Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian
Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production
of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug
traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak
anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern
frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Egypt (Africa)
Introduction ::Egypt
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 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 ::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
Geographic coordinates:
27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,001,450 sq km
country comparison to the world: 30
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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
Land use:
arable land: 2.92%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 96.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
34,220 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
86.8 cu km (1997)
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 fresh water 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
People ::Egypt
Population:
83,082,869 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 13,345,500/female 12,743,878)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 26,823,127/female 26,169,421)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,701,068/female 2,299,875) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.8 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 25.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.642% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Birth rate:
21.7 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Death rate:
5.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Net migration rate:
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Urbanization:
urban population: 43% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 81
male: 28.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.12 years
country comparison to the world: 120
male: 69.56 years
female: 74.81 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.66 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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)
Nationality:
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:
Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)
Religions:
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated
classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.4%
male: 83%
female: 59.4% (2005 est.)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 96
Government ::Egypt
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)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Cairo
geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last
Thursday in September
Administrative divisions:
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al
Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El
Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah
(Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia), Al Minya, Al
Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As
Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf (Beni Suef),
Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai),
Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina (Qena), Shamal Sina'
(North Sinai), Suhaj (Sohag)
Independence:
28 February 1922 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:
11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March
2007
Legal system:
based on Islamic and civil law (particularly 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
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 only in a consultative
role but 2007 constitutional amendments could grant the Council new
powers (264 seats; 176 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
(454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the
president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: Advisory Council - last held June 2007 (next to be held
May-June 2010); People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7
and 20 November, 1 December 2005; (next to be held November-December
2010)
election results: Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NDP 84, Tagammu 1, independents 3; People's
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 311,
NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 112 (12 seats to be
determined by rerun elections, 10 seats appointed by President)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni
MUBARAK]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat
EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow Party
[Moussa Mustafa MOUSSA]
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 Hosni MUBARAK's potentially most significant political
opposition; MUBARAK has alternated between tolerating limited
political activity by the Brotherhood (its members, who ran as
independents, hold 88 seats in the People's Assembly) and blocking
its influence; 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, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, COMESA,
EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOMIG, 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 Margaret SCOBEY
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; design is
based on the Arab Liberation flag and 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
Economy ::Egypt
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 has opened up
considerably under former President Anwar EL-SADAT and current
President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo has aggressively pursued
economic reforms to encourage inflows of foreign investment and
facilitate GDP growth. 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 7% each year since 2006. 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% of GDP in 2007-08 - 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 (purchasing power parity):
$444.8 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$414.9 billion (2007 est.)
$387.4 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$162.6 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
7.1% (2007 est.)
6.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$5,500 (2007 est.)
$5,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.2%
industry: 38.7%
services: 48.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
24.6 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 17%
services: 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
9.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
20% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.4 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 90
Investment (gross fixed):
19.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Budget:
revenues: $40.22 billion
expenditures: $51.07 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
86.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
102.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
18.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
9.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
11.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
9% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
12.51% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$31.72 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
$27.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$112.2 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
$102.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$126.5 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
$113.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$85.89 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 43
$139.3 billion (31 December 2007)
$93.48 billion (31 December 2006)
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
Industrial production growth rate:
6.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - production:
118.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - consumption:
104.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Electricity - exports:
814 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
251 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
630,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - consumption:
697,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - exports:
155,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - imports:
146,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - proved reserves:
3.7 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - production:
48.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - consumption:
31.38 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - exports:
16.92 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Current account balance:
-$1.331 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$500.9 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$29.85 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$24.45 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
chemicals
Exports - partners:
Italy 9.4%, US 7.1%, India 6.2%, Spain 6.1%, Syria 4.7%, Saudi
Arabia 4.6%, Japan 4.5%, Germany 4.5% (2008)
Imports:
$56.62 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$44.95 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 10.3%, China 9.9%, Italy 7.3%, Germany 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.85 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$31.37 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$32.12 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
$32.84 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$59.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$49.23 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$12.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$11.58 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.4 (2008 est.), 5.67 (2007),
5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004)
Communications ::Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:
12.011 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 21
Telephones - mobile cellular:
41.272 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
Telephone system:
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading
during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Telecom Egypt, the landline
monopoly, has been increasing service availability and in 2008
fixed-line density stood at 15 per 100 persons; as of 2008 there
were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 41
million subscribers, roughly 50 per 100 persons
domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay
international: country code - 20; landing point for both the
SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; linked to the
international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the
Globe); 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 (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 11, shortwave 3 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
98 (September 1995)
Internet country code:
.eg
Internet hosts:
177,443 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Internet users:
11.414 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
Transportation ::Egypt
Airports:
85 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Heliports:
6 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 320 km; condensate/gas 13 km; gas 5,586 km; liquid
petroleum gas 956 km; oil 4,314 km; oil/gas/water 3 km; refined
products 895 km; unknown 59 km; water 9 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 5,063 km
country comparison to the world: 35
standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 92,370 km
country comparison to the world: 52
paved: 74,820 km
unpaved: 17,550 km (2004)
Waterways:
3,500 km
country comparison to the world: 30
note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,
and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including
approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m
(2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 67
country comparison to the world: 63
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 28, container 2, passenger/cargo 4,
petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 8, Lebanon 1)
registered in other countries: 58 (Cambodia 13, Georgia 12, Honduras
3, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Moldova 1, Panama 17, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra
Leone 3, Togo 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Sidi Kurayr, Suez
Military ::Egypt
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military 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)