Landscape of Egypt
Flag of Egypt

Egypt

Africa

Civilization in Egypt has historically centered around the Nile river. Modern populations continue to depend on the river for agriculture and clean water, putting strain on local water systems and exacerbating issues with water scarcity. The country is marked by violent power transfers and rampant human rights abuses.1 1 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/eg.html

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About Egypt

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. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. 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 from Britain in 1952. 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 meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012. That same year, Mohammed MURSI won the presidential election and a new constitution was affirmed. In July 2013, the military ousted MURSI and he was replaced by interim president Adly MANSOUR.

Quick Facts

Population
85,294,388 (July 2013 est.)
Area
1,001,450 sq km
ISO Code
EG
Continent
Africa
Government
republic
Active Causes
12
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Geography & Environment

Climate

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Terrain

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Natural Resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc

Environmental Issues

agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;...

People & Society

73.19 years
Avg. Life Expectancy
73.9%
Literacy Rate
43.5% of total population (2011)
Total Urban Population

Languages

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

Religions

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

Health Expenditure

4.7% of GDP (2010) of GDP

Education Expenditure

3.8% of GDP (2008) of GDP

Economy

$6,700
GDP per Capita (PPP)
13.5%
Unemployment Rate
20% (2005 est.)
Below Poverty Line

Economic Overview

Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but opened up considerably under former Presidents Anwar EL-SADAT and Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth. Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth in recent years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remained poor and contribute...

Causes in Egypt

Environment

Pollution is the biggest environmental issue facing Egypt and its water supply. Industrial runoff, agricultural runoff, and sewage are routinely deposited in the Nile River. Egypt is densely populated, waste storage is limited, and water treatment plants are scarce. Air pollution has increased in the past decade due to the significant population increase. In Cairo today, the average citizen inhales 20 times more than the acceptable level of air pollution daily.1 Along with the increased pollution, Egypt has to reform its environmental policies to help mitigate the negative effects that are caused by climate change and a rapidly expanding population.6

Family

The rapidly expanding population and dramatic increase in birth rate are the leading current family issues. With the increased burden on the economy and overextension of limited resources, the rising population is a major issue in Egypt. The Egyptian government, as of 2017, has developed a family planning program, with aims to significantly lower birth rates. This program is geared towards families in rural areas, who often see large families as a source of economic strength, or abstain from birth control for religious reasons. 1 42.3% of women use contraceptives.2

Human Rights

Human rights abuses are exacerbated by internal turmoil and periods of military rule. Other abuses include police violence, impunity, restriction on freedom of expression, association, religion, and limitations on the rights of women.1 In 2013, Egypt instituted a number of restrictive laws that have established heavy punishments for anyone speaking out against the government.2 In 2016, there were 912 victims of enforced disappearance by the Egyptian police force. Many political protesters are thrown in jail and are often taken to trial without any legal representation or evidence being presented.3

Education

One of the Millennium Development Goals that Egypt still has to meet is universal primary education. The enrollment rate in primary schools is quite high, with 94% of boys and 91% of girls enrolled. Upper Egypt, where poverty rates are much higher, continues to underperform in enrollment. In some areas, such as the Sohag region, enrollment is as low as 75-77%.1 The largest challenge facing Egypt is a rapidly expanding population and limited educational resources to meet their increasing needs. The Egyptian government has granted education access to Syrian refugees, adding more students to an already overstressed education system. Teachers cannot provide adequate instruction for large class sizes with inconsistent school funding.2

Poverty

As of 2017, poverty in rural Upper Egypt was at 57 percent, while poverty in urban Lower Egypt was 10 percent.1 Food insecurity is the biggest issue facing Egyptians. The lack of clean water, rising unemployment and birth rates are also causes of humanitarian issues.2 About 73% of the population receives food ration cards.3 The majority of the poor in Egypt are small-scale farmers, landless laborers, unemployed youth, and women. Alternatives to the agricultural employment are limited due to inadequate marketing infrastructure.4

Religion

90% of the population identifies as Muslim, predominantly Sunni Muslim. The majority of non-Muslims are Christians.1 The government is responsible for the creation of a hostile and intolerant environment towards citizens who are not Muslim. Additionally, the advancement of radical Islamic groups, particularly the Islamic State, has resulted in Christians facing severe persecution.2 The government does not allow Muslim citizens to enjoy their religious freedom; they’re forced to practice in a culture of suppression.3

Clean Water

Egypt has long suffered from water scarcity, uneven water distribution, inefficient irrigation systems, and misused water resources. The country is dependent on rainfall to supplement scarce water supplies, rendering it vulnerable in times of low rainfall.1 The majority of the population in Egypt lives near the Nile Valley.2 The rapidly growing population further strains Egypt’s limited resources. In addition, many of Egypt’s communities rely on water delivery and sanitation systems that are outdated and unhygienic.3 The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization stated that water scarcity is one of the most critical food security issues facing North African countries, including Egypt.4

Economy

Egypt’s economy expanded rapidly during the Presidency of Hosni Mubarak (1981-2011) in order to attract foreign investment.1-2 However, the next President, Morsi, halted economic growth in favor of social programs and was ousted soon after. The considerable lack of rule of law and uneven reforms have hindered economic growth.3 Economic stagnation and high levels of poverty have taken hold of the country.The instability in the country discourages foreign investments, as there is little confidence that economic ventures will be sustainable. However, the government has pledged to reduce joblessness to 10 percent over the next several years, focusing on economic reform. As of 2017, Egypt’s unemployment rate had fallen under 12 percent for the first time since the political uprising of 2011.4

Government

Egyptian government is plagued in all levels by corruption, as well as the police forces. The rule of law is not upheld throughout the country and the judicial system is subject to political influence. The Egyptian government has undergone serious transitions since 2012. In the midst of all of the political turmoil and instability in major cities, tourism and foreign investments have suffered1, the investment climate in Egypt has endured serious upheavals, and many international businesses have withdrawn. Government affairs are nearly inseparable from demands of extortion, bribery, and instability.2

Health

The life expectancy in Egypt is 69 years for males and 73 years for females. 1 The infant mortality rate is 19 deaths per 1,000 live births.2 Egypt has made significant progress towards achieving its Millennium Development Goals and creating mandatory immunization programs.3 Health initiatives, like a national program to combat tuberculosis, are provided at no cost to Egyptians.4 Still, Egyptian healthcare is often low quality, offering minimal care to patients.5

Children

Egypt’s improving economic and social indicators have succeeded in increasing the amount of protections that are afforded to children. Child poverty is a key challenge currently facing Egypt. Between 2000 and 2015, the percentage of the Egyptian population living below the poverty line rose to 27.8%.1 Egyptian children face almost daily violence.2 Many schools still view corporal punishment as an acceptable option. Around 93% of children say that they have experienced violence in their homes and at school.3

Animals

Egypt lies at the intersection of several zoogeographical regions, reflecting the country’s diverse variety of animals.1 These rare environmental conditions have led to the flourishing of over 350 types of birds and 190 variations of fish. Egypt’s wild animal species also include jackals, gazelles, and cobras. Common domestic animals are buffalo, camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats. Many animals found in ancient Egyptian artwork, including hippopotamuses, giraffes, and ostriches, can no longer be found in Egypt.2 Crocodiles remain only south of the Asw?n High Dam.3

Nonprofits Working in Egypt

Discover organizations making a difference in Egypt

EUROPEAN & MIDDLE EASTERN MINISTRIES INCORPORATED

EUROPEAN & MIDDLE EASTERN MINISTRIES INCORPORATED

EME endeavors to enable worshipping communities to transform their local environments through education and community / business development projects, especially in the Southeastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa Mission Statement EME Purposes To: • Enable local churches, ministries and other partners, primarily in the Mediterranean Region. • Empower partnerships with necessary provisions—e.g. personnel, finance, training and other essentials—to better advance their efforts. • Support the development of educational programs within the framework of partnerships— e.g. kindergartens, primary schools, K-12 schools and adult education—and the implementation of community building projects, including Business as/for Mission.

Jonesboro, Arkansas
GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE INC

GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE INC

Now in its fifth decade, the Guttmacher Institute remains committed to the mission and goals that led to its creation. The Guttmacher Institute was founded in 1968 as the Center for Family Planning Program Development. At the time, Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon had begun to call the public's attention to the problem of unplanned and unwanted childbearing and its consequences for individual women and men, their children and their communities both at home and abroad. Concurrently, the United States Congress was taking its first steps toward the development of an international population assistance program, as well as a multifaceted, national program aimed at providing equitable access to modern methods of birth control in the United States. By integrating nonpartisan social science research, policy analysis and public education, the Center hoped to provide a factual basis for the development of sound governmental policies and for public consideration of the sensitive issues involved in the promotion of reproductive health and rights. This purpose and commitment continue today. The Center was originally housed within the corporate structure of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Its program, however, was independently developed and overseen by a National Advisory Council separate from the PPFA Board of Directors. Its early development was nurtured by Alan F. Guttmacher, an eminent obstetrician-gynecologist, teacher and writer who was PPFA's president for more than a decade until his death in 1974. The Center was renamed in Dr. Guttmacher's memory, and the Guttmacher Institute incorporated as an entirely independent nonprofit policy research institute with its own Board in 1977. The Guttmacher Institute maintains offices in New York and Washington. Its current staff of 81 comprises demographers, social scientists, public policy analysts, editors, writers, communications specialists, and financial and technical personnel. A few of its employees have been with the organization for most of its existence, and an affiliation that goes back 10 or 15 years is not unusual. The Institute's work is guided by a 39-member board made up of eminent professionals from a rich variety of disciplines, as well as civic leaders from across the United States and around the world. The Guttmacher Institute's annual budget of approximately $17 million is derived largely from private foundations, government agencies, multilateral organizations and individual contributions.

New York, New York

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