females age 18-49:
14,939,378 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age
annually: |
males age 18-49: 802,920
females age 18-49:
764,176 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$2.44 billion (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.4% (2004) |
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