World Facts Index > Egypt >Cairo  Theregularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled withsemi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for thedevelopment of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arosecirca 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next threemillennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turnwere replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs whointroduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled forthe next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became animportant world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensiblyto protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914.Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty withthe overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of theAswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered thetime-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. Arapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land,and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society.The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing populationthrough economic reform and massive investment in communications and physicalinfrastructure.
Geography of Egypt 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 | Coordinates: | 27 00 N, 30 00 E | Area: | total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km | Area comparative: | 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: | contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM | 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 | Natural hazards: | periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms | 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 | 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 |
More Geography Population of EgyptPopulation: | 81,713,520 (July 2008 est.) | Age structure: | 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female12,548,346)
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) | Median age: | 24 years | Growth rate: | 1.75% | Infant mortality: | 31.33 deaths/1,000 live births | Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.29 years
male: 68.77 years
female: 73.93 years | Fertility rate: | 2.83 children born/woman | Nationality: | noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian | Ethnic groups: | Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins,and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French)1% | Religions: | Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christianand other 6% | Languages: | Arabic (official), English and Frenchwidely understood by educated classes | Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can readand write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% |
GovernmentCountry name: | conventional long form: ArabRepublic of Egypt
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah | Government type: | republic | Capital: | Cairo | Administrative divisions: | 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular -muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, AlIskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah,Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat,Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj | Independence: | 28 February 1922 (from UK) | National holiday: | Revolution Day, 23 July (1952) | Constitution: | 11 September 1971 | Legal system: | based on English common law, Islamic law,and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (overseesvalidity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations | 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 amendmentthat changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote;previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and thenomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011 | Legislative branch: | bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly orMajlis 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 - whichfunctions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half themembers) | Judicial branch: | Supreme Constitutional Court |
EconomyOccupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected bythe highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. In thelast 30 years, the government has reformed the highly centralized economy itinherited from President Gamel Abdel NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister AhmedNAZIF's government reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energysubsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDPgrew about 5% per year in 2005-06, and topped 7% in 2007. Despite theseachievements, the government has failed to raise living standards for theaverage Egyptian, and has had to continue providing subsidies for basicnecessities. The subsidies have contributed to a sizeable budget deficit -roughly 7.5% of GDP in 2007 - and represent a significant drain on the economy.Foreign direct investment has increased significantly in the past two years, butthe NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit of reforms inorder to sustain the spike in investment and growth and begin to improveeconomic conditions for the broader population. Egypt's export sectors -particularly natural gas - have bright prospects. GDP: | $405.4 billion (2007 est.) | GDP growth rate: | 4.9% | GDP per capita: | $3,900 | GDP composition by sector: | agriculture: 14.9%
industry: 35.7%
services: 49.3% | Inflation rate: | 4.9% | Labor force: | 21.34 million | Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% | Unemployment: | 9.5% | Budget: | revenues: $20.29 billion
expenditures: $27.68 billion | Electricity production by source: | fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
other: 0% | Industries: | textiles, food processing, tourism,chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals | Agriculture: | cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits,vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats | Exports: | crude oil and petroleum products, cotton,textiles, metal products, chemicals | Export partners: | US 13.4%, Italy 9.6%, Spain 7.8%, Syria 6%, France 4.9%,Germany 4.9%, UK 4.5% | Imports: | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,chemicals, wood products, fuels | Import partners: | US 10.8%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.6%, France 6.4%, Italy5.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.5% | Currency: | Egyptian pound (EGP) |
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