Location:

North Africa, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, the Red Sea north of Sudan and including the Asian Sinai Peninsula

Area:

1,001,450 km2

Land:

995,450 km2

water:

6,000 km2

Land Boundaries:

2,665 km

Border Countries:

Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline:

2,450 km

Climate:

Desert; hot, dry summers and moderate winters

Terrain:

Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile Valley and Delta

Geography:

Controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a 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

Population:

78,887,007 (July 2006 est.)

Age Structure:

0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female 12,548,346)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 25,102,754/female 24,519,698)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,510,280/female 2,033,288) (2006 est.)

Average Age:

Total:

24 years

Male:

23.6 years

Female:

24.3 years (2006 est.)

Ethnic Groups:

Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

Religions:

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

General

Languages:

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

Government

Type:

Republic

Capital:

Cairo

Economy

Currency:

Egyptian Pound

GDP Growth Rate:

4.9% (2005 est.)

Labour Occupations:

agriculture: 32%
industry: 17%
services: 51% (2001 est.)

Unemployment Rate:

9.5% (2005 est.)

Inflation Rate:

4.9% (2005 est.)

Agriculture Produce:

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Transportation

Railways:

total: 5,063 km
standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2005)

Roads:

total: 64,000 km
paved: 49,984 km
unpaved: 14,016 km (1999)

Airports (paved):

total: 72
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Ports & Harbours:

Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit

Communications

Mains Telephones:

10,396,100 (2005)

Mobile Telephones:

14,045,134 (2005)

Television Stations:

98 (September 1995)

Internet Users:

5 million (2005)

Country Internet Code:

.eg