Country Profile · No. 14

Egypt

Capital / Admin Capital

Cairo (New Administrative Capital under construction)Population: ~120.1MIndependence: 1922 (Nominal independence from UK; Republic declared 1953)

First President

Muhammad Naguib (1953–1954)Current President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (serving since June 2014)

Geography & Borders

Libya, Sudan, Israel, Palestine (Gaza Strip), Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea. Transcontinental nation linking North Africa and the Middle East via the Sinai Peninsula.

Demographics & Language

Islam (Sunni, ~90%), Christianity (Coptic Orthodox, ~10%). Official: Arabic language. Major groups: Egyptians (~99%+).

Economy & GDP

Tourism, Suez Canal maritime transit revenues, natural gas, manufacturing, agriculture along the Nile River.

Global Diaspora

1. Saudi Arabia (~2.9M), 2. United Arab Emirates (~1M), 3. United States (~350k–400k). U.S. Hubs (States / Cities): New Jersey (Jersey City), New York (New York City), California (Los Angeles).

Major Conflicts

Egyptian Revolution of 1952, Suez Crisis (1956), Six-Day War (1967), Yom Kippur War (1973), Egyptian Revolution of 2011.

3 Must-See Sites

1. Giza pyramid complex and Sphinx (The last surviving wonder of the ancient world on the outskirts of Cairo), 2. Valley of the Kings / Luxor Temple (Monumental Pharaonic tombs and open-air temples along the Nile), 3. Abu Simbel temples (Colossal rock-cut temples carved by Ramses II near the southern border).

Quick Facts

Cradle of one of the world's oldest and most influential ancient civilizations spanning over 5,000 years; controls the Suez Canal, one of the world's most vital maritime trade shortcuts.