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. 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. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517.

Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II.

The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered 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 ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 80,335,036 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.2% (male 13,234,428/female 12,631,681) 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 25,688,703/female 25,082,200) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 1,576,376/female 2,121,648) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 24.2 years male: 23.9 years female: 24.6 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.721% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 22.53 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.048 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.024 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.743 male(s)/female total population: 1.017 male(s)/female (2007 est.) Infant mortality rate:

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total: 29.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.57 years male: 69.04 years female: 74.22 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: 700 (2003 est.)

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Nationality: noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian

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Ethnic groups: Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

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Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

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Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.4% male: 83% female: 59.4% (2005 est.)

Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew about 5% per year in 2005-06. Despite these achievements, the government has failed to raise living standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have contributed to a growing budget deficit - more than 10% of GDP each year - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreign direct investment remains low. To achieve higher GDP growth the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit of reform, especially in the energy sector. Egypt's export sectors - particularly natural gas - have bright prospects.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $334.4 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $85.37 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 6.8% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,200 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.7% industry: 35.5% services: 49.8% (2006 est.)

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Labor force: 21.8 million (2006 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 32% industry: 17% services: 51% (2001 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 10.3% (2006 est.)

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Population below poverty line: 20% (2005 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 34.4 (2001)

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (2006 est.)

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Investment (gross fixed): 19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $21.32 billion expenditures: $31.83 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2006 est.)

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Public debt: 102.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

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

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Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (2006 est.)

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Electricity - production: 91.72 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 84.49 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 1 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 200 million kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 700,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 590,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: 152,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 3.7 billion bbl (1 January 2005 est.)

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Natural gas - production: 32.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 31.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - exports: 1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.657 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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Current account balance: $2.697 billion (2006 est.)

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Exports: $24.22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

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Exports - partners: Italy 12.2%, US 11.4%, Spain 8.6%, UK 5.6%, France 5.4%, Syria 5.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.4%, Germany 4.2% (2006)

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Imports: $35.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

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Imports - partners: US 11.4%, China 8.2%, Germany 6.4%, Italy 5.4%, Saudi Arabia 5%, France 4.6% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $26.3 billion (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $29.59 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

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Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)

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Currency (code): Egyptian pound (EGP)

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Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002)

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Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June