Egypt
Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
republicIndependence 28 February 1922 (from UK)
Egypt as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 118 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip
18 fieldsLand boundaries
total: 2,689 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km
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.)
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
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(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.)
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.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 63.69 years male: 61.62 years female: 65.85 years (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.4% male: 63.6% female: 38.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Republic
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Country name
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
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
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 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
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 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 (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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: [20] (2) 795-7371
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
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.
32 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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.
Budget
revenues: $22.6 billion expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99)
Agriculture - products
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
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)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone 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)
Transportation
10 fieldsRailways
total: 4,955 km standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double track) (2000)
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
Ports and harbors
Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
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
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Egypt.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/egypt/2001.