Egypt Fact Sheet

Official Name: Arab Republic of Egypt.
Government: Republic.
Area: 1,001,450 sq km.
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula.
Population: 78 million (2006).
Capital City: Cairo.
Other Major Towns: Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Port Said, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheik.
Peoples: Eastern Hamitic -Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers - 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European - 1%.
Language: Arabic (official), English and French - widely understood.
Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) -94%, Christian (Coptic) and other - 6%.
Time: GMT + 2 hours (GMT + 3 form last Friday in April till last Friday in September).
Currency: Egyptian Pounds (LE).
Electricity: 220 V, 50Hz.
Weights and Measures: Metric.
Economy: Agriculture, mining, oil, tourism, industry (cement, textiles, fertilizer, rubber).
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters.