Statistical information Egypt 1997

Egypt in the World
Egypt - Introduction 1997
top of pageBackground: One of the four great ancient civilizations, Egypt, ruled by powerful pharaohs, bequeathed to Western civilization numerous advances in technology, science, and the arts. For the last two millennia, however, Egypt has served a series of foreign masters_Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, and the British. Formal independence came in 1922, and the remnants of British control ended after World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1981 altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population will stress Egyptian society and resources as it enters the new millenium.
top of pageLocation: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 1,001,450 km²
Land: 995,450 km²
Water: 6,000 km²
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundariesTotal: 2,689 km
Border countries: (4) Gaza Strip 11 km;
, Israel 255 km;
, Libya 1,150 km;
, Sudan 1,273 kmCoastline: 2,450 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 32,460 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulation: 64,824,466 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 1.89% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Egyptian(s)
Adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic Christian and other 6% (official estimate)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 36% (male 12,080,281; female 11,556,970)
15-64 years: 60% (male 19,616,790; female 19,228,163)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,050,540; female 1,291,722) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.89% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 27.82 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 8.56 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salinization 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
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 71 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 61.75 years
Male: 59.8 years
Female: 63.8 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 51.4%
Male: 63.6%
Female: 38.8% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
Conventional short form: Egypt
Local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Local short form: none
Former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Government type: republic
Capital: Cairo
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
Dependent areasIndependence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branchChief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4 January 1996)
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 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third 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 - last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
Election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party - NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), 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, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTAES, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED
In the us chancery: 3,521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 895-5,400
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 244-4,319, 5,131
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
From the us embassy: (, North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo
From the us mailing address: Unit 64,900, APO AE 9,839-4,900
From the us telephone: [20] (2) 3,557,371
From the us FAX: [20] (2) 3,572,000
From the us branch office: Alexandria
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 that 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: By the end of the 1980s Egypt - hit by the collapse of the world oil market and servicing a foreign debt totaling about $50 billion - faced crises in virtually all economic sectors. Problems of low productivity and poor economic management were compounded by the adverse social effects of large population growth rates, high inflation, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures, in 1991, Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has been supported by three successive IMF arrangements, the last of which was concluded in October 1996. Egypt's reform efforts - and its participation in the Gulf war coalition - also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. Egypt's foreign debt fell to about $31 billion at yearend 1996. Although the pace of reform has been uneven and slower than envisaged under the IMF programs, substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance - budget deficits have been slashed while foreign reserves in 1996 were at an all-time high - and in moving toward a more decentralized, market-oriented economy. Egypt was able to capitalize on its progress during the third Middle East/North Africa economic conference which it hosted in November 1996. Egypt's President MUBARAK told reporters that Egypt had concluded deals worth $10 billion in investment during the conference, 20 times the country's estimated total direct foreign investment for the 1995/96 fiscal year. According to press reports, Egypt and foreign investors agreed on nine megaprojects, including the export of liquefied natural gas from Egypt to Turkey, estimated at $2 billion to $4 billion. Egypt has a broad-based inventory of geographic, human, and physical assets which in a liberalized market environment could spur rapid, sustainable growth into the next century. But rapid population growth continues to cast a shadow over economic prospects.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.9% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,900 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 16%
Industry: 34%
Services: 50% (1995 est.)
Agriculture products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 17.4 million (1996 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 40%
By occupation services includinggovernment: 38%
By occupation industry: 22% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (FY95/96 official estimate)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $17.4 billion
Expenditures: $18.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (FY95/96)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsTotal value: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., FY95/96 est.)
Commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Partners: EU, US, Japan
ImportsTotal value: $13.8 billion (c.i.f., FY95/96 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods
Partners: US, EU, Japan
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $31 billion (yearend 1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Egyptian pounds (£E) per US$1 - 3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992; market rate - 3.3900 (January 1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994), 3.3718 (1993), 3.3386 (1992)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 13.04 million kW (1994)
Production: 47.89 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 723 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaEgypt - Communication 1997
top of pageTelephones: 2.2 million (1993)
Telephone system: large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading
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; participant in Medarabtel
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $3.28 billion (FY95/96)
Percent of gdp: 8.2% (FY95/96)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsEgypt - Transportation 1997
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 81 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 73
With paved runways over 3047 m: 11
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 34
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 16
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 10 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 8
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
RailwaysTotal: 4,751 km
Standard gauge: 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)
RoadwaysWaterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta; Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Merchant marineTotal: 156 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,151,960 GRT/1,771,863 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 65, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 35, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16, short-sea passenger 3 (1996 est.)
Ports and terminalsEgypt - Transnational issues 1997
top of pageDisputes international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 km²
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of hashish from Lebanon and Syria