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| Background: |
Nominally 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 |
| 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 |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly more than three
times the size of New Mexico |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 2,689
km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255
km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km |
| 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 |
| 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%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated land: |
32,460 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural
hazards: |
periodic droughts; frequent
earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; 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 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 |
| Population: |
69,536,644 (July 2001 est.)
|
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
34.59% (male 12,313,585; female 11,739,072)
15-64 years: 61.6% (male 21,614,284; female 21,217,978)
65 years and over: 3.81% (male 1,160,967; female
1,490,758) (2001 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
1.69% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
24.89 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
7.7 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.24 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
|
| Infant
mortality rate: |
60.46 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
63.69 years
male: 61.62 years
female: 65.85 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
3.07 children born/woman
(2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.02% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
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: |
Moslem (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.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Gomhoreyyet Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria) |
| Government type: |
republic |
| 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 OBEID (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, leader] - 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 government |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
despite a constitutional
ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal
Moslem 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 (associate),
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, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
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 Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York,
and San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador C. David WELCH (since 3 Aug. 2001)
embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, 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 |
| Economy
- overview: |
A series of IMF arrangements
- along with massive external debt relief resulting from Egypt's
participation in the Gulf war coalition - helped Egypt improve
its macroeconomic performance during the 1990s. Sound fiscal
and monetary policies through the mid-1990s helped to tame inflation,
slash budget deficits, and build up foreign reserves, while
structural reforms such as privatization and new business legislation
prompted increased foreign investment. By mid-1998, however,
the pace of structural reform slackened, and lower combined
hard currency earnings resulted in pressure on the Egyptian
pound and sporadic US dollar shortages. External payments were
not in crisis, but Cairo's attempts to curb demand for foreign
exchange convinced some investors and currency traders that
government financial operations lacked transparency and coordination.
Monetary pressures have since eased, however, with the 1999-2000
higher oil prices, a rebound in tourism, and a series of mini-devaluations
of the pound. The development of a gas export market is a major
plus factor in future growth. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity
- $247 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity
- $3,600 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
17%
industry: 32%
services: 51% (1999) |
| Population below poverty line: |
22.9% (FY95/96 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
4.4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3% (2000) |
| Labor
force: |
19.9 million (2000 est.)
|
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 29%, services
49%, industry 22% (FY99) |
| Unemployment rate: |
11.5% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$22.6 billion
expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY99) |
| Industries: |
textiles, food processing,
tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals
|
| Industrial production growth rate: |
2.1% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity - production: |
64.685 billion kWh (1999)
|
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel:
76.59%
hydro: 23.41%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity - consumption: |
60.157 billion kWh (1999)
|
| Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture - products: |
cotton, rice, corn, wheat,
beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
|
| Exports: |
$7.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
crude oil and petroleum
products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals |
| Exports
- partners: |
EU 35%, Middle East 17%,
Afro-Asian countries 14%, US 12% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$17 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and equipment,
foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels |
| Imports
- partners: |
EU 36%, US 14%, Afro-Asian
countries 14%, Middle East 6% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$31 billion (2000 est.)
|
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)
|
| Currency: |
Egyptian pound (EGP) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Egyptian pounds per US
dollar - market rate - 3.8400 (January 2001), 3.6900 (2000),
3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| 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: |
300,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total: 4,955
km
standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified;
1,560 km double-track) (2000) |
| 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 |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 181
ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336,678 GRT/1,982,220 DWT
ships by type: bulk 23, cargo 61, container 2,
liquefied gas 1, passenger 61, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll
off 15, short-sea passenger 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force,
Air Defense Command |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
20 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
18,562,994 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
12,020,059 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 712,983
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$4.04 billion (FY99/00)
|
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
4.1% (FY99/00) |
| Disputes
- international: |
Egypt asserts its claim
to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under
partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative
boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899 |
| Illicit
drugs: |
a transit point for Southwest
Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe,
Africa, and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers
|
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