Egypt
Arab Republic of EgyptJumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
republicIndependence 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status
Egypt as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 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 MUBARAK resigned and national leadership was assumed by a 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. Following some delays, elections for a new parliament took place between November 2011 and January 2012; however the lower house of parliament was dissolved after a court ruling deemed its formation illegal in June.
Presidential elections held in May and June witnessed the victory of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed MURSI over former Prime Minister Ahmed SHAFIQ. A draft constitution was approved in a December 2012 referendum, and legislative elections to form a new lower house of parliament are expected in early 2013.
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 windstorms called khamsin occur 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
32 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2012 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:
- 0.82 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 Muhammad MURSI (since 30 June 2012); Prime Minister Hisham QANDIL (since 24 July 2012)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Advisory Council, 503 seatsseats by party
Percent 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)
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
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
- chief of state:
- President Muhammad MURSI (since 30 June 2012); vice president (vacant)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Hisham QANDIL (since 24 July 2012)
- cabinet:
- in an early January 2013 cabinet reshuffle, 10 new ministers were sworn in; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- presidential election (first round held on 23-24 May 2012; runoff held on 16-17 June 2012 (next election NA)
- election results:
- percent of vote (first round) - Mohammed MURSI 24.3%, Ahmed SHAFIQ 23.3%, Hamdin SABBAHI 20.4%, Abdul Moneim Aboul FOTOUH 17.2%, Amr MOUSSA 11.1, other 3.7%;
- (runoff) - Mohammed MURSI 51.7%, Ahmed SHAFIQ 48.3%
Legislative branch
bicameral parliament consists of the Shura Council or Majlis al-Shura that traditionally functions mostly in a consultative role (at least 150 seats with up to one-tenth of body appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms)and the House of Representatives (at least 350 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- People's Assembly and Advisory Council elections last held between November and January 2012;
- elections for new House of Representaives to be held in early 2013;
- election for the Shura Council to be held within one year
- election results:
- Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 45%, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 28.6%, New Wafd Party 8.5%, Egyptian Bloc 5.4%, other 2.8%;;
- seats by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 105, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 45, New Wafd Party 14, Egyptian Bloc 8, other 4, independents 4, presidential appointees 90;
- People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 37.5%, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 27.8%, New Wafd Party 9.2%, Egyptian Bloc 8.9%, Al Wasat Party 3.7%, The Revolution Continues Alliance 2.8%, Reform and Development Party 2.2%, National Party of Egypt 1.6%, Freedom Party 1.9%, Egyptian Citizen Party 0.9%, other 3.7;
- seats by party - Democratic Alliance of Egypt 235, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 123, New Wafd Party 38, Egyptian Bloc 35, Al-Wasat 10, Reform and Development Party 9, The Revolution Continues Alliance 8, National Party of Egypt 5, Egyptian Citizen Party 4, Freedom Party 4, independents 21, other 6, SCAF appointees 10
note: the Supreme Court on 14 June 2012 dissolved the People's Assembly
Judicial branch
- Court of Cassation (final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases);
- State Council (head of court system administration);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (jurisdiction limited to constitutionality of laws)
Political parties and leaders
- Al-Wasat Party;
- Constitution Pary [Mohammed ELBARADEI];
- Democratic Peace Party;
- Egyptian Citizen Party;
- Freedom Party;
- Nation Party [Hazem Abu ISMAIL];
- National Party of Egypt;
- New Wafd Party;
- People's Party;
- Popular Current Party [Hamdin SABAHI];
- Reform and Development Party;
- Strong Egypt Party [Abdel Aboul FOTOUH]
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mohamed TAWFIK
- 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.
39 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
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.
Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth in recent years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remained poor and contributed to public discontent. After unrest erupted in January 2011, the Egyptian Government backtracked on economic reforms, drastically increasing social spending to address public dissatisfaction, but political uncertainty at the same time caused economic growth to slow significantly, reducing the government's revenues.
Tourism, manufacturing, and construction were among the hardest hit sectors of the Egyptian economy, and economic growth is likely to remain slow during the next several years. The government drew down foreign exchange reserves by more than 50% in 2011 and 2012 to support the Egyptian pound and the dearth of foreign financial assistance - as a result of unsuccessful negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over a multi-billion dollar loan agreement which have dragged on more than 20 months - could precipitate fiscal and balance of payments crises in 2013.
Public debt
85% of GDP (2012 est.) · 83.6% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 note: data cover central government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
Central bank discount rate
8.68% (31 December 2010 est.) · 8.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.5% (31 December 2012 est.) · 11.03% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Stock of narrow money
$47.73 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $42.25 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Stock of broad money
$192.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $171.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Stock of domestic credit
$178.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $169.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Agriculture - products
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
Current account balance
-$8.417 billion (2012 est.) · -$6.521 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Exports - commodities
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals, processed food
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$15.26 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $17.66 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Debt - external
$34.88 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $33.75 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$73.81 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $72.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$6.824 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $6.074 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Exchange rates
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 6.05 (2012 est.) · 5.9358 (2011 est.) · 5.6219 (2010 est.) · 5.545 (2009) · 5.4 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 24.67 million kW(2009 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
4.45 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - proved reserves
2.186 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
196.5 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
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 2011 there were multiple mobile-cellular networks with a total of roughly 83 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 (2011)
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, 67 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) (2009)
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) (2011) country comparison to the world: 30
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 - 18-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation;
- voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 (2012)
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):
- 70,029 (West Bank and Gaza Strip);
- 10,324 (Sudan);
- 6,037 (Iraq) (2011);
- 14,156 (Syria);
- 7,595 (Somalia) (2013)
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 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/egypt/2012.