World Facts Index > Egypt > Cairo
 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.
Geography of Egypt
|
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 |
|
Coordinates:
|
27 00 N, 30 00 E |
|
Area:
|
total: 1,001,450 sq
km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly more than three
times the size of New Mexico |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 2,665 km
border countries: 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
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
petroleum, natural gas,
iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos,
lead, zinc |
|
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; 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 |
|
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
|
More Geography
Population of Egypt
|
Population:
|
81,713,520 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female
12,548,346)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 25,102,754/female 24,519,698)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,510,280/female 2,033,288) |
|
Median age:
|
24 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
1.75% |
|
Infant mortality:
|
31.33 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 71.29 years
male: 68.77 years
female: 73.93 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
2.83 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins,
and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French)
1% |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian
and other 6% |
|
Languages:
|
Arabic (official), English and French
widely understood by educated classes |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Arab
Republic of 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 Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK
(since 14 October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no term limits);
note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment
that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote;
previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and the
nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held
26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7
September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011 |
|
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 six-year terms; mid-term elections for half the
members)
|
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Constitutional Court |
Economy
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by
the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. In the
last 30 years, the government has reformed the highly centralized economy it
inherited from President Gamel Abdel NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed
NAZIF's government reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy
subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP
grew about 5% per year in 2005-06, and topped 7% in 2007. Despite these
achievements, the government has failed to raise living standards for the
average Egyptian, and has had to continue providing subsidies for basic
necessities. The subsidies have contributed to a sizeable budget deficit -
roughly 7.5% of GDP in 2007 - and represent a significant drain on the economy.
Foreign direct investment has increased significantly in the past two years, but
the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit of reforms in
order to sustain the spike in investment and growth and begin to improve
economic conditions for the broader population. Egypt's export sectors -
particularly natural gas - have bright prospects.
|
GDP:
|
$405.4 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
4.9% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$3,900 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 14.9%
industry: 35.7%
services: 49.3% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
4.9% |
|
Labor force:
|
21.34 million |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% |
|
Unemployment:
|
9.5% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $20.29 billion
expenditures: $27.68 billion |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
textiles, food processing, tourism,
chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals |
|
Agriculture:
|
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits,
vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats |
|
Exports:
|
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton,
textiles, metal products, chemicals |
|
Export partners:
|
US 13.4%, Italy 9.6%, Spain 7.8%, Syria 6%, France 4.9%,
Germany 4.9%, UK 4.5% |
|
Imports:
|
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, wood products, fuels |
|
Import partners:
|
US 10.8%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.6%, France 6.4%, Italy
5.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.5% |
|
Currency:
|
Egyptian pound (EGP) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |