Contents

Country Overview

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental state in northeastern Africa, with its Sinai Peninsula extending into southwestern Asia. Its population and agriculture concentrate along the Nile River and Delta, while the Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The modern republic dates from 1953, following a qualified British recognition of Egyptian independence in 1922; its current constitutional framework was adopted in 2014 and amended in 2019. Cairo is the constitutional capital, while many government functions have moved to the New Administrative Capital. [7] [24] [28] [14]

Reference status: Contemporary edition • Verified: November 5, 2026 • Population, economic and trade indicators retain separate reference years.

CapitalCairoConstitutional capital
Population118.37 millionWorld Bank, 2025 [1]
Total areaAbout 1.002 million km²UN / Egyptian reference [3]
Nominal GDPUS$365.25 billionWorld Bank, 2025 [1]
GDP per capitaUS$3,086World Bank, 2025 [1]
CurrencyEgyptian poundEGP (E£)

Population comparability: The World Bank’s 118,365,995 (2025) is an internationally harmonized estimate. The Egyptian CAPMAS population clock recorded 109,540,965 people inside Egypt on September 19, 2026. Their populations and construction methods differ, so the figures are identified separately and should not be interpreted as a simple year-over-year population change. [1] [5]

Identity and State Formation

Official name
Arab Republic of Egypt; Arabic: جمهورية مصر العربية (Jumhūriyyat Miṣr al-ʿArabiyyah). [22]
Common name
Egypt; Arabic: مصر (Miṣr).
Capital
Cairo; formal capital of the republic, notwithstanding relocation of many administrative offices to a purpose-built new capital east of Cairo. [3] [7]
Continent / UN M49 subregion
Africa / Northern Africa; Sinai is geographically part of Asia. [4] [7]
Ancient state formation
The formation of the early dynastic Egyptian state is conventionally placed around 3100 BCE; this is a broad historical approximation, not the founding date of the contemporary republic. [27]
Pharaonic civilization
Successive dynasties developed around the Nile, creating the institutions and monuments associated with ancient Egypt. [25]
Subsequent historical periods
Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, early Islamic, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman and modern Egyptian states are part of Egypt’s complex political history.
Modern Suez Canal opened
November 17, 1869, under Khedive Ismail; the canal became strategically important to international shipping. [23]
British protectorate
Britain declared a formal protectorate in 1914, following a period of British military occupation and political influence beginning in 1882. [28]
British declaration of independence
February 28, 1922; British reservations preserved significant constraints on Egyptian sovereignty. [28]
Kingdom of Egypt
The monarchy continued after 1922 and was overthrown following the Free Officers’ movement of July 1952. [28]
July 23 Revolution
Military-led political change beginning July 23, 1952, followed by the end of the monarchy. [28] [26]
Republic proclaimed
June 18, 1953, marking the establishment of the modern Egyptian republic. [28]
Final British military withdrawal
June 18, 1956; a further milestone in ending foreign military presence under earlier arrangements. [28]
Suez Canal nationalization
July 26, 1956, a major act of Egyptian state control followed by the Suez Crisis. [23]
United Arab Republic period
Egypt and Syria formed a union in 1958; Syria withdrew in 1961, but Egypt retained the United Arab Republic name until 1971. [22]
Present official name adopted
September 2, 1971: Arab Republic of Egypt. [22]
Current constitutional framework
2014 Constitution, approved after political upheavals in 2011 and 2013; significant amendments adopted in 2019. [14] [15]
National observance
July 23 Revolution Day, a central national holiday; October 6 Armed Forces Day is also nationally commemorated. [26]
ISO 3166-1 codes
EG (alpha-2); EGY (alpha-3); 818 (numeric). [4]
Internet country-code domain
.eg; internationalized Arabic-script domain .مصر also exists.

Geography and Population

Total surface area
Approximately 1,002,000 km² (about 386,900 sq. mi.) in UN and official Egyptian profiles; other publishers report slightly different total-area figures. [3] [7]
Land area
995,450 km² (World Bank/FAO 2024 land-area measure), excluding inland waters under that statistical definition. [2]
Population, World Bank estimate
118,365,995 (2025), based on the international population series. [1]
Domestic population clock
109,540,965 inside the country, September 19, 2026, CAPMAS figure reported by Egypt Today. [5]
2017 national census
94,798,827 within Egypt (2017 complete census tabulation); not a contemporary estimate. [6]
Population growth rate
Approximately 1.6% (World Bank, 2025 annual growth). [1]
Density, national surface area
Approximately 118 persons per km² using the World Bank 2025 population and about 1,002,000 km² total area; a derived countrywide average, not an official settlement-density statistic.
Urban population
Approximately 43% of population, 2025 UN/World Bank urbanization series, using national urban classification. [20]
Population concentration
Heavily concentrated along the Nile Valley, Nile Delta and urban centers; vast arid areas are sparsely populated. [7]
Principal regions
Nile Delta, Nile Valley and Upper Egypt, Western Desert, Eastern Desert, Sinai Peninsula and Mediterranean and Red Sea coastal zones. [7]
Major river
Nile River, the central water and agricultural artery of Egypt.
Major reservoirs and wetlands
Lake Nasser (Aswan High Dam reservoir), northern delta lakes and wetlands, and the Fayoum depression.
Seas and marine coasts
Mediterranean Sea to the north; Red Sea, Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba along the east.
International land boundaries
Libya (west), Sudan (south), Israel (northeast), and a short boundary with the Gaza Strip (Palestinian territory); territorial and border questions require careful geographic description.
Continental connection
Sinai connects the African mainland to southwestern Asia by way of the Isthmus of Suez.
Strategic waterway
Suez Canal, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas, is central to international navigation. [24]
Climate
Predominantly arid and desert, with a milder Mediterranean influence on the northern coast and very hot inland summers. [7]
Administrative subdivisions
27 governorates (muḥāfaẓāt), subdivided into local administrative units. [7]
Largest metropolitan concentrations
Greater Cairo and Alexandria, together with major Nile Delta and Upper Egypt cities; metropolitan definitions vary by dataset. [3]

Population and geographic comparability: The World Bank international 2025 population series and CAPMAS’s 2026 domestic population clock are not aligned in scope or construction. UN and national profiles give about 1.002 million km² total surface area, while the World Bank land-only value is 995,450 km². Density calculated from a national mean does not describe settlement concentration around the Nile. [1] [5] [3] [2]

Economy and International Trade

Economic system
Diversified mixed economy combining private business with major state-owned enterprises, public investment, and regulated markets. [10]
Nominal GDP
US$365.25 billion, 2025, current U.S. dollars (World Bank series). [1]
Nominal GDP per capita
US$3,085.8 (2025, current U.S. dollars); output divided by population, not an average salary or household income. [1]
Real GDP growth
4.4% (World Bank 2025 annual series); Egypt also publishes fiscal-year growth ending June 30, so different time bases should not be mixed. [1] [10]
Consumer-price inflation
14.1% (2025 annual consumer-price inflation, World Bank); not the latest monthly rate. [1]
Modeled unemployment
6.8% (2025, World Bank/ILO modeled estimate); national quarterly surveys can yield different measures. [1]
Currency
Egyptian pound (EGP); commonly represented as E£ or LE (livre égyptienne).
Exchange-rate regime
A floating exchange-rate arrangement, under an announced liberalized foreign-exchange system since March 2024; rates vary over time. [31]
Core economic sectors
Manufacturing, construction, trade, agriculture, natural gas and oil, tourism, logistics, finance, communications, and public services. [10]
Principal agricultural activities
Wheat, maize, rice in permitted cultivation areas, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar crops and livestock; dependent on irrigated Nile systems.
Merchandise exports
US$50.5265 billion (calendar 2025, WTO/UN Comtrade goods series); excludes services exports. [8]
Merchandise imports
US$101.0026 billion (calendar 2025, same WTO/UN Comtrade goods series). [8]
Merchandise balance
Approximately US$50.4761 billion goods-trade deficit (2025), calculated as exports minus imports from the same WTO series. [8]
Top export destinations
European Union (26.7%), United Arab Emirates (13.9%), Türkiye (6.5%), Saudi Arabia (5.9%), United States (5.4%) of 2025 merchandise exports; EU is a regional partner grouping, not a single country. [8]
Top merchandise product, by value
Unwrought nonmonetary gold, 15.0% of recorded 2025 exports by detailed product code; this reflects trade value, not necessarily domestic mine output. [8]
Other important goods exports
Urea fertilizers, refined petroleum products, crude petroleum, oranges, copper wire, televisions, frozen strawberries and processed food. [8]
Services exports
US$29.551 billion (UNCTAD 2024 services-trade series); tourism and transport/logistics are important components. [9] [10]
Services imports
US$27.494 billion (UNCTAD 2024), measured separately from merchandise imports. [9]
Canal-related services
Suez Canal tolls and associated maritime activity contribute to foreign-currency receipts; flows are vulnerable to changes in global shipping routes. [24] [10]
Tourism and heritage
Travel and visitor expenditure form an important service-export activity, supported by archaeological, cultural, coastal and religious destinations. [25] [10]
Remittances
Transfers from Egyptians working abroad are an important component of external finances and household income; series and calendar/fiscal definitions differ by publisher. [1] [10]

Principal Export Categories (2025)

Selected high-value goods in WTO/UN Comtrade’s HS 2022 product breakdown of Egypt’s 2025 merchandise exports. The table gives examples rather than a complete ranking.
CategoryRepresentative exportsContext
Precious metalsUnwrought gold for nonmonetary purposesLargest single detailed recorded product: 15.0% of goods exports
Fertilizers and chemicalsUrea and other chemical productsUrea alone: 3.0% of goods exports
Fuel and petroleumRefined petroleum preparations and crude oilProducts measured separately in customs data
Agricultural and food goodsOranges, frozen strawberries and manufactured food productsReflects intensive Nile-based horticulture and processing
Metals and electrical goodsCopper wire, televisions and other manufactured articlesSelected finished and intermediate industrial goods
Services (separate year)Tourism, transport, professional and other commercial servicesUNCTAD totals refer to 2024, not the 2025 goods ranking

Merchandise exports in the 2025 WTO/UN Comtrade series total US$50.5265 billion. Services exports are separately reported by UNCTAD at US$29.551 billion for 2024; the figures are not combined as a same-year total. [8] [9]

People and Society

Official language
Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic in official use); established by the Constitution. [14]
Most commonly spoken language
Egyptian Arabic and regional varieties of Arabic are widely used in everyday conversation.
Other indigenous and community languages
Nubian languages in southern Egypt; Siwi (an Amazigh language) around Siwa; Beja and various other community languages.
Other widely taught or used languages
English and French appear in education, commerce and tourism; neither is a national official language.
State religion
Islam is the state religion under Article 2 of the Constitution, with principles of Islamic sharia designated as the main source of legislation. [14] [18]
Religious composition, indicative
Most external expert estimates place Sunni Muslims around 90% and Christians around 10%; there is no universally accepted contemporary official religious census breakdown. [18] [19]
Christian communities
Coptic Orthodox Christians constitute the largest Christian tradition; Coptic Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox and other Christian communities are also present. [18] [19]
Other religious communities
Small Jewish, Baha’i and other communities exist; nonrecognition and restrictions affect some minority religious practices. [18]
Religion and law
Freedom of belief is constitutionally recognized, but laws regulate public religious practice and worship places, with legal treatment varying by recognized religion. [18]
Population under age 15
About 31.6% aged 0–14 (World Bank 2025 population-structure estimate). [21]
Life expectancy at birth
Approximately 72 years, 2024 World Bank reference. [1]
Urban and rural population
Approximately 43% urban and 57% rural under national/UN 2025 definitions; economic opportunity and services are unevenly distributed. [20]
Major cultural inheritances
Ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic, Ottoman and modern Arab intellectual and artistic traditions; regional cultures remain diverse.
Education landscape
A national public education system alongside private and religious institutions; Al-Azhar is an important institution of Islamic higher learning. [18]
Higher education and research
Major university centers in Cairo, Alexandria, the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt.
Geographic settlement patterns
Most large cities, farms and transport corridors are clustered around the Nile and its delta. [7]
Cultural and archaeological resources
UNESCO lists seven Egyptian World Heritage properties, including Giza/Memphis, Ancient Thebes, historic Cairo, Abu Mena and Wadi Al-Hitan. [25]

Religion and language: The approximately 90% Muslim / 10% Christian figures are broad expert estimates, not percentages verified by a new religion census. Official Arabic is distinct from the many spoken vernacular and community languages. [18] [19] [14]

Government and Institutions

Form of government
Unitary constitutional republic with a president, prime minister, cabinet and bicameral legislature; presidential executive power is extensive. [14]
Foundational law
Constitution of 2014 as amended in 2019; supplemented by legislation and judicial interpretations. [14] [15]
Head of state
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi; official presidency reports confirm his incumbency in November 2026. [11]
Presidential tenure
Took office June 8, 2014; began a further term in April 2024 following the December 2023 election. [11] [15]
Head of government
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly; confirmed in official government activity on September 29, 2026. [12]
2026 ministerial changes
Cabinet reshuffle sworn in February 11, 2026; ministries and ministerial portfolios can change without a change in prime minister. [13]
Presidential term
Six calendar years under the 2019 constitutional amendment, with applicable transitional provisions regarding incumbency. [15]
Legislature
Bicameral Parliament: House of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwwāb) and Senate (Majlis al-Shuyūkh). [16] [17]
House of Representatives
596 members in the 2026 IPU record: 568 elected and 28 appointed by the president. [16]
Senate
300 members in the 2025–2026 IPU record: 200 elected and 100 presidential appointees; consult the constitutional division of responsibilities. [17]
Latest parliamentary elections
Senate elections held in August 2025; House election cycle ran from late 2025 into January 2026 for final voting and results. [16] [17]
Executive institutions
President, prime minister, Council of Ministers and national ministries, with extensive executive coordination across governorates. [14]
Judicial institutions
Supreme Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, State Council administrative courts and other judicial institutions under the constitutional framework. [14]
Local administrative units
27 governorates, headed by governors and administered through local government units. [7]
Government offices and new capital
Many government institutions have relocated to the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo; Cairo remains Egypt’s formal capital. [7]
Political system
Multiparty elections operate under a political system in which executive institutions exercise substantial authority; the written constitutional rules and practical politics should be distinguished. [14]
Constitutional religion and language
Islam is the state religion and Arabic is the official language under Article 2 of the Constitution. [14]
Civic and political rights
The Constitution sets out civic liberties and rights; their implementation is evaluated separately by national courts and external monitors. [14] [18]

Institutional distinction: Egypt’s House and Senate have different composition and constitutional functions. The most recent IPU records count 596 House members and 300 senators; older reference pages may show earlier membership or one-chamber arrangements. [16] [17]

International Profile

United Nations
Founding member; UN Charter entered into force October 24, 1945. [22]
United Arab Republic UN history
Egypt and Syria joined as the United Arab Republic in 1958; Syria resumed its own seat in 1961, while Egypt retained the UAR name until 1971. [22]
Key regional organizations
African Union, League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
BRICS
Member since January 2024; continued participating in BRICS summits and ministerial meetings during 2026. [29]
World Trade Organization
Member since June 30, 1995. [30]
Major global financial institutions
Member of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group; engaged with international financial programs. [10] [31]
Strategic maritime position
Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and Red Seas, with Egyptian ports serving trade across Africa, Europe and Asia. [24]
Adjacent states and territories
Libya, Sudan and Israel by land, with a short frontier adjoining Gaza; coastline faces the Mediterranean and Red Seas. [7]
International dialing code
+20.
Time standard
Eastern European Time (UTC+02:00) as standard time; daylight-saving changes are governed by national rules.
Country domain and codes
.eg; ISO alpha-2 EG, alpha-3 EGY; numeric 818. [4]
Heritage diplomacy
UNESCO World Heritage Convention state party, with seven inscribed properties as of the November 2026 source check. [25]

Sources and Verification

Editorial cutoff: November 5, 2026. This entry uses international economic and trade series, Egyptian government records, parliamentary reference data, and historical sources. Dates shown alongside figures identify the observation year; figures may be revised.

  1. World Bank, Egypt Country Data — 2025 population (118,365,995), current-dollar GDP (US$365.25 billion), GDP per capita (US$3,085.8), real growth (4.4%), inflation (14.1%) and modeled unemployment (6.8%); 2024 life expectancy (72 years).
  2. World Bank, Land Area of Egypt — 2024 land-area figure 995,450 square kilometres, distinct from total surface area.
  3. United Nations, Egypt Country Profile — Northern Africa classification; approximately 1,002,000 km² of surface area; Cairo as capital; Egyptian pound; membership of the UN.
  4. United Nations Statistics Division, M49 Country and Region Codes — Northern Africa region and EG/EGY/818 codes.
  5. Egypt Today, CAPMAS Population Clock Report, September 19, 2026 — CAPMAS population-clock figure of 109,540,965 persons within Egypt on September 19, 2026; an in-country national benchmark, not identical to the World Bank series.
  6. UN Demographic Statistics Database, Egypt Population Records — Egypt’s 2017 population census count of 94,798,827; census and annual estimates are distinct observations.
  7. Egypt State Information Service, About Egypt — Geographic location spanning Africa and the Asian Sinai Peninsula; total area approximately 1,002,000 km²; 27 governorates and Nile settlement patterns.
  8. World Trade Organization, Tariff and Trade Data: Egypt Member Profile — UN Comtrade-based 2025 merchandise exports US$50.5265 billion; imports US$101.0026 billion; leading destinations and HS 2022 export products.
  9. UN Trade and Development, Egypt General Profile — 2024 international commercial-services exports US$29.551 billion and imports US$27.494 billion; separate from 2025 merchandise figures.
  10. World Bank Group, Egypt Country Overview — Economic structure and constraints, tourism, manufacturing, investment, inflation and fiscal-year reporting conventions; national poverty reference.
  11. Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Official Website — President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, verified from official activity dated November 3, 2026.
  12. Presidency of Egypt, Meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, September 29, 2026 — Confirms Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in office at the September 2026 meeting.
  13. Presidency of Egypt, Cabinet Reshuffle, February 11, 2026 — Ministerial changes during Prime Minister Madbouly’s tenure; cabinet ministries as of February 2026.
  14. Egypt State Information Service, Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt — 2014 Constitution and 2019 amendments; national language, religion, presidential executive, Parliament and constitutional institutions.
  15. Egypt State Information Service, President of the Republic — 2019 amendment setting a six-year presidential term and the current formal constitutional provisions.
  16. Inter-Parliamentary Union, Egypt House of Representatives — House of Representatives: 596 members, 568 elected and 28 appointed; latest 2025–2026 electoral cycle.
  17. Inter-Parliamentary Union, Egypt Senate — Senate: 300 members, 200 elected and 100 appointed; 2025 upper-house renewal.
  18. U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report: Egypt (2023) — Non-census estimates of roughly 90% Sunni Muslim and 10% Christian; Coptic Orthodox predominance among Christians and religion-related legal provisions.
  19. UK Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note: Christians, Egypt, August 2026 — 2026 corroboration of approximate religious-population composition and a note that the figures are estimates.
  20. World Bank, Urban Population Share: Egypt — About 43% urban population in 2025, drawing on United Nations urbanization estimates.
  21. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, World Bank Population Ages 0–14, Egypt — 2025 children aged 0–14 comprise 31.56% of population; sourced from World Bank World Development Indicators.
  22. United Nations, Egypt: Membership History — UN founding membership in 1945; United Arab Republic period 1958–1971 in name and current country name since September 2, 1971.
  23. Suez Canal Authority, Canal History and Opening — Opening on November 17, 1869; historical development of the interoceanic sea route.
  24. Suez Canal Authority, Importance and Advantages — Navigation link between the Mediterranean and Red Seas and canal’s strategic economic role.
  25. UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Egypt — Egypt’s seven UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions and historical-cultural significance.
  26. Presidency of Egypt, National Holidays 2026 — July 23 Revolution Day, October 6 Armed Forces Day and other official holidays.
  27. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Early Dynastic Period — Official account describing political unification of Egypt around 3100 BCE as gradual and the opening of the Early Dynastic period.
  28. CIA World Factbook Historical Egypt Profile (archived) — Qualified independence in February 1922, declaration of a republic in June 1953, and British military withdrawal in June 1956.
  29. Egypt State Information Service, Participation in 2026 BRICS Summit — Egypt’s BRICS accession in January 2024 and continued participation in 2026.
  30. World Trade Organization, Egypt Member Information — WTO membership since June 30, 1995.
  31. International Monetary Fund, Egypt 2025 Article IV Consultation: Exchange Rate Arrangement — Egyptian pound’s de jure and de facto floating exchange-rate arrangements after the March 2024 policy change.

Statistical methodology: Nominal GDP and GDP per capita are current-price output measures, not income per household or wages. The World Bank 2025 population and the CAPMAS 2026 domestic population count are not directly interchangeable. The 2025 merchandise export/import totals use WTO/UN Comtrade goods data, while 2024 services figures come from UNCTAD; trade series may also differ from Egyptian fiscal-year balance-of-payments reports. Currency is the EGP, with a floating exchange-rate regime rather than one fixed conversion figure.