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This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It was a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article about Egypt according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit the Egypt article.

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 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 by 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 allegience 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.

[edit] Geography

Location 

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip

Geographic coordinates 

27 00 N, 30 00 E

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

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

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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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, shortest 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

[edit] People

Population 

70,712,345 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 33.96% (male 12,292,185; female 11,721,469)
15-64 years: 62.18% (male 22,190,637; female 21,775,504)
65 years and over: 3.86% (male 1,191,091; female 1,541,459) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

1.66% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

24.41 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

7.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 64.05 years
female: 66.24 years (2002 est.)
male: 61.96 years

Total fertility rate 

2.99 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

0.02% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

NA

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: 51.4%
male: 63.6%
female: 38.8% (1995 est.)

[edit] Government

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

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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 NA-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 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
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 

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 [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA]
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

International organization participation 

ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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) 895-5440

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

Flag description 

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band

[edit] Economy

Economy - overview 

Egypt improved its macroeconomic performance throughout most of the last decade by following IMF advice on fiscal, monetary, and structural reform policies. As a result, Cairo managed to tame inflation, slash budget deficits, and attract more foreign investment. In the past three years, however, the pace of reform has slackened, and excessive spending on national infrastructure projects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign exchange earnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and periodic dollar shortages. Monetary pressures have increased since 11 September 2001 because of declines in tourism, Suez canal tolls, and exports, and Cairo has devalued the pound several times in the past year. The development of a gas export market is a major bright spot for future growth prospects.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $258 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

2.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 14%
industry: 30%
services: 56% (2001)

Population below poverty line 

23% (FY95/96 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index 

29 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

2.3% (2001)

Labor force 

20.6 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 29%, industry 22%, services 49% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate 

12% (2001 est.)

Budget 

revenues: $21.5 billion
expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2001)

Industries 

textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals

Industrial production growth rate 

1.8% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production 

69.592 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 77%
hydro: 23%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

64.721 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Exports 

$7.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities 

crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Exports - partners 

EU 43% (Italy 18%, Germany 4%, UK 3.2%), US 15%, Middle East 11%, Asian countries 9%, (2000)

Imports 

$164 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities 

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

Imports - partners 

EU 36% (Germany 8%, Italy 8%, France 6%), US 18%, Asian countries 13%, , Middle East 6% (2000)

Debt - external 

$29 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)

Currency 

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code 

EGP

Exchange rates 

Egyptian pounds per US dollar - market rate - 4.5000 (January 2002), 4.4900 (2001), 3.6900 (2000), 3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997)

Fiscal year 

1 July - 30 June

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

3,971,500 (December 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

380,000 (1999)

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: 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)

Radios 

20.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

98 (September 1995)

Televisions 

7.7 million (1997)

Internet country code 

.eg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

50 (2000)

Internet users 

600,000 (2002)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

total: 4,955 km
standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double-track) (2000 est.)

Highways 

total: 64,000 km
paved: 50,000 km
unpaved: 14,000 km (1996)

Waterways 

3,500 km
note: including 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 

crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km

Ports and harbors 

Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez

Merchant marine 

total: 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,331,186 GRT/1,987,964 DWT
ships by type: bulk 23, cargo 58, container 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 61, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, Denmark 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 3, Monaco 1, Ukraine 1 (2002 est.)

Airports 

92 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 71
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 6

Heliports 

2 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military manpower - military age 

20 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 19,030,030 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 12,320,902 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 712,983 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$4.04 billion (FY99/00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

4.1% (FY99/00)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

Egypt and Sudan each claim to administer triangular areas which extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel (in the north, the "Hala'ib Triangle", is the largest with 20,580 sq km); in 2001, the two states agreed to discuss an "area of integration" and withdraw military forces in the overlapping areas

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 banking regulations