WP-EgyptFacts

Our Egypt Tours
have
Small Groups,
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"Time & Space in the Temples & Pyramids"

Egypt Tours
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PHOTOS
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EGYPT
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Abydos
More than 270
photos of Abydos!
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Niuserre Sun Temple
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Dashur Pyramids
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Hatshepsut's Temple
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Tel el-Amarna
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EGYPT TOURS - Welcome Packet Information

Welcome Info List

Travel Insurance & Visas

Egypt Reading List

Facts About the Country of Egypt, A.R.E.

Getting Ready for Egypt

Final Info for Traveling to Egypt

Things to Do at Home Before Leaving

Packing List

Tipping Guide

Arriving in Cairo

Duty Free Exemption for US citizens

Facts about the Country of Egypt, A.R.E.

From the CIA Factbook ---- Place in the World Economy ---- Comparing USA, Sweden, India & Egypt

From the Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook - 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 Marmaluks 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 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.

Geography
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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Land use - arable land: 2.85%

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.

People
Population:83,688,164 (July 2012 est.) -- Ranked 15th in World Population comparison ,
81,713,517 (July 2008 est.) 74,718,797 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.7% 15-64 years: 62.8% 65 years and over: 4.5%
Population growth rate: 1.922% (2012 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.6 years (2012 est.) male: 24.3 years female: 24.9 years (2012 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth & under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female, 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female, 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: total: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2008), 35.26 (2001), 157 deaths (1970)
male: 30.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) female: 26.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51 yrs (1970), 69 yrs (2002) , 70 yrs (2003), 71.85 years (2008 est.). 72.93 (2012)
male: 70.33 (2012),69.3 years (2008 est.), female: 75.66 (2012) 74.52 years (2008 est.)
Probability of surviving to age 65: Male- 67%, Female 0 78%

Total fertility rate: (2012 est.) 2.94 children born/woman, (2008 est.) 2.72 children born/woman, (2005 est.) 2.88 children born/woman, (2003 est.) 3.02 children born/woman

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72% (2010), 71.4% (2005), 57.7% (2003)
male: 80.3%, 83% (2005), 68.3% (2003), 67% (2000), 60% (1990)
female: 63.5%, 59.4% (2005), 46.9% (2003), 44% (2000), 34% (1990)

Internet users: 6 million (2006) 4.2 million (2005)

Nationality:
Ethnic groups:
Egyptian = 98%, Bedouin, Berbers, Nubian & Beja =1%;
Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian & French) = 1%

Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) = 90%, Coptic = 9%, other Christian = 1%

Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Government
Country name: conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
Conventional short form: Egypt Local short form: Misr
Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)

Military
Military age: 18-30 years of age for conscript military service; 1-3 years service obligation, followed by 9-year reserve obligation (2008)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 16-49: 18,153,158 (2008 est.), 15,540,234 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.44 billion (2003), $4.04 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.4% (2004), 4.1% (FY99)

Economy - overview
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.

Egyptian pounds per US dollar – 5.45 (2008), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001), 3.4721 (2000), 3.3953 (1999), 3.388 (1998)

GDP - per capita (PPP) : $6,600 (2011 est.). 136th in World Comparison

GDP: purchasing power parity - $404 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.8% industry: 41.1%
services: 45.1% (2007 est)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.1% (2007) 10.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20% (2005 est), 16.7% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7% (2000) 4.4% (1995)
highest 10%: 29.5% (2000) 25% (1995)

Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $925.9 million (2005), ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)

Debt - external: $30.2 billion (June 2007), $30.5 billion (2002 est.)

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

Labor force: 22.1 million (2007 est.), 20.6 million (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12.2% (2011 est), 9.1% (2007 est.), 12% (2001 est.)

Egypt and other countries in the world

To compare Egypt's economic place in relation to other countries, see:

Global National Income-GNI (GNP) per Capita (Head) Source: World Bank for 2002-2006

GDP per capita (nominal) from the CIA Factbook

*Comparing USA, Sweden, India & Egypt*
	Egypt	India	USA	Sweden
Area total:	1,001,450 sq km	3,287,590 sq km	9,629,091 sq km	0,449,964 sq km
Area – comparative:	slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico	slightly more than one-third the size of the US	about half the size of Russia or South America; slightly larger than China; about 2.5 times the size of Western Europe	slightly larger than California
Population:	0,080,335,036 (July 2007 est.)	1,129,866,154 (July 2007 est.)	0,301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)	0,009,031,088 (July 2007 est.)
Median age:	total: 24.2 years male: 23.9 years female: 24.6 yrs (2007)	total: 24.8 years male: 24.5 years female: 24.2 yrs (2007)	total: 36.6 years male: 34.3 years female: 37.9 years (2007)	total: 41.1 years male: 40 years female: 42.2 yrs (2007)
Population growth rate:	1.72% (2007 est.)	1.61% (2007 est.)	0.89% (2007 est.)	0.159% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:	22.53 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	22.69 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	14.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	10.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:	5.11 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 29.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2007)	total: 34.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2007)	total: 6.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	total: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population:71.5 years male: 69.04 years female: 74.22 years (2007 est.)	total population: 68.59 yrs male: 66.26 years female: 71.17 years (2007 est.)	total population: 78 yrs male: 75.15 years female: 80.97 years (2007 est.)	total population: 80.63 yrs male: 78.39 years female: 83 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:	2.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)	2.81 children born/woman (2007 est.)	2.08 children born/woman (2005 est.)	1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write	total population: 71.4% male: 83% female: 59.4% (2005 est.)	total population: 61% male: 73.4% female: 47.8 (2001 census)	total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)	total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity (CIA Fact Book)	$ 4,200 (2006 est.)	$3,800 (2006 est.)	$43,800 (2006 est.)	$32,200 (2006 est.)
GNP per capita (World Bank)	$ 1,350 (2006)	$ 820 (2006)	$44,970 (2006)	$43,580 (2006)
Pop. below poverty line:	20% (2005 est.)	25% (2002 est.)	12% (2004 est.)	NA%
Unemployment rate:	10.3% (2006 est.)	7.8% (2006 est.)	4.8% (2006)	5.6% (2006 est.)
Economic aid	recipient : ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)	recipient : ODA, $2.9 billion (1999)	donor: ODA, $6.9 billioin (1997)	donor: ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Internet users:	6 million (2006)	60 million (2005)	208 million (2006)	6.98 million (2006)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:	3.4% (2004)	2.5% (2006)	4.06% (2006 est.)	1.5% (2005 est.)