|
Background:
|
T he
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. |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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:
2.85%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.68% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
33,000 sq km
(1998 est.) |
|
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 |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
|
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 |
|
Population:
|
76,117,421 (July
2004 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years:
33.4% (male 13,038,369; female 12,418,254)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 23,953,949; female 23,419,418)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,407,248; female
1,880,183) (2004 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
23.4 years
male: 23 years
female: 23.8 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
1.83% (2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
23.84
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
5.3 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
33.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 34.64 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 70.71 years
male: 68.22 years
female: 73.31 years (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
less than 0.1%
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
8,000 (2001 est.) |
|
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 Christian and other 6% |
|
Languages:
|
Arabic
(official), English and French widely understood by educated
classes |
|
Literacy:
|
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional
long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: 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, Al Iskandariyah, 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 (oversees validity of
administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of
state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed ABEID
(since 5 October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly
for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by
a national, popular referendum; national referendum last held
26 September 1999 (next to be held NA October 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: national referendum validated
President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a
fourth term |
|
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)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting -
last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be
held NA November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June
2001 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote
by party - NDP 88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by
party - NDP 398, NWP 7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1,
independents 38, undecided 2; Advisory Council - percent of
vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Constitutional Court |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Liberal Party or
LSP [leader NA]; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists
[Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP
[President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK] - governing party; National
Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [RIfaat EL-SAID]; New
Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or
Al-Ahrar [Hilmi SALIM]
note: formation of political parties must be approved
by the government |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
despite a
constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the
technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes 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 |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief of
mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC
20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and
San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief of
mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200 |
|
Economy - overview:
|
Lack of
substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990s
has limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual
GDP growth in the range of 2-3 percent in 2001-03. Egyptian
officials in late 2003 and early 2004 proposed new
privatization and customs reform measures, but the government
is likely to pursue these initiatives cautiously and gradually
to avoid a public backlash over potential inflation or layoffs
associated with the reforms. Monetary pressures on an
overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to float the
currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in its value
and consequent inflationary pressure. The existence of a black
market for hard currency is evidence that the government
continues to influence the official exchange rate offered in
banks. In September 2003, Egyptian officials increased
subsidies on basic foodstuffs, helping to calm a frustrated
public but widening an already deep budget deficit. Egypt's
balance-of-payments position was not hurt by the war in Iraq
in 2003, as tourism and Suez Canal revenues fared well. The
development of an export market for natural gas is a bright
spot for future growth prospects, but improvement in the
capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does little to reduce
Egypt's persistent unemployment. |
|
GDP:
|
purchasing power
parity - $294.3 billion (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
2.8% (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power
parity - $3,900 (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture:
17%
industry: 33%
services: 50% (2003) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
16.7% (2000 est.) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
4.5% (2003 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
20.1 million
(2003 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 32%,
industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
9.9% (2003 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues:
$14 billion
expenditures: $18.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.7 billion (2003 est.) |
|
Industries:
|
textiles, food
processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction,
cement, metals |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
1.5% (2003 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
75.23 billion kWh
(2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel:
81%
hydro: 19%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
69.96 billion kWh
(2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
816,900 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
562,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
21.2 billion cu m
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
21.2 billion cu m
(2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
cotton, rice,
corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo,
sheep, goats |
|
Exports:
|
$8.759 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
crude oil and
petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
chemicals |
|
Exports - partners:
|
US 18.5%, Italy
13.8%, UK 8.5%, France 4% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
$14.75 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US 16.1%, Germany
7.5%, Italy 6.4%, France 6.2%, China 4.8% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$30 billion (2003
est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
ODA, $1.2 billion
(2001) |
|
Currency:
|
Egyptian pound (EGP) |
|
Currency code:
|
EGP |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Egyptian pounds
per US dollar - 5.85 (2003), 4.5 (2002), 3.97 (2001), 3.47
(2000), 3.4 (1999) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1 July - 30 June |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
7.43 million
(2002) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
4,494,700 (2002) |
|
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 and a signatory to Project
Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 42 (plus 15
repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
98 (September
1995) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.eg |
|
Internet hosts:
|
3,061 (2002) |
|
Internet users:
|
1.9 million
(2002) |
|
Railways:
|
total:
5,105 km
standard gauge: 5,105 km 1.435-m gauge (42 km
electrified) (2002) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
64,000 km
paved: 49,984 km
unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways:
|
3,500 km
note: includes the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo
Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta; Suez Canal
(193.5 km including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels
drawing up to 16.1 m of water |
|
Pipelines:
|
condensate 327
km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,145 km; liquid petroleum gas
382 km; oil 5,726 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; water 62 km (2003) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Alexandria, Al
Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh,
Port Said, Suez |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 159
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWT
foreign-owned: China 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 6,
Lebanon 2, Turkey 1
registered in other countries: 50 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 18, cargo 41, container 5, passenger 64,
petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea/passenger
4 |
|
Airports:
|
89 (2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2003 est.)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5 |
|
Heliports:
|
2 (2003 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Army, Navy, Air
Force, Air Defense Command |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
20 years of age
(2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males age
15-49: 20,340,716 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males age
15-49: 13,148,944 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males:
756,233 (2004 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$2,443.2 million
(2003) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
3.6% (2003) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
Egypt and Sudan
retain claims to administer the triangular areas that extend
north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd
Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence - Egypt
is economically developing and effectively administers the
"Hala'ib triangle" north of the Treaty line |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
transit point for
Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to
Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for Nigerian
couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax
financial regulations and enforcement |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
|