Egypt

Egypt (pronounced /ˈiːdʒɪpt/ ( listen); Arabic: مصر‎ Miṣr, pronounced [misˤɾ] ( listen); Egyptian Arabic: Maṣr [ˈmɑsˤɾ]; Coptic: Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ, kīmi; Egyptian: Kemet), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 76 million[1] live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.
Egypt possesses one of the most developed economies in the Middle East, with sectors such as tourism, agriculture, industry and service at almost equal rates in national production.[citation needed] Consequently, the Egyptian economy is rapidly developing, due in part to legislation aimed at luring investments, coupled with both internal and political stability, along with recent trade and market liberalization.



Capital(and largest city)
Cairo 30°2′N 31°13′E / 30.033°N 31.217°E / 30.033; 31.217
Official languages
Arabic1
Ethnic groups
99% Egyptians, 0.9% Nubians, 0.1% Greeks
Demonym
Egyptian
Government
Semi-presidential republic
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President
Hosni Mubarak
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Prime Minister
Ahmed Nazif
Establishment
-
First Dynasty
c.3150 BC
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Independence from United Kingdom
28 February 1922
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Republic declared
18 June 1953
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National Day
23 July (to celebrate 23 July 1952)
Area
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Total
1,002,450 km2 (30th)387,048 sq mi
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Water (%)
0.632
Population
-
March 2009 estimate
76 million[1] (16th)
-
Density
76/km2 (120th)196/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
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Total
$442.640 billion[2]
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Per capita
$5,898[2]
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
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Total
$162.164 billion[2]
-
Per capita
$2,161[2]
Gini (1999–00)
34.5 (medium)
HDI (2008)
▼ 0.716 (116th)
Currency
Egyptian pound (EGP)
Time zone
EET (UTC+2)
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Summer (DST)
EEST (UTC+3)
Drives on the
right
Internet TLD
.eg
Calling code
+20