Egypt
Arab Republic of EgyptJumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
republicIndependence 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status
Egypt as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 154 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. 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 meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Egyptian youth and opposition groups, inspired by events in Tunisia leading to overthrow of the government there, organized a "Day of Rage" campaign on 25 January 2011 (Police Day) to include non-violent demonstrations, marches, and labor strikes in Cairo and other cities throughout Egypt.
Protester grievances focused on police brutality, state emergency laws, lack of free speech and elections, high unemployment, rising food prices, inflation, and low minimum wages. Within several days of the onset of protests, President MUBARAK addressed the nation pledging the formation of a new government, and in a second address he offered additional concessions, which failed to assuage protesters and resulted in an escalation of the number and intensity of demonstrations and clashes with police.
On 11 February, recently appointed Vice President SULIMAN announced MUBARAK's resignation and the assumption of national leadership by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF). The SCAF dissolved the Egyptian parliament, suspended the nation's constitution, and formed a committee to recommend constitutional changes to facilitate a political transition through democratic elections. In early March, Essam SHARAF replaced Ahmed SHAFIK as Prime Minister and by mid-month a constitutional referendum was approved.
In early July, the SCAF announced that elections for parliament would take place in September, but the date was later changed to November, and was to be followed by a redrafting of the constitution and a presidential election. In July 2011, opposition discontent over the slow pace of SCAF progress in transitioning the government led to a resumption of protests in Cairo and over a dozen other cities; less frequent, smaller demonstrations and protests continued through October.
Following the arrest of MUBARAK and other high-ranking officials in mid-April, a trial in which MUBARAK is accused of corruption and complicity in the deaths of nearly 900 protesters began in early August, was temporarily suspended in September, and is scheduled to resume in late December. Elections for a new parliament were scheduled for late November 2011.
Geography
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
20 fieldsLand useshare of 1,001,450 sq km
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
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 68.3 cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%)
- per capita:
- 923 cu m/yr (2000)
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;
- limited natural freshwater 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
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 from Sudan and the Palestinian territories
People and Society
33 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.83 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- intermediate
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne disease:
- Rift Valley fever
- water contact disease:
- schistosomiasis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Government
Republic; president (vacant); Prime Minister Kamal Ahmad El-GANZOURI (since 25 November 2011)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Advisory Council, 518 seats, elected in June 2010seats by party
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)
Capital
- name:
- Cairo
- geographic coordinates:
- 30 03 N, 31 15 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
27 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur (Luxor), Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj
Independence
- 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956);
- note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically
Constitution
- 11 September 1971;
- amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March 2007;
- note - constitution suspended by the military caretaker government 13 February 2011 and a new provisional constitution adopted 30 March 2011
Legal system
- mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil law and Islamic religious law;
- judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions)
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Executive branch
Note: following the resignation of President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK in February 2011, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Defense Minister Muhammad Hussein TANTAWI,
assumed control of the government
- chief of state:
- president (vacant); vice president (vacant)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Kamal Ahmad El-GANZOURI (since 25 November 2011)
- cabinet:
- Prime Minister GANZOURI asked to form a new government on 27 November 2011; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- NA
- election results:
- Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%
Legislative branch
bicameral system consists of the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (Shura Council) that traditionally functions mostly in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 members elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members) and the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (518 seats; 508 members elected by popular vote, 64 seats reserved for women, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- Advisory Council - last held in June 2010 (next to be held in 2012);
- People's Assembly - last held in November-December 2010 in one round of voting and one run-off election (next to be held in 2015);
- note - on 13 February 2011 the ruling military council dissolved the parliament;
- new parliamentary elections to be held in late 2011 - early 2012
- election results:
- Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - NDP 80, Al-Geel 1, Nasserist 1, NWP 1, Tagammu 1, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 3;
- People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - NDP 419, NWP 6, Tagammu 5, Democratic Peace Party 1, Social Justice Party 1, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 71, seats undecided 4, seats appointed by president 10
Political parties and leaders
- Al-Geel;
- Democratic Peace Party;
- Nasserist Party [Ahmed HASSAN];
- National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK];
- National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID];
- New Wafd Party or NWP [Sayed EL-BEDAWY];
- Social Justice Party [Mohamed Abdel Al HASAN];
- Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOUR]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are listed
Political pressure groups and leaders
Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal)
note: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Egypt's most potentially significant political opposition;
President MUBARAK has alternated between tolerating limited political activity by the Brotherhood and blocking its influence (its members compete as independents in elections but do not currently hold any seats in the legislature); civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms;
only trade unions and professional associations affiliated with the government are officially sanctioned; Internet social networking groups and bloggers
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY
- chancery:
- 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 895-5400
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 244-4319
- consulate(s) general:
- Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Ann W. PATTERSON
- embassy:
- 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
- mailing address:
- Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo
- telephone:
- [20] (2) 2797-3300
- FAX:
- [20] (2) 2797-3200
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;
- the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
National anthem
- name:
- "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland)
- lyrics/music:
- Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH
note: adopted 1979; after the signing of the 1979 peace with Israel, Egypt sought to create an anthem less militaristic than its previous one; Sayed DARWISH,
commonly considered the father of modern Egyptian music, composed the anthem
Economy
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place.
53 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but opened up considerably under former Presidents Anwar EL-SADAT and Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth.
The global financial crisis slowed the reform efforts. The budget deficit climbed to over 8% of GDP and Egypt's GDP growth slowed to 4.6% in 2009, predominately due to reduced growth in export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism, and Suez Canal revenues. In 2010, the government spent more on infrastructure and public projects, and exports drove GDP growth to more than 5%, but GDP growth in 2011 is unlikely to bounce back to pre-global financial recession levels, when it stood at 7%. Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor.
Central bank discount rate
8.68% (31 December 2010 est.) · 8.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Commercial bank prime lending rate
11.008% (31 December 2010 est.) · 11.975% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Stock of narrow money
$38.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $35.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Stock of broad money
$168.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $158.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Stock of domestic credit
$141.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $136.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Agriculture - products
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
Industries
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Natural gas - proved reserves
2.186 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Current account balance
-$4.435 billion (2010 est.) · -$3.195 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Exports - commodities
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals, processed food
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$35.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Debt - external
$34.91 billion (30 June 2011 est.) · $35.37 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$73.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $66.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$5.448 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $4.272 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Exchange rates
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.6124 (2010) · 5.545 (2009) · 5.4 (2008) · 5.67 (2007) · 5.725 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s;
- principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
- domestic:
- largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2010 there were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 55 million subscribers
- international:
- country code - 20;
- landing point for Aletar, the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks, Link Around the Globe (FLAG) Falcon and FLAG FEA;
- satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat);
- tropospheric scatter to Sudan;
- microwave radio relay to Israel;
- a participant in Medarabtel (2009)
Broadcast media
- mix of state-run and private broadcast media;
- state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few satellite channels;
- about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription;
- state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks;
- 2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 66 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Pipelines
- condensate 320 km;
- condensate/gas 13 km;
- gas 6,628 km;
- liquid petroleum gas 956 km;
- oil 4,332 km;
- oil/gas/water 3 km;
- refined products 895 km;
- water 13 km (2010)
Railways
- total:
- 5,083 km
country comparison to the world: 34
- standard gauge:
- 5,083 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2010)
Waterways
3,500 km (includes the Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in Nile Delta; the Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) is navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m) (2010) country comparison to the world: 29
Military
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
6 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 21,012,199
- females age 16-49:
- 20,145,021 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary;
- Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps;
- Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border;
- Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq);
- 70,198 (Palestinian Territories);
- 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)
Illicit drugs
- transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa;
- transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers;
- concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Egypt.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/egypt/2011.