Maryknoll Africa - Facts about Egypt

NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS ARCHIVAL MATERIAL: THE INFORMATION IS HISTORICAL.

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What we Do

The Arab Republic of Egypt

Egypt claims a history stretching back seven millennia. Being Africa's gateway to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East contributed to the rise of the great Egyptian culture and its influence on early civilization. The Nile River continues to be the source of life for Egypt's people. The capital city is Cairo, the largest city in Africa. The currency is the Egyptian Pound and the official language is Arabic. The population exceeds 68 million people.

The climate is moderate, with desert conditions in most of the country except for the Nile valley and Mediterranean coast. Offering such wonders as the pyramids and the sphinx, tourism plays a major role in the economy. Since reaching a peace accord with Israel, Egypt has received vast sums of foreign aid. The country's exports consist primarily of crude petroleum and refined products and cotton-textile products and fiber.

For further information, see the article in the Columbia Encyclopedia.

Area

384,343 square miles

Population

68,494,000 people

Urban Population

45 percent

Human Development Index

ranks 112 out of 174 countries

GNP Per Capita

$ 1,290 U.S. dollars

Life Expectancy

63 years

Adult Literacy

51 percent

Religions

6% Christian
94% Muslim
0% Traditional

Map of Egypt

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national anthem:

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The map and some of the information on this page have been provided courtesy of
WorldAtlas.com © 1996-2000 by Graphic Maps. Used with permission.
Other information sources: UNDP, World Bank, and U.S. Census Bureau.