EGYPT is a country in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge to Western Asia. Covering an area of about 1,001,450 square kilometers (386,660 sq mi), Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.

Egypt is one of the most populous countries in northern Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 75.4 million[1] live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. 

The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.

Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.

BASIC FACTS

Official name

Arab Republic of Egypt

Capital

Cairo

Area

997,739 sq km
385,229 sq mi

Largest cities (population)

Cairo 7,500,000 (2003 estimate)
Giza 2,570,000 (2007 estimate)
Alexandria 3,750,000 (2007 estimate)
Port Said 469,000 (1998 estimate)
Suez 417,000 (1998 estimate)
Ţanţā 371,010 (1996)
Al Manşūrah 369,621 (1996)
Asyūţ 343,498 (1996)
Aswān 219,017 (1996)

Population

81,713,517 (2008 estimate)

Population growth rate

1.68 per cent (2008 estimate)

Population density

82 persons per sq km (2008 estimate)
213 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)

Urbanisation

Per cent urban 42 per cent (2005 estimate)
Per cent rural 58 per cent (2005 estimate)

Life expectancy

Total 71.8 years (2008 estimate)
Female 74.5 years (2008 estimate)
Male 69.3 years (2008 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

28 deaths per 1,000 live births (2008 estimate)

Literacy rate

Total 59.3 per cent (2005 estimate)
Female 48.9 per cent (2005 estimate)
Male 69.4 per cent (2005 estimate)

Ethnic divisions

Eastern Hamitic (Egyptians, Bedouin, and Berbers) 99 per cent
Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European 1 per cent

Languages

Standard Arabic (official), Egyptian Spoken Arabic (national language), Sa`idi Spoken Arabic, Eastern Egyptian Bedawi Spoken Arabic, Western Egyptian Bedawi Spoken Arabic, Domari, Nobiin, and other indigenous languages

Religions

Muslim (mostly Sunni), Coptic Christian, other

Type of government

Republic

Independence

February 28, 1922 (from the United Kingdom)

Constitution

September 11, 1971

Voting rights

Universal and compulsory at age 18

Economy

Gross domestic product (GDP) (US$)107,484 million (2006)
GDP per capita (US$) 1,449.20 (2006)
GDP by economic sector
GDP, agriculture 14.1 per cent (2006)
GDP, industry 38.4 per cent (2006)
GDP, services 47.5 per cent (2006)

National budget (US$)

Total revenue 25,969 million (2006)
Total expenditure 28,892 million (2006)

Monetary unit

1 Egyptian pound (£E), consisting of 100 piastres

Exports

Crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Imports

Machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods

Major trading partners for exports

United States, Italy, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, France

Major trading partners for imports

United States, Germany, France, Australia, Argentina

Industries

Textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals

Agriculture

Cotton, rice, maize, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Natural resources

Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

MYSTICAL EGYPT

Croatia - Montenegro - Albania - Greece - Turkey - Cyprus - Israel
Egypt - Libya - Algeria - Tunisia - Morocco - Spain - France - Italy - Malta