Egypt

Egypt

Introduction

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. 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 with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy 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 growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Egyptian youth and opposition groups, inspired by events in Tunisia leading to overthrow of the government there, organized a “Day of Rage” campaign on 25 January 2011 (Police Day) to include non-violent demonstrations, marches, and labor strikes in Cairo and other cities throughout Egypt. Protester grievances focused on police brutality, state emergency laws, lack of free speech and elections, high unemployment, rising food prices, inflation, and low minimum wages. Within several days of the onset of protests, President MUBARAK addressed the nation pledging the formation of a new government, and in a second address he offered additional concessions, which failed to assuage protesters and resulted in an escalation of the number and intensity of demonstrations and clashes with police. On 11 February, recently appointed Vice President SULIMAN announced MUBARAK’s resignation and the assumption of national leadership by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF). The SCAF dissolved the Egyptian parliament, suspended the nation’s constitution, and formed a committee to recommend constitutional changes to facilitate a political transition through democratic elections. In early March, Essam SHARAF replaced Ahmed SHAFIK as Prime Minister and by mid-month a constitutional referendum was approved. In early July, the SCAF announced that elections for parliament would take place in September, but the date was later changed to November, and was to be followed by a redrafting of the constitution and a presidential election. In July 2011, opposition discontent over the slow pace of SCAF progress in transitioning the government led to a resumption of protests in Cairo and over a dozen other cities

less frequent, smaller demonstrations and protests continued through October. Following the arrest of MUBARAK and other high-ranking officials in mid-April, a trial in which MUBARAK is accused of corruption and complicity in the deaths of nearly 900 protesters began in early August, was temporarily suspended in September, and is scheduled to resume in late December.

Geography

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

slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries

total: 2,665 km
border countries:Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 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: 2.92%
permanent crops:0.5%
other:96.58% (2005)

Irrigated land

35,300 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

86.8 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 68.3cu km/yr (8%/6%/86%)
per capita:923cu m/yr (2000)

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

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

People and Society

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

Population

82,079,636 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.7% (male 13,725,282/female 13,112,157)
15-64 years:62.8% (male 26,187,921/female 25,353,947)
65 years and over:4.5% (male 1,669,313/female 2,031,016) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 24.3 years
male:24 years
female:24.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.96% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Birth rate

24.63 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Death rate

4.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Net migration rate

-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Urbanization

urban population: 43.4% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

CAIRO (capital) 10.902 million

Alexandria 4.387 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

82 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80

Infant mortality rate

total: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 81 male:26.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female:23.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.66 years
country comparison to the world: 123 male:70.07 years
female:75.38 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.97 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 94

Physicians density

2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 44

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 94% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 6% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:Rift Valley 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 (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

30.3% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 8

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 74

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 109

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:71.4%
male:83%
female:59.4% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2004)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24.8%
country comparison to the world: 32 male:17.2%
female:47.9% (2007)

Government

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 (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma’iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah (El Monofia), 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 (Beni Suef), Bur Sa’id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina’ (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh (Western Desert), Qina (Qena), Shamal Sina’ (North Sinai), Suhaj (Sohag)

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

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Constitution

11 September 1971

amended 22 May 1980, 25 May 2005, and 26 March 2007

note – constitution suspended by the military caretaker government 13 February 2011 and a new provisional constitution adopted 30 March 2011

Legal system

mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil law and Islamic religious law

judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions)

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

Note: following the resignation of President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK in February 2011, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Defense Minister Muhammad Hussein TANTAWI, assumed control of the government
chief of state:president (vacant)

vice president (vacant)
head of government:Prime Minister Essam Abdel Aziz SHARAF (since 4 March 2011)
cabinet:a new cabinet was sworn in 7 March 2011
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (no term limits)
election results:Hosni MUBARAK reelected president

percent of vote – Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

Legislative branch

bicameral system consists of the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (Shura Council) that traditionally functions mostly in a consultative role (264 seats

176 members elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president

members serve six-year terms

mid-term elections for half of the elected members) and the People’s Assembly or Majlis al-Sha’b (518 seats

508 members elected by popular vote, 64 seats reserved for women, 10 appointed by the president

members serve five-year terms)
elections:Advisory Council – last held in June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)

People’s Assembly – last held in November-December 2010 in one round of voting and one run-off election (next to be held in 2015)

note – on 13 February 2011 the ruling military council dissolved the parliament

new parliamentary elections are planned for October
election results:Advisory Council – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – NDP 80, Al-Geel 1, Nasserist 1, NWP 1, Tagammu 1, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 3

People’s Assembly – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – NDP 419, NWP 6, Tagammu 5, Democratic Peace Party 1, Social Justice Party 1, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 71, seats undecided 4, seats appointed by president 10

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders

Al-Geel

Democratic Peace Party

Nasserist Party [Ahmed HASSAN]

National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party) [Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK]

National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]

New Wafd Party or NWP [Sayed EL-BEDAWY]

Social Justice Party [Mohamed Abdel Al HASAN]

Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOUR]
note:formation of political parties must be approved by the government

only parties with representation in elected bodies are listed

Political pressure groups and leaders

Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal)
note:despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Egypt’s most potentially significant political opposition

President MUBARAK has alternated between tolerating limited political activity by the Brotherhood and blocking its influence (its members compete as independents in elections but do not currently hold any seats in the legislature)

civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms

only trade unions and professional associations affiliated with the government are officially sanctioned

Internet social networking groups and bloggers

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY
chancery:3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 895-5400
FAX:[1] (202) 244-4319
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ann W. PATTERSON
embassy:8 Kamal El Din Salah 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

Economy

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 GDP growth. The global financial crisis slowed the reform efforts. The budget deficit climbed to over 8% of GDP and Egypt’s GDP growth slowed to 4.6% in 2009, predominately due to reduced growth in export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism, and Suez Canal revenues. In 2010, the government spent more on infrastructure and public projects, and exports drove GDP growth to more than 5%, but GDP growth in 2011 is unlikely to bounce back to pre-global financial recession levels, when it stood at 7%. Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$497.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 $473.4 billion (2009 est.)
$452.3 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$218.5 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70 4.7% (2009 est.)
7.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137 $6,000 (2009 est.)
$5,900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 14%
industry:37.5%
services:48.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

26.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 9.4% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

20% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%:27.6% (2005)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

34.4 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 92

Investment (gross fixed)

18.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Budget

revenues: $47.66 billion
expenditures:$65.05 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Public debt

81.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 83.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205 11.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.68% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40 8.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.008% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 11.975% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$38.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 $35.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$168.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $158.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$141.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $136.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$82.49 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 44 $89.95 billion (31 December 2009)
$85.89 billion (31 December 2008)

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

4.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity – production

123.9 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Electricity – consumption

109.1 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Electricity – exports

1.022 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

896 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

662,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Oil – consumption

740,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Oil – exports

163,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Oil – imports

177,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Oil – proved reserves

4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas – production

62.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas – consumption

44.37 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas – exports

18.32 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas – proved reserves

2.186 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Current account balance

-$4.435 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174 -$3.195 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$25.02 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65 $23.09 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

US 7.6%, Italy 7.3%, India 6.1%, Spain 5.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, France 4.7%, Libya 4% (2010)

Imports

$51.54 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51 $45.56 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

US 11.8%, China 10.4%, Germany 6.5%, Italy 6.4%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$35.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43 $33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$34.91 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65 $35.37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$73.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 $66.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$5.448 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60 $4.272 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar -
5.6124 (2010)
5.545 (2009)
5.4 (2008)
5.67 (2007)
5.725 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

86 (2010)
country comparison to the world:66

Airports – with paved runways

total: 73
over 3,047 m:15
2,438 to 3,047 m:36
1,524 to 2,437 m:15
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:5 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Heliports

6 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 320 km

condensate/gas 13 km

gas 6,628 km

liquid petroleum gas 956 km

oil 4,332 km

oil/gas/water 3 km

refined products 895 km

water 13 km (2010)

Railways

total: 5,083 km
country comparison to the world: 34 standard gauge:5,083 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 65,050 km
country comparison to the world: 70 paved:47,500 km
unpaved:17,550 km (2009)

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) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 29

Merchant marine

total: 66
country comparison to the world: 64 by type:bulk carrier 11, cargo 24, 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:52 (Cambodia 12, Cook Islands 1, Georgia 11, Honduras 2, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Sidi Kurayr, Suez

Military

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service

service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 21,012,199
females age 16-49:20,145,021 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 18,060,543
females age 16-49:17,244,838 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 783,405
female:748,647 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary

Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps

Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border

Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 60,000 – 80,000 (Iraq)

70,198 (Palestinian Territories)

12,157 (Sudan) (2007)

Illicit drugs

transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa

transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers

concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations