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 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. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. 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 meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), and massive anti-government demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) intervened and removed MORSI from power in mid-July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In mid-January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum. Presidential elections to replace MANSOUR are scheduled for late May 2014. According to the constitution and the government's transitional road map, preparations for parliamentary elections will begin by mid-July 2014.

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:

name: Cairo
geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
 

Administrative divisions:

27 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur (Luxor), Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj
 

Independence:

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
 

National holiday:

National Day, 23 July (1952)
 

Constitution:

several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referenfum held on 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president on 19 January 2014 (2014)
 

Legal system:

mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws; judicial review of the constitutionality of laws by the Supreme Constitutional Court
 

International law organization participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
 

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory
 

Executive branch:

Chief of state: President Abdel Fattah al-SISI (since 8 June 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim MEHLAB (since 1 March 2014)
cabinet: interim cabinet sworn in 1 March 2014
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: last presidential election held on 26-28 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2018)
election results: percent of vote - Abdel Fattah al-SISI 96.6%, Hamdeen SABAHI 3.4%
 

Legislative branch:

note: the previous bicameral legislature was dissolved in July 2013 and under the 2014 constitution was changed to the unicameral House of Representatives (minimum of 450 seats with up to 5 percent appointed by the president; members to serve 5-year terms); the process for elected members as stated in Article 102 of the 2014 constitution may be majoritarian, proportional list, or a mixed system; the previous bicameral parliament consisted of the Shura Council (at least 150 seats with up to one-tenth of body appointed by the president to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives(at least 350 seats); members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections (for new House of Representatives): unscheduled but expected in mid- to late-2014
election results (for previous legislature): Advisory Council (held 29 January and 14 February 2012) - percent of vote by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 45%, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 28.6%, New Wafd Party 8.5%, Egyptian Bloc 5.4%, other 12.5%; seats by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 105, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 45, New Wafd Party 14, Egyptian Bloc 8, other 4, independents 4, presidential appointees 90; People's Assembly (held in three stages 28 November 2011 to 11 January 2012) - percent of vote by party - Democratic Alliance for Egypt 37.5%, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 27.8%, New Wafd Party 9.2%, Egyptian Bloc 8.9%, Al-Wasat Party 3.7%, The Revolution Continues Alliance 2.8%, Reform and Development Party 2.2%, National Party of Egypt 1.6%, Freedom Party 1.9%, Egyptian Citizen Party 0.9%, other 3.5%; seats by party - Democratic Alliance of Egypt 235, Alliance for Egypt (Islamic Bloc) 123, New Wafd Party 38, Egyptian Bloc 35, Al-Wasat 10, Reform and Development Party 9, The Revolution Continues Alliance 8, National Party of Egypt 5, Egyptian Citizen Party 4, Freedom Party 4, independents 21, other 6, SCAF appointees 10
 

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and 550 judges organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court or SCC (consists of the court president and 10 justices); Supreme Administrative Court - the highest court of the State Council (consists of the court president and organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges)
judge selection and term of office: under the 2014 constitution, all judges and justices selected by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the president of the Republic; tenure NA
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)
 

Political parties and leaders:

Al-Asala [Ehab SHIHA]
Al-Nour [Yunis MAKHYUN]
Al-Wasat Party [Abou Elela MADY]
Al-Watan [Imad Abd al-GHAFUR]
Building and Development Party or BDP [Nasr Abdul-SALAM]
Dustour (Constitution) Party [Hala SHUKRALLAH]
Egyptian Current Party
Egypt of Freedom Party [Amr HAMZAWY]
El Tagamu'u Party [Sayed Abdel AAL]
Freedom and Justice Party [Muhammad Saad al-KATATNI]
Free Egyptians Party [Ahmad SAID]
New Wafd Party [Sayed al-BADADWI]
Reform and Development Party [Muhammad Anwar al-SADAT]
Strong Egypt Party [Abdel Aboul FOTOUH]
The Conference Party [Ambassador Mohamed ORABI]
The Egyptian Social Democratic Party [Mohamed Aboul GHAR]
The Popular Current Party [Hamdeen SABAHI]
The Popular Socialist Alliance Party [Abdel Ghafar SHOUKR]
 

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA
 

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
 

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed M. TAWFIK (since 7 September 2012)
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5131
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
 

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marc J. SIEVERS (since 21 January 2014)
embassy: 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo
telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200
 

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
 

National symbol(s):

golden eagle
 

National anthem:

name: 'Bilady, Bilady, Bilady' (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland)

lyrics/music: Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH
note: adopted 1979; after the signing of the 1979 peace with Israel, Egypt sought to create an anthem less militaristic than its previous one; Sayed DARWISH, commonly considered the father of modern Egyptian music, composed the anthem

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
 

Geographic coordinates:

27 00 N, 30 00 E
 

Map references:

Africa
 

Area:

total: 1,001,450 sq km
country comparison to the world: 30
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
 

Area - comparative:

Area comparison map:  
 

Land boundaries:

total: 2,612 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 13 km, Israel 208 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,276 km
 

Coastline:

2,450 km
 

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
 

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, rare earth elements, zinc
 

Land use:

arable land: 2.87%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 96.34% (2011)
 

Irrigated land:

34,220 sq km (2003)
 

Total renewable water resources:

57.3 cu km (2011)
 

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 68.3 cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%)
per capita: 973.3 cu m/yr (2000)
 

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorms called khamsin occur 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; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
 

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
 

Geography - note:

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 from Sudan and the Palestinian territories

Nationality:
 
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
 

Ethnic groups:

Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)
 

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% (2012 est.)
 

Population:

86,895,099 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
 

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.1% (male 14,272,494/female 13,639,550)
15-24 years: 17.8% (male 7,913,351/female 7,536,925)
25-54 years: 38.4% (male 16,942,145/female 16,398,524)
55-64 years: 6.7% (male 2,888,193/female 2,973,531)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,949,145/female 2,381,241) (2014 est.)
population pyramid:  
 

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 58.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 49.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 9.3 %
potential support ratio: 10.8 (2014 est.)
 

Median age:

total: 25.1 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.4 years (2014 est.)
 

Population growth rate:

1.84% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
 

Birth rate:

23.35 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
 

Death rate:

4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
 

Net migration rate:

-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
 

Urbanization:

urban population: 43.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
 

Major urban areas - population:

CAIRO (capital) 11.169 million; Alexandria 4.494 million (2011)
 

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
 

Mother's mean age at first birth:

22.9
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)
 

Maternal mortality rate:

66 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 92
 

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.41 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 80
male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
 

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.45 years
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 70.82 years
female: 76.2 years (2014 est.)
 

Total fertility rate:

2.87 children born/woman (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
 

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

60.3% (2008)
 

Health expenditures:

4.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 143
 

Physicians density:

2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
 

Hospital bed density:

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)
 

Drinking water source:

improved: 
urban: 100% of population
rural: 98.8% of population
total: 99.3% of population
unimproved: 
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1.2% of population
total: 0.7% of population (2012 est.)
 

Sanitation facility access:

improved: 
urban: 97.8% of population
rural: 94.4% of population
total: 95.9% of population
unimproved: 
urban: 2.2% of population
rural: 5.6% of population
total: 4.1% of population (2012 est.)
 

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
 

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
 

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
 

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
 

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

33.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
 

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

6.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 77
 

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
 

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.9%
male: 81.7%
female: 65.8% (2012 est.)
 

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2011)
 

Child labor - children ages 5-14:

total number: 1,066,526
percentage: 7 % (2005 est.)
 

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 24.8%
country comparison to the world: 41
male: 14.7%
female: 54.1% (2010)

Economy - overview:
 
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but opened up considerably under former Presidents Anwar EL-SADAT and Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate growth. Poor living conditions combined with limited job opportunities for the average Egyptian contribute to public discontent. After unrest erupted in January 2011, the Egyptian Government backtracked on economic reforms, drastically increasing social spending to address public dissatisfaction, but political uncertainty at the same time caused economic growth to slow significantly, reducing the government's revenues. Tourism, manufacturing, and construction were among the hardest hit sectors of the Egyptian economy, pushing up unemployment levels, and economic growth remains slow amid political uncertainty, government transitions, unrest, and cycles of violence. Cairo since 2011 has drawn down foreign exchange reserves and depended on foreign assistance, particularly from Gulf countries, to finance imports and energy products and prevent further devaluation of the Egyptian pound, fearing higher inflation from a weaker currency.
 

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$551.4 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$541.5 billion (2012 est.)
$529.7 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
 

GDP (official exchange rate):

$262 billion (2013 est.)
 

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
2.2% (2012 est.)
1.8% (2011 est.)
 

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,600 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$6,600 (2012 est.)
$6,600 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
 

Gross national saving:

12.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
13.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
 

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 78.6%
government consumption: 11.8%
investment in fixed capital: 14.3%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 18%
imports of goods and services: -23.2%
(2013 est.)
 

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 14.5%
industry: 37.5%
services: 48% (2013 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, light manufactures
 

Industrial production growth rate:

1.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
 

Labor force:

27.69 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
 

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 29%
industry: 24%
services: 47% (2011 est.)
 

Unemployment rate:

13.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
12.7% (2012 est.)
 

Population below poverty line:

22% (2008 est.)
 

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2008)
 

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30.8 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
32.1 (2005)
 

Budget:

revenues: $45.57 billion
expenditures: $80.42 billion (2013 est.)
 

Taxes and other revenues:

17.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
 

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-13.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
 

Public debt:

92.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
88% of GDP (2012 est.)
note: data cover central government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
 

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June
 

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
7.1% (2012 est.)
 

Central bank discount rate:

8.75% (5 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
8.68% (31 December 2010 est.)
 

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
12% (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of narrow money:

$47.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$45.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of broad money:

$191.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$183.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of domestic credit:

$163.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$192.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$63.49 billion (23 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$58.01 billion (31 December 2012)
$48.68 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
 

Current account balance:

-$6.035 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
-$9.136 billion (2012 est.)
 

Exports:

$24.81 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$24.93 billion (2012 est.)
 

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals, processed food
 

Exports - partners:

Italy 7.9%, India 6.9%, US 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Turkey 5.3%, Libya 4.9% (2012)
 

Imports:

$59.22 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$60.26 billion (2012 est.)
 

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
 

Imports - partners:

China 9.5%, US 7.6%, Germany 6.7%, Russia 5.3%, Ukraine 5.3%, Turkey 5.1%, Italy 5% (2012)
 

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.03 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$14.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Debt - external:

$48.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$38.69 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$76.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$75.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$6.475 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$6.285 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Exchange rates:

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar -
6.91 (2013 est.)
6.0608 (2012 est.)
5.6219 (2010 est.)
5.545 (2009)
5.4 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use:
 
8.557 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 23
 

Telephones - mobile cellular:

96.8 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 16
 

Telephone system:

general assessment: underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s; principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2011 there were multiple mobile-cellular networks with a total of roughly 83 million subscribers
international: country code - 20; landing point for Aletar, the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks, Link Around the Globe (FLAG) Falcon and FLAG FEA; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2011)
 

Broadcast media:

mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks; 2 privately owned radio stations operational (2008)
 

Internet country code:

.eg
 

Internet hosts:

200,430 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 71
 

Internet users:

20.136 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 21

Airports:
 
83 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 65
 

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 72
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
under 914 m: 6 (2013)
 

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 
3 (2013)
 

Heliports:

7 (2013)
 

Pipelines:

condensate 486 km; condensate/gas 74 km; gas 7,986 km; liquid petroleum gas 957 km; oil 5,225 km; oil/gas/water 37 km; refined products 895 km; water 65 km (2013)
 

Railways:

total: 5,083 km
country comparison to the world: 34
standard gauge: 5,083 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2009)
 

Roadways:

total: 137,430 km
country comparison to the world: 37
paved: 126,742 km (includes 838 km of expressways)
unpaved: 10,688 km (2010)
 

Waterways:

3,500 km (includes the Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in Nile Delta; the Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) is navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 30
 

Merchant marine:

total: 67
country comparison to the world: 62
by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 20, container 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 1, France 1, Greece 8, Jordan 2, Lebanon 1)
registered in other countries: 42 (Cambodia 4, Georgia 7, Honduras 2, Liberia 3, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5, Panama 11, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3, unknown 1) (2010)
 

Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Mediterranean Sea - Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said; Gulf of Suez - Suez
oil/gas terminal(s): Ain Sukhna terminal, Sidi Kerir terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Alexandria (1,108,826), Port Said(East) (2,617,043), Port Said(West) (1,138,753)

Electricity - production:
 
138.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
 

Electricity - consumption:

122.4 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
 

Electricity - exports:

1.595 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
 

Electricity - imports:

156 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
 

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

26.91 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
 

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

87.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
 

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
 

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

10.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
 

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
 

Crude oil - production:

720,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
 

Crude oil - exports:

85,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
 

Crude oil - imports:

48,740 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
 

Crude oil - proved reserves:

4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
 

Refined petroleum products - production:

602,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
 

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

816,300 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
 

Refined petroleum products - exports:

90,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
 

Refined petroleum products - imports:

164,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
 

Natural gas - production:

61.26 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
 

Natural gas - consumption:

46.17 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
 

Natural gas - exports:

10.51 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
 

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
 

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.186 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
 

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

201.7 million Mt (2011 est.)

A total of 271 Realistic Export Opportunities (REOs) from South Africa to Egypt are identified based on the North-West University’s (South Africa) TRADE Decision Support Model (DSM).

The methodology is a very useful instrument to identify market opportunities globally for one’s product and also provides a good reference for one to be able to prioritise marketing efforts based on the value and size of these opportunities.

The TRADE-DSM Navigator provides sound information that companies are able to use in developing their export marketing strategy and forms the basis and guidance for further research should this be required.

In total 271 of the products associated with import demand are identified as realistic export opportunities. The relative 'untapped' potential of the market opportunity is shown in the chart below:

A total 'untapped' potential from South Africa's perspective of approximately 1.21 (in million US dollar terms) based on the average value of the top 6 supplying countries (excluding South Africa) are associated with these specific product export opportunities.

The highest number of identified opportunities are associated with the economic sector of

Basic iron & steel (351) .

Not all sectors will be present, as not all economic sectors (some of which are based on economic activity while the REOs are based on traded products) are relevant for all products. However, various other sectors also do exhibit potential.

While the above examples are based on high level economic sectors, the information is available at a much more granular level on the HS 6-digit tariff code level. To demonstrate the following example of a product description is provided:

HS CHAPTER 84:
NUCLEAR REACTORS, BOILERS, MACHINERY AND MECHANICAL APPLIANCES; PARTS THEREOF
Sub-heading 84.27:
Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment:
HS 6-digit product code 8427.10:
Self-propelled trucks powered by an electric motor.

Research reports containing more detailed information related to these realistic export opportunities (down to product level as illustrated with the above product description) for each country are available from TIKZN.

Please contact us if you are interested in more detail by clicking here.

For an example of a more detailed country report please click here.

Please note that a more up-to-date version for the specific country report used in this example is available from TIKZN. This report is provided for demonstration purposes only and should not be used for any decision-making.

For more in-depth research you can also contact our NWU knowledge partners at
TRADE Research Advisory.

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