Egypt

§1. Egypt Introduction

Background:
  Nominally 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.

§2. Egypt Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the
  Gaza Strip

Geographic coordinates:
  27 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references:
  Africa

Area:
  total: 1,001,450 kmē
  land: 995,450 kmē
  water: 6,000 kmē

Area - comparative:
  slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries:
  total: 2,689 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya
    1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline:
  2,450 km

Maritime claims:
  contiguous 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

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%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
  32,460 kmē (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:
  periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic
  activity; 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 natural resources

Environment - 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
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

§3. Egypt People

Population:
  69,536,644 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34.59% (male 12,313,585; female 11,739,072)
  15-64 years: 61.6% (male 21,614,284; female 21,217,978)
  65 years and over: 3.81% (male 1,160,967; female 1,490,758) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:
  1.69% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:
  7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  60.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 63.69 years male: 61.62 years
  female: 65.85 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.02% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

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: 51.4%
  male: 63.6%
  female: 38.8% (1995 est.)

§4. Egypt Government

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:
  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 OBEID (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:
  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 - 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:
  Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National
  Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader] -
  governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Khalid
  MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party
  or LSP [leader NA]
  note: formation of political parties must be approved by government

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the
  technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially
  most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political
  activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more
  aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are
  sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and
  professional associations are officially sanctioned

International organization participation:
  ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), 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, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
  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 Nabil FAHMY chancery: 3521 International Court
    NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
  FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER embassy: 5 Latin America
    St., Garden City, Cairo
  mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900
  telephone: [20] (2) 795-7371
  FAX: [20] (2) 797-2000

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

§5. Egypt Economy

Economy - overview:
  A series of IMF arrangements - along with massive external debt relief
  resulting from Egypt's participation in the Gulf war coalition - helped
  Egypt improve its macroeconomic performance during the 1990s. Sound fiscal
  and monetary policies through the mid-1990s helped to tame inflation, slash
  budget deficits, and build up foreign reserves, while structural reforms
  such as privatization and new business legislation prompted increased
  foreign investment. By mid-1998, however, the pace of structural reform
  slackened, and lower combined hard currency earnings resulted in pressure
  on the Egyptian pound and sporadic US dollar shortages. External payments
  were not in crisis, but Cairo's attempts to curb demand for foreign
  exchange convinced some investors and currency traders that government
  financial operations lacked transparency and coordination. Monetary
  pressures have since eased, however, with the 1999-2000 higher oil prices,
  a rebound in tourism, and a series of mini-devaluations of the pound. The
  development of a gas export market is a major plus factor in future growth.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $247 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  5% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 17% industry: 32%
  services: 51% (1999)

Population below poverty line:
  22.9% (FY95/96 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (2000)

Labor force:
  19.9 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 29%, services 49%, industry 22% (FY99)

Unemployment rate:
  11.5% (2000 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $22.6 billion
  expenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99)

Industries:
  textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction,
  cement, metals

Industrial production growth rate:
  2.1% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
  64.685 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 76.59% hydro: 23.41%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  60.157 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (1999)

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

Exports:
  $7.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
  chemicals

Exports - partners:
  EU 35%, Middle East 17%, Afro-Asian countries 14%, US 12% (1999)

Imports:
  $17 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners:
  EU 36%, US 14%, Afro-Asian countries 14%, Middle East 6% (1999)

Debt - external:
  $31 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)

Currency:
  Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code:
  EGP

Exchange rates:
  Egyptian pounds per US dollar - market rate - 3.8400 (January 2001), 3.6900
  (2000), 3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996)

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

§6. Egypt Communications

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

Telephones - 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)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios:
  20.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
  98 (September 1995)

Televisions:
  7.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:
  .eg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  50 (2000)

Internet users:
  300,000 (2000)

§7. Egypt Transportation

Railways:
  total: 4,955 km
  standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double
    track) (2000)

Highways:
  total: 64,000 km
  paved: 50,000 km
  unpaved: 14,000 km (1996)

Waterways:
  3,500 km
  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

Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km

Ports and harbors:
  Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa
  Matruh, Port Said, Suez

Merchant marine:
  total: 181 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336,678 GRT/1,982,220 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 23, cargo 61, container 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger
    61, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 15, short-sea passenger 3 (2000
    est.)

Airports:
  90 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 69 over 3,047 m: 12
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 35
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m: 10 (2000 est.)

Heliports:
  2 (2000 est.)

§8. Egypt Military

Military branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military manpower - military age:
  20 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
  males age 15-49: 18,562,994 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
  males age 15-49: 12,020,059 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  males: 712,983 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $4.04 billion (FY99/00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  4.1% (FY99/00)

§9. Egypt Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580
  kmē under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an
  administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899

Illicit drugs:
  a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium
  moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian
  couriers
