Background: 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 the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3,200 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 by 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 allegience to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially 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.

Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N 30 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1,001,450 km²
Land: 995,450 km²
Water: 6,000 km²
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 2,665 km
Border countries: (4) Gaza Strip 11 km; , Israel 266 km; , Libya 1,115 km; , Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline: 2,450 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 NM
Territorial sea: 12 NM
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 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
Extremes 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: 2.85%
Permanent crops: 0.47%
Other: 96.68% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 33,000 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes flash floods landslides; hot driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms sandstorms

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: 70,712,345 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: 1.66% (2002 est.)
Below poverty line: 23% (FY95/96 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Egyptian
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% Coptic Christian and other 6%

Age structure
0-14 years: 33.96% (male 12,292,185; female 11,721,469)
15-64 years: 62.18% (male 22,190,637; female 21,775,504)
65 years and over: 3.86% (male 1,191,091; female 1,541,459) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.66% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 24.41 births/1000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 7.58 deaths/1000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.24 migrant(s)/1000 population (2002 est.)

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 the Nile and natural resources
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 1.02 male/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 58.6 deaths/1000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.05 years
Female: 66.24 years (2002 est.)
Male: 61.96 years

Total fertility rate: 2.99 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.02% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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 short form: Misr
Former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

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

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 Mohammed ABEID (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
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
Note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government

International organization participation: ABEDA ACC ACCT 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 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 M. Nabil FAHMY
In the us chancery: 3,521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
In the us fax: [1] (202) 244-4,319
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 895-5,440
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
From the us embassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo
From the us mailing address: Unit 64,900, Box 15, APO AE 9,839-4,900
From the us telephone: [20] (2) 797-3,300
From the us fax: [20] (2) 797-3,200

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: Egypt improved its macroeconomic performance throughout most of the last decade by following IMF advice on fiscal monetary and structural reform policies. As a result Cairo managed to tame inflation slash budget deficits and attract more foreign investment. In the past three years however the pace of reform has slackened and excessive spending on national infrastructure projects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign exchange earnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and periodic dollar shortages. Monetary pressures have increased since 11 September 2001 because of declines in tourism Suez canal tolls and exports and Cairo has devalued the pound several times in the past year. The development of a gas export market is a major bright spot for future growth prospects.

Real gdp growth rate: 2.5% (2001 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2001 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 14%
Industry: 30%
Services: 56% (2001)

Agriculture products: cotton rice corn wheat beans fruits vegetables; cattle water buffalo sheep goats

Industries: textiles food processing tourism chemicals hydrocarbons construction cement metals

Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 20.6 million (2001 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 29%
By occupation industry: 22%
By occupation services: 49% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line: 23% (FY95/96 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 4%
Highest 10: 25% (1995)

Distribution of family income gini index: 29 (1995)

Budget
Revenues: $21.5 billion
Expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2001)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.3% (2001)

Exports: $7.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: crude oil and petroleum products cotton textiles metal products chemicals
Partners: EU 43% (Italy 18% Germany 4% UK 3.2%) US 15% Middle East 11% Asian countries 9% (2000)

Imports: $164 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs chemicals wood products fuels
Partners: EU 36% (Germany 8% Italy 8% France 6%) US 18% Asian countries 13% Middle East 6% (2000)

Debt external: $29 billion (2001 est.)

Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds per US dollar - market rate - 4.5000 (January 2002) 4.4900 (2001) 3.6900 (2000) 3.4050 (1999) 3.3880 (1998) 3.3880 (1997)

Electricity
Production: 69.592 billion kWh (2000)
Production by source fossil fuel: 77%
Production by source hydro: 23%
Production by source other: 0% (2000)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 64.721 billion kWh (2000)
Exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Imports: 0 kWh (2000)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 3,971,500 (December 1998)
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)

Internet
Country code: .eg
Service providers isps: 50 (2000)
Users: 600,000 (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $4.04 billion (FY99/00)
Percent of gdp: 4.1% (FY99/00)

Airports: 92 (2001)
With paved runways total: 71
With paved runways over 3047 m: 13
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 38
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (2002)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 17
With unpaved runways total: 18
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 9 (2002)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6

Heliports: 2 (2002)

Pipelines: crude oil 1171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km

Railways
Total: 4,955 km
Standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double-track) (2000 est.)

Waterways
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

Merchant marine
Total: 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,331,186 GRT/1,987,964 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 23, cargo 58, container 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 61, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 3
Note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, Denmark 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 3, Monaco 1, Ukraine 1 (2002 est.)

Disputes international: Egypt and Sudan each claim to administer triangular areas which extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel (in the north the 'Hala'ib Triangle' is the largest with 20,580 km²); in 2001 the two states agreed to discuss an 'area of integration' and withdraw military forces in the overlapping areas

Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe Africa and the US; transit stop for Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax banking regulations