Country Name: Egypt (Arab Republic of Egypt)

Capital: Cairo

Government Type: presidential republic

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. Arab conquerors introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and 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. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Egypt gained partial independence from the UK in 1922 and acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. British forces evacuated the Suez Canal Zone in 1956. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have reaffirmed 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 fast-growing population as it implements large-scale infrastructure projects, energy cooperation, and foreign direct investment appeals.

Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster in 2011. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new legislature was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed MORSI won the presidential election. Following protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MORSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. Simultaneously, the government began enacting laws to limit freedoms of assembly and expression. In January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and in May 2014 elected former defense minister Abdel Fattah EL-SISI president. Egypt elected a new legislature in December 2015, its first House of Representatives since 2012. ELSISI was reelected to a second four-year term in March 2018. In April 2019, Egypt approved via national referendum a set of constitutional amendments extending ELSISI’s term in office through 2024. The amendments also allow future presidents up to two consecutive six-year terms in office, reestablish an upper legislative house, allow for one or more vice presidents, establish a 25% quota for female legislators, reaffirm the military’s role as guardian of Egypt, and expand presidential authority to appoint the heads of judicial councils. EL-SISI was reelected for a third term in December 2023. Legislative elections were held in October-November 2020.

Continent: Middle East

Population: 109,546,720 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Egyptian 99.7%, other 0.3% (2006 est.)

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

Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10%

Economic Overview: Africa’s second-largest economy; 2030 Vision to diversify markets and energy infrastructure; improving fiscal, external, and current accounts; underperforming private sector; poor labor force participation; expanded credit access

Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $32.144 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $1.419 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 6.59% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $12,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $76.295 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 54

Export Commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, nitrogen fertilizers, gold (2021)

Export Partners: United States 8%, Turkey 7%, Greece 7%, Italy 6%, India 5% (2021)

Imports: 

• $97.144 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 48

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, cars, crude petroleum, corn, packaged medicines (2021)

Import Partners: China 18%, Saudi Arabia 9%, United States 6%, Russia 5%, Turkey 5% (2021)

Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc

Agricultural Products: sugar cane, sugar beets, wheat, maize, tomatoes, rice, potatoes, oranges, onions, milk

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 6.86% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 41

Labor Force: 32.614 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 6.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorms called khamsin occur in spring; dust storms; sandstorms

Geography:

• Total: 1,001,450 sq km

• Land: 995,450 sq km

• Water: 6,000 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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