Egypt

More Information

Egypt's Information


Capital	Cairo
Languages	Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Ethnic Groups	Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)
Religion	Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10% (2015 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically
Area	1,001,450.00 km²
Water Area	6,000.00 km²
Land Area	995,450.00 km²
Population	94,666,993.00 Approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited
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
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Gaza Strip 13 km, Israel 208 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,276 km
GDP(PPP)	$1,110,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$12,100.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Turkey.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are crude oil and petroleum products, as well as fruits and vegetables.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Germany, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and chemicals.
Climate	Desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain	Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Where is Egypt?

Located in Northern Africa, Egypt has a 2,612.00 km border with Gaza Strip (13 km), Israel (208 km), Libya (1,115 km) and Sudan (1,276 km). It has a 2,450.00 km coastline. Sudan claims the Halaib region, although Egypt de facto administers it.

The capital city of Egypt is Cairo which is located in the northwestern part of Egypt. This city has a vibrant history and has been occupied by human inhabitants for hundreds of years. The first known settlement of the area took place close to the start of the fourth century A.D. the climate of Cairo is classified as a hot desert environment with high humidity and frequent wind and sandstorms. Temperatures in the winter (November-January) range from 14- 22 degrees Celsius (57 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit). In the summer months (May-July), highs can reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), and lows will likely be around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). The population of Cairo is 9.5 million in the city centre and a total of 20.4 million in the Cairo metropolitan area. This makes Cairo the second-largest city in the Africa continent behind Lagos, Nigeria. Cairo is home to 11% of the nation's population as well as creating 22% of economic activity in the country.

Geography

Egypt has a mean elevation of 321 m above sea level.

It has a desert climate with hot, dry summers and moderate winters. Its terrain consists of vast desert plateau.

Population

Egypt has a population of 94,666,993 making it the 15th largest in the world. The vast majority of the country lives within 20 km of the Nile River.

Arabic is the official language. The majority ethnic group is Egyptian. The majority of the population is Sunni Muslim.

The official language of Egypt is Arabic, but Egyptian Arabic is far more prevalent than the traditional version of the language. The population of Egypt is approximately 96 million and 65.2 million (68%) of these individuals speak Egyptian Arabic as their first language. Egyptian Arabic is understood by almost every single Egyptian and the language is also widely recognised throughout Northern Africa which is due to the influence and popularity of Egyptian films and music throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Minority languages in the country include Sa'idid Arabic, another form of Arabic that originated in Egypt and has spread as far south as Sudan. Bedouin Arabic is another branch of the language that is spoken in the country by around 1.5% of citizens. Sudanese Arabic is also spoken by a tiny percentage (0.6%) of the population. Egyptian Arabic is similar to traditional Arabic. However, the Egyptian version varies slightly in pronunciation as well as containing unique consonants and vowels. Egyptians will usually conduct foreign business or diplomacy in English or French when they are dealing with individuals or governments in the western hemisphere.

Government

Egypt is an independent country. It became independent in 1922. Its constitution was last ratified in 2014.

The political system of Egypt can be classified as a semi-presidential republic following the Egyptian Revolution that occurred in 2011. Egypt was ruled by royal families for centuries until 1952, but the first elected president did not take office until 2011. The President of the country is elected for a four-year term which can be renewed once. The President of Egypt can appoint 5% of the seats in parliament as well as dissolving it if they deem it necessary. Parliament, in turn, can impeach the president if needed. The last Egyptian national election took place in May of 2014, and was somewhat criticized by international observers. Just 47.5% of eligible voters turned out for this election, and the next elections are expected to be heavily controlled by the armed forces of Egypt.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Egypt's GDP is $1,110,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $12,100.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 22nd largest economy and its citizens the 121st richest in the world. The currency of Egypt is the Pound (EGP).

Its major export partners are Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Turkey. Its main exports are crude oil and petroleum products, as well as fruits and vegetables. Its major import partners are China, Germany, and the United States. Its major imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and chemicals.

Flag

The flag of Egypt consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black, all of which are equal in size. The flag of Egypt also contains the national emblem in the center which is known as the Eagle of Saladin. This flag has evolved from the Arab Liberation and Egyptian Revolution flags of 1952. This banner was officially adopted on 4 October 1984 after the country had declared itself the Arab Republic of Egypt. Previous Egyptian flags include the flag of the United Kingdom as well a flag very similar to that of the Ottoman Empire. From the period of 1922-1953, the Egyptian national flag resembled the modern flag of Pakistan with a green field incorporating an Islamic crescent moon and stars. The 1953 flag of the Republic of Egypt is very similar to the current version except the eagle symbol is much more significant and contains the same Islamic symbols as the flag of 1922. The designers of the flag were the Free Officers, a group of military officers who instigated the 1952 revolution. Their flag is a visible source of inspiration for the current version which was implemented in 1984. The design has inspired several other flags in the region including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, each with their own (or even left plain) national symbol in the central white band.