Egypt

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 13.6 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

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; dozens of private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available for free; some limited satellite services are also available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 30 stations belonging to 8 networks; privately-owned radio includes 8 major stations (2019)

Internet country code

.eg

Internet users

percent of population: 73% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 13.3 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 113 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, sugar beets, wheat, maize, potatoes, tomatoes, rice, milk, onions, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 36.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $69.999 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: $96.057 billion (2015 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$12.564 billion (2023 est.) -$10.537 billion (2022 est.) -$18.611 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$117.272 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Exchange rates

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 45.299 (2024 est.) 30.626 (2023 est.) 19.16 (2022 est.) 15.645 (2021 est.) 15.759 (2020 est.)

Exports

$68.218 billion (2023 est.) $76.295 billion (2022 est.) $58.339 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, fertilizers, garments, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 10%, Turkey 9%, Italy 6%, USA 5%, UAE 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$389.06 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 87.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 6.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 16.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -23.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 13.7% (2024 est.) industry: 32.6% (2024 est.) services: 48.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

28.5 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.2% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$82.265 billion (2023 est.) $97.144 billion (2022 est.) $94.039 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, wheat, plastics, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 16%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Russia 6%, USA 6%, Germany 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-1.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

28.3% (2024 est.) 33.9% (2023 est.) 13.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

33.749 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

29.7% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

103% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover central government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.958 trillion (2024 est.) $1.912 trillion (2023 est.) $1.842 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

2.4% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 6.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$16,800 (2024 est.) $16,700 (2023 est.) $16,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

4.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 5.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$44.921 billion (2024 est.) $33.07 billion (2023 est.) $32.144 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

12.5% (of GDP) (2015 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

7.2% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 7.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 18.7% (2024 est.) male: 12.4% (2024 est.) female: 47.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

production: 69,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 3.262 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 68,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3.263 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 182 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 59.68 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 162.026 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 1.785 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 187 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 45.67 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

34.975 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 57.181 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 58.695 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 5.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 9.126 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.784 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 667,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 830,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

236.618 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 6.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 114.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 115.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Environmental issues

rapid growth in population straining natural resources; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution in coastal ecosystems; water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Land use

agricultural land: 4.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2023 est.) other: 95.9% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 690.8 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 548.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 874 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

66.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

57.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 10.75 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 5.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 61.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 43.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 21 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.6% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

more than eight times the size of Ohio; slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Coastline

2,450 km

Elevation

highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m mean elevation: 321 m

Geographic coordinates

27 00 N, 30 00 E

Geography - note

controls Sinai Peninsula, the only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Irrigated land

36,500 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 2,612 km border countries (4): Gaza Strip 13 km; Israel 208 km; Libya 1,115 km; Sudan 1,276 km

Land use

agricultural land: 4.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2023 est.) other: 95.9% (2023 est.)

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

Major aquifers

Nubian Aquifer System

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Lake Manzala - 1,360 sq km note - largest of Nile Delta lakes

Major rivers (by length in km)

An Nīl (Nile) river mouth (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

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

Capital

name: Cairo geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Friday in October etymology: the ancient Egyptian name of the original city was Khere-ohe or Kheri-aha; the modern city's name may also derive from the Arabic al-qahir , meaning "the victorious;" this is an Arabic name for the planet Mars, which was in the ascendant on the day in 969 A.D. when construction on the new part of the city began

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: if the father was born in Egypt dual citizenship recognized: only with prior permission from the government residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referendum held on 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president on 19 January 2014 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by one fifth of the House of Representatives members; a decision to accept the proposal requires majority vote by House members; passage of amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote by House members and passage by majority vote in a referendum; articles of reelection of the president and principles of freedom are not amendable unless the amendment "brings more guarantees"

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 (short-lived unification with Syria) etymology: the English name Egypt derives from the ancient Greek name for the country, "Aguptos," and the ancient Roman name, "Aegyptus," with the Greek form coming from the words aia gupos , or "land of the vulture;" the Arabic name for the country, Misr, can be traced to the Assyrian word misir , meaning "fort"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA GARG (since 15 November 2023) embassy: 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: 7700 Cairo Place, Washington DC 20512-7700 telephone: [20-2] 2797-3300 FAX: [20-2] 2797-3200 email address and website: ConsularCairoACS@state.gov https://eg.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Alexandria

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Motaz Mounir ZAHRAN (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: (202) 244-4319 email address and website: embassy@egyptembassy.net https://www.egyptembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Abdel Fattah EL-SISI (since 8 June 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Cabinet ministers nominated by the executive branch and approved by the House of Representatives election/appointment process: president elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for 3 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives most recent election date: 10-12 December 2023 election results: 2023: Abdel Fattah EL-SISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdel Fattah EL-SISI (independent) 89.6%, Hazam OMAR (Republican People s Party) 4.5%, Farid ZAHRAN (Egyptian Social Democratic Party 4%, Abdel-Samad YAMAMA 1.9% 2018: Abdelfattah ELSISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdelfattah ELSISI (independent) 97.1%, Moussa Mostafa MOUSSA (El Ghad Party) 2.9%; note - more than 7% of ballots cast were deemed invalid expected date of next election: 2029

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; centered in the white band is the national emblem, a gold Eagle of Saladin; it faces the left side, with a shield on its chest, above a scroll with the country's name in Arabic meaning: 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 flags of Syria (two green stars in the white band), Iraq (an Arabic inscription centered in the white band), and Yemen (plain white band)

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led 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: the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically around 3200 B.C.

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BRICS, 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, LCBC (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) (consists of the court president and 10 justices); the SCC serves as the final court of arbitration on the constitutionality of laws and conflicts between lower courts regarding jurisdiction and rulings; Court of Cassation (CC) (consists of the court president and 550 judges organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the CC is the highest appeals body for civil and criminal cases, also known as "ordinary justices"; Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) (consists of the court president and NA judges and organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the SAC is the highest court of the State Council judge selection and term of office: under the 2014 constitution, all judges and justices selected and appointed by the Supreme Judiciary Council and approved as a formality by the president of the Republic; judges appointed for life; under the 2019 amendments, the president has the power to appoint heads of judiciary authorities and courts, the prosecutor general, and the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)

Legal system

mixed system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws; Supreme Constitutional Court reviews laws

Legislative branch

legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab) number of seats: 596 (568 directly elected; 28 appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/24/2020 to 12/8/2020 parties elected and seats per party: Future of the Nation (Mostakbal Watan) (317); Republican People's party (El Shaab el Gomhory) (49); Independents (117); Other (109) percentage of women in chamber: 27.7% expected date of next election: November 2025

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Majlis Al-Shiyoukh) number of seats: 300 (200 directly elected; 100 appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/4/2025 to 8/28/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Future of the Nation (Mostakbal Watan) (148); Republican People's party (17); Independents (88); Other (47) percentage of women in chamber: 10.7% expected date of next election: July 2030

National anthem(s)

title: "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland) lyrics/music: Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH history: adopted 1979; the current anthem was written after the 1979 peace treaty with Israel; the composer is considered the father of modern Egyptian music; of the three verses, only the first verse is sung, preceded and followed by the chorus

National coat of arms

adopted in 1984, the coat of arms features the national symbol, the Eagle of Saladin; the eagle holds a golden scroll with the name of the country, Gumhuriyet Miṣr al-ʿArabiyyah (Arab Republic of Egypt), in Arabic script; the shield on the eagle s chest shows the national colors of red, white, and black

National color(s)

red, white, black

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Memphis and its Necropolis (c); Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (c); Nubian Monuments (c); Saint Catherine Area (c); Abu Mena (c); Historic Cairo (c); Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) (n)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle, white lotus

Political parties

Al-Nour Arab Democratic Nasserist Party Congress Party Conservative Party Democratic Peace Party Egyptian National Movement Party Egyptian Social Democratic Party El Ghad Party El Serh El Masry el Hor Eradet Geel Party Free Egyptians Party Freedom Party Justice Party Homeland s Protector Party Modern Egypt Party My Homeland Egypt Party Nation's Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan) National Progressive Unionist (Tagammu) Party Reform and Development Party Republican People s Party Revolutionary Guards Party Wafd Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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 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. The Mamluks, a local military caste, took control around 1250 and continued to govern after the Ottoman Turks conquered Egypt 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 the country's nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Egypt gained partial independence from the UK in 1922 and full sovereignty 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 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and then elected former defense minister Abdel Fattah EL-SISI president. EL-SISI was reelected to a second four-year term in 2018 and a third term in December 2023.

Military - note

the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal role assisting police and paramilitary security forces during emergencies and in anti-terrorism operations; the EAF also participates in foreign peacekeeping and other security missions, as well as both bilateral and multinational exercises; the military has considerable political power and independence; it has long had a crucial role in Egypt s politics and has a large stake in the civilian economy, including running banks, businesses, gas stations, shipping lines, and utilities, and producing consumer and industrial goods, importing commodities, and building and managing infrastructure projects, such as bridges, roads, hospitals, and housing key areas of concern for the EAF include Islamist militant groups operating out of the Sinai Peninsula, regional challenges such as ongoing conflicts and instability, and maritime security; since 2011, the EAF has been conducting operations alongside other security forces in the North Sinai governorate against several militant groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); over the past decade, it has deployed additional units along the border with Libya, provided air support to the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen, and most recently boosted its presence on the border with Gaza in response to the HAMAS-Israel conflict; the Navy in recent years has sought to modernize and expand its capabilities and profile in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, including the acquisition of helicopter carriers, modern frigates, and attack submarines, as well as the establishment of a joint service military base on the Red Sea the Multinational Force Observers (MFO) has operated in the Sinai since 1982 as a peacekeeping and monitoring force to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace; the MFO is an independent international organization, created by agreement between Egypt and Israel; it has about 1,150 troops from 13 countries; Colombia, Fiji, and the US are the leading providers of troops to the MFO (2025)

Military and security forces

Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF): Army (includes Republican Guard), Navy (includes Coast Guard), Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Border Guard Forces Interior Ministry: Public Security Sector Police, the Central Security Force, National Security Agency (2025) note: the Public Security Sector Police are responsible for law enforcement nationwide; the Central Security Force protects infrastructure and is responsible for crowd control; the National Security Agency is responsible for internal security threats and counterterrorism along with other security services

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 450,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

775 (plus nearly 200 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,100 Somalia (AUSSOM); also has about 200 police deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo under MONUSCO (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the EAF's inventory is comprised of a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern, typically Western, weapons systems; in recent years, the EAF has embarked on an equipment modernization program with purchases from foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, UAE, the UK, and the US; Egypt's defense industry produces a range of products from small arms to armored vehicles and naval vessels; it also has licensed and co-production agreements with several countries, including Germany and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 for men and 17 for women; 18-30 years of age for compulsory service for men; service obligation 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-outs serve for the full 36 months, while college graduates serve for lesser periods of time, depending on their education level (2025)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.8% (male 19,349,395/female 18,243,571) 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 34,646,369/female 32,792,151) 65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,146,720/female 3,069,042)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

18.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 1.8% (2021) women married by age 18: 15.8% (2021)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.6% (2021 est.)

Death rate

4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 63.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 54.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 10.5 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

3.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 12% national budget (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Egyptian 99.7%, other 0.3% (2006 est.) note: data represent respondents by nationality

Gross reproduction rate

1.23 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

4.6% of GDP (2021) 7.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official); English and French widely understood by educated classes major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أفضل مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75 years (2024 est.) male: 73.8 years female: 76.2 years

Literacy

total population: 79.5% (2022 est.) male: 85.3% (2022 est.) female: 73.3% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

22.183 million CAIRO (capital), 5.588 million Alexandria, 778,000 Bur Sa'id (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 24.6 years (2025 est.) male: 24.3 years female: 24.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.6 years (2014 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian

Net migration rate

-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32% (2016)

Physician density

0.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

total: 112,870,457 (2025 est.) male: 57,960,635 female: 54,909,822

Population distribution

approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

1.4% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 13 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 25.8% (2025 est.) male: 51% (2025 est.) female: 0.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 43.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1960 - initiated a space program 1998 - first communications satellite (NileSat-101) built in Europe and launched on a European rocket (first African country to have its own communications satellite) 2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Egypsat-1) built and launched by Russia 2019 - first domestically produced RS cube satellites (NARSSCube-1 and 2) released from International Space Station; signed agreement with China for construction of satellite assembly, integrating, and testing facilities 2020 - announced a 10-year national space program, including initiating an astronaut training program and jointly developing with several African countries an RS satellite for monitoring climate changes 2022 - inaugurated a space city containing a satellite manufacturing facility, a research center, a space academy, and the headquarters of the African Space Agency (AfSA; inaugurated 2025); latest NileSat-series (NileSat-301) communications satellite acquired from Europe and launched by the US 2023 - three RS satellites (Horus-1, Horus-2, and MisrSat-2) built jointly with and launched by China; joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project 2024 - experimental RS satellite (Nexsat-1) jointly developed with a European commercial company and launched by China

Space agency/agencies

Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA; established 2019); National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS; formed in 1994 from the Remote Sensing Center, which was established in 1971) (2025)

Space program overview

has a growing space program and seeks to become a regional space power; operates satellites; builds satellites jointly with foreign partners but developing localized satellite manufacturing and support infrastructure; acquiring other space-related technologies through transfers and domestic development, including in communications, Earth imaging/remote sensing (RS), and satellite payloads and components; works with a variety of foreign governments and commercial space companies, including those of Belarus, Canada, China, the ESA and its member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), Ghana, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group; has an active commercial space sector (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Army of Islam; Harakat Sawa'd Misr (HASM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham Sinai Province (ISIS-SP); al-Qa ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 876,962 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

Airports

73 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

SU

Heliports

60 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 441 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 6, general cargo 23, oil tanker 42, other 356

Ports

total ports: 31 (2024) large: 5 medium: 1 small: 8 very small: 16 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 17 key ports: Ain Sukhna Terminal, Al Iskandariyh (Alexandria), As Suways, Bur Sa'id, Damietta, Ras Shukhier

Railways

total: 5,085 km (2014) standard gauge: 5,085 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified)