Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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 in Egypt. 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.
- Capital
- Cairo
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 112,870,457
- Area
- 1,001,450 sq km
- 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 Penin…
- Climate
- desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
- Natural resources
- petroleum; natural gas; iron ore; phosphates; manganese; limestone…
- 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…
- Independence
- 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led revolution that began on 2…
- Administrative divisions
- 27 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al…
- Currency
- Egyptian pounds (EGP)
- Export partners
- Saudi Arabia 10%; Turkey 9%; Italy 6%; USA 5%…
- Import partners
- China 16%; Saudi Arabia 6%; Russia 6%; USA 6%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain