2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 13,106,043/female 12,483,899) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 24,531,266/female 23,972,216) 65 years and over: 4.4% (male 1,457,097/female 1,955,235) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

87 (2004 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

Area

land

995,450 sq km

total

1,001,450 sq km

water

6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

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. Geography Egypt

Birth rate

23.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$20.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2004 est.)

revenues

$15.42 billion

Capital

Cairo

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

Constitution

11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980

Country name

conventional long form

Arab Republic of Egypt

conventional short form

Egypt

former

United Arab Republic (with Syria)

local long form

Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

local short form

Misr

Currency (code)

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code

EGP

Current account balance

$2.113 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$33.75 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador designate Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr

embassy

8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo

FAX

[20] (2) 797-3200

mailing address

Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900

telephone

[20] (2) 797-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 244-4319

telephone

[1] (202) 895-5400

Disputes - international

Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the two triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt is developing the Hala'ib Triangle north of the Treaty line; since the attack on Taba and other Egyptian resort towns on the Red Sea in October 2004, Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip; Egypt does not extend domestic asylum to some 70,000 persons who identify as Palestinians but who largely lack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognition as refugees

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.4 (2001)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)

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% in 2001-03. However, in 2004 Egypt implemented several measures to boost foreign direct investment. In September 2004, Egypt pushed through custom reforms, proposed income and corporate tax reforms, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The budget deficit rose to an estimated 8% of GDP in 2004 compared to 6.1% of GDP the previous year, in part as a result of these 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. In 2004, the Central Bank implemented measures to improve currency liquidity. Egypt reached record tourism levels, despite the Taba and Nuweiba bombings in September 2004. 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.

Electricity - consumption

75.58 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

81.27 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

81%

hydro

19%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Catherine 2,629 m

lowest point

Qattara Depression -133 m

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, 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

Ethnic groups

Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 6.1963 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001), 3.4721 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)

election results

Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)

Exports

$11 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 11.9%, US 10.8%, UK 7%, Syria 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, Spain 4.2% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Egypt

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 Economy Egypt

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

17.2%

industry

33%

services

49.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$316.3 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

27 00 N, 30 00 E

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 People Egypt

Government type

republic

Heliports

2 (2004 est.) Military Egypt

Highways

paved

49,984 km

total

64,000 km

unpaved

14,016 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$19.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 12.2%, Germany 7%, Italy 6.6%, France 5.7%, China 5.4%, UK 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004)

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

31.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

33.31 deaths/1,000 live births

total

32.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.5% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, 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, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.eg

Internet hosts

3,401 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

50 (2000)

Internet users

4.2 million (2005) Transportation Egypt

Investment (gross fixed)

15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

33,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Labor force

20.71 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km

total

2,665 km

Land use

arable land

2.87%

other

96.65% (2001)

permanent crops

0.48%

Languages

Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

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

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)

election results

People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 388, Tagammu 6, NWP 7, Nasserists 3, Al-Ahrar 1, independents 37 (2 seats determined by a later byelection, 10 seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held October-November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004 (next to be held May-June 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.62 years (2005 est.)

male

68.5 years

total population

71 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

46.9% (2003 est.) Government Egypt

male

68.3%

total population

57.7%

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 18,347,560 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 15,540,234 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

802,920 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

24.05 years (2005 est.)

male

23.31 years

total

23.68 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 14, cargo 34, container 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 8

foreign-owned

10 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2, Turkey 1)

registered in other countries

34 (2005)

total

77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.44 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (2004) Transnational Issues Egypt

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year service obligation (2001)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Nationality

adjective

Egyptian

noun

Egyptian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.264 trillion cu m (2004)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Net migration rate

-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

740,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

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)

Political parties and leaders

Al-Ahrar Party [Helmi SALEM]; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; 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] 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

Population

77,505,756 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.7% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit

Public debt

102.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios

20.5 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2004)

total

5,063 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

70,215 (Palestinian Territories) (2004)

Religions

Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$14.03 billion (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: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay

general assessment

large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available

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

Telephones - main lines in use

9.6 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8,583,940 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

98 (September 1995)

Televisions

7.7 million (1997)

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Total fertility rate

2.88 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.9% (2004 est.)

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 (2004)