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| Geography |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Geographic coordinates: | 27 00 N, 30 00 E |
| Area: | total: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Size comparison: slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 2,665 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km |
| Coastline: | 2,450 km |
| 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 |
| Climate: | desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters |
| Terrain: | vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.92% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 96.58% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 34,220 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms; sandstorms |
| Current Environment Issues: | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources |
| International Environment 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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| People |
| Population: | 78,866,635 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 31.4% (male 13,345,500/female 12,743,878) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 26,823,127/female 26,169,421) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,701,068/female 2,299,875) (2009 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 24.8 years male: 24.4 years female: 25.2 years (2009 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.033% (2009 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 25.43 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| 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 (2009 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 27.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.93 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 72.12 years male: 69.56 years female: 74.81 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.05 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 9,200 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 500 (2007 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian |
| Ethnic groups: | Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census) |
| Religions: | Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1% |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.4% male: 83% female: 59.4% (2005 est.) |
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| Government |
| 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) |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | name: Cairo geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Thursday in September |
| Administrative divisions: | 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia), Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf (Beni Suef), Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina (Qena), Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj (Sohag) |
| Independence: | 28 February 1922 (from the UK) |
| National holiday: | Revolution Day, 23 July (1952) |
| Constitution: | 11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March 2007 |
| Legal system: | based on Islamic and civil law (particularly Napoleonic codes); judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011 election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9% |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral system consists of the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (Shura Council) that traditionally functions only in a consultative role but 2007 constitutional amendments could grant the Council new powers (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members) and 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) elections: Advisory Council - last held June 2007 (next to be held May-June 2010); People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and 20 November, 1 December 2005; (next to be held November-December 2010) election results: Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 84, Tagammu 1, independents 3; 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) |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Constitutional Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow Party [Moussa Mustafa MOUSSA] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are listed |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal) note: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Hosni MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK has alternated between tolerating limited political activity by the Brotherhood (its members, who ran as independents, hold 88 seats in the People's Assembly) and blocking its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; only trade unions and professional associations affiliated with the government are officially sanctioned; Internet social networking groups and bloggers |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CICA, 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, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300 FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200 |
|
| Economy |
| Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but has opened up considerably under former President Anwar EL-SADAT and current President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth, but is postponing further economic reforms because of global economic turmoil. The international economic downturn slowed Egypt's GDP growth to 4.5% in 2009, predominately affecting export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism. Unemployment is rising. In 2009 the government implemented a $2.7 billion stimulus package favoring infrastructure projects and export subsidies, and is considering up to $3.3 billion in additional stimulus spending in 2010 to mitigate the slowdown in economic growth. The government of Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF will need to restart economic reforms to attract foreign investment, boost growth, and improve economic conditions for the broader population. Despite high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $470.4 billion (2009 est.) $450.1 billion (2008 est.) $419.9 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $188 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 4.5% (2009 est.) 7.2% (2008 est.) 7.1% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,000 (2009 est.) $5,800 (2008 est.) $5,500 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 13.1% industry: 37.7% services: 49.2% (2009 est.) |
| Labor force: | 25.8 million (2009 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 32% industry: 17% services: 51% (2001 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 9.7% (2009 est.) 8.7% (2008 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 20% (2005 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 27.6% (2005) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 34.4 (2001) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (2009 est.) 18.3% (2008 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 17.9% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $48.86 billion expenditures: $61.61 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: | 79.8% of GDP (2009 est.) 86.5% of GDP (2008 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats |
| Industries: | textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 3.9% (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 118.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 104.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 814 million kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 251 million kWh (2007 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 630,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 697,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 155,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 146,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 3.7 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 48.3 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 31.38 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 16.92 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-3.32 billion (2009 est.) $-1.331 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports: | $22.91 billion (2009 est.) $29.85 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals |
| Exports - partners: | Italy 9.4%, US 7.1%, India 6.2%, Spain 6.1%, Syria 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.6%, Japan 4.5%, Germany 4.5% (2008) |
| Imports: | $43.98 billion (2009 est.) $56.62 billion (2008 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels |
| Imports - partners: | US 10.3%, China 9.9%, Italy 7.3%, Germany 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.9% (2008) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $34.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $33.85 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $28.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $32.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $66.43 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $59.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $12.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $12.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $85.89 billion (31 December 2008) $139.3 billion (31 December 2007) $93.48 billion (31 December 2006) |
| Exchange rates: | Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.6 (2009), 5.4 (2008), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005) |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | 12.011 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 21 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 41.272 million (2008) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Telecom Egypt, the landline monopoly, has been increasing service availability and in 2008 fixed-line density stood at 15 per 100 persons; as of 2008 there were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 41 million subscribers, roughly 50 per 100 persons 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; landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); 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 (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 11, shortwave 3 (1999) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 98 (September 1995) |
| Internet country code: | .eg |
| Internet hosts: | 177,443 (2009) |
| Internet users: | 11.414 million (2008) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 85 (2009) country comparison to the world: 68 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 72 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2009) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2009) |
| Heliports: | 6 (2009) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 320 km; condensate/gas 13 km; gas 5,586 km; liquid petroleum gas 956 km; oil 4,314 km; oil/gas/water 3 km; refined products 895 km; unknown 59 km; water 9 km (2008) |
| Railways: | total: 5,063 km standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 92,370 km paved: 74,820 km unpaved: 17,550 km (2004) |
| 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 (2007) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 67 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 28, container 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9 foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 8, Lebanon 1) registered in other countries: 58 (Cambodia 13, Georgia 12, Honduras 3, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Moldova 1, Panama 17, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3, Togo 1) (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: | Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Sidi Kurayr, Suez |
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| Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 21,247,777 females age 16-49: 20,406,408 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 18,490,522 females age 16-49: 17,719,905 (2009 est.) |
