General background: Nominally 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.
Area comparative: Slightly more than three
times the size of New Mexico
Climate:
Desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain: Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile
valley and delta
Population: 70,712,345 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians,
Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian,
other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic
Christian and other 6%
Language: Arabic (official), English and French
widely understood by educated classes
Government type: Republic
Capital: Cairo
Legal system: Based on English common law, Islamic
law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme
Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative
decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations.
Economic overview: Egypt improved its macroeconomic
performance throughout most of the last decade by following
IMF advice on fiscal, monetary, and structural reform
policies. As a result, Cairo managed to tame inflation,
slash budget deficits, and attract more foreign investment.
In the past three years, however, the pace of reform
has slackened, and excessive spending on national infrastructure
projects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign
exchange earnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on
the Egyptian pound and periodic dollar shortages. Monetary
pressures have increased since 11 September 2001 because
of declines in tourism, Suez canal tolls, and exports,
and Cairo has devalued the pound several times in the
past year. The development of a gas export market is
a major bright spot for future growth prospects.
Communication/Telephone system: Large system;
underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably
modern; Internet access and cellular service are available.
Places of interest: Since long before the birth
of Christ, travelers have been drawn to this extraordinary
country and its pyramids, Sphinx, ancient Luxor and
River Nile. It's not just the Pharaonic monuments either
- it's the legacy of the Greeks and Romans, the churches
and monasteries of the early Christians, and the overwhelming
profusion of art and architecture accumulated from centuries
of successive Islamic dynasties
Travel tips: In September 1997, nine German tourists
were shot in Cairo in a terrorist attack, followed two
months later by the death of 67 people (57 of them tourists)
in Luxor. Since that time, however, law enforcement
units have cracked down on the activities of fundamentalist
Islamic militant groups and other extremists and not
a single tourist has been killed by terrorists in Egypt
since 1997. Most visitors have hassle-free stays, but
travelers are warned to avoid public political gatherings
and demonstrations.
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