01
Physical geography
Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta.
Local timeCairo ·
Africa / Northern Africa · Card 015
Egypt
Egypt is a country in Northern Africa. Its capital is Cairo.
Find Egypt
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Cairo
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP)
- Population
- 118.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 1,002,450 km²387,048 square miles
- Independence
- 1922
Egypt in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Cairo; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Arabic.
03
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.
Flag
Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; centered in the white band is the national emblem, a gold Eagle of Saladin; it faces the left side, with a shield on its chest, above a scroll with the country's name in Arabic
History & independence
Britain declared Egypt independent in 1922, but retained important powers. The 1952 revolution overthrew the monarchy, and a republic was declared in 1953. British forces left the Suez Canal Zone in 1956.
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Britain recognizes Egyptian independence with reservations
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The republic is declared
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The Suez Canal is nationalized
Economy
Main activities
Services, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and energy all contribute to the economy. The Suez Canal and remittances are important sources of foreign currency. The Nile valley and delta support much of the country’s farming.
Industry and production
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people118.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34,623,990 | 34.624 |
| 1980 | 43,950,413 | 43.950 |
| 1990 | 58,396,618 | 58.397 |
| 2000 | 73,083,284 | 73.083 |
| 2010 | 89,196,072 | 89.196 |
| 2020 | 109,315,124 | 109.315 |
| 2025 | 118,365,995 | 118.366 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars503.42025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 115,166,183,183 | 115.166 |
| 1991 | 116,462,268,700 | 116.462 |
| 1992 | 121,671,461,982 | 121.671 |
| 1993 | 125,200,896,557 | 125.201 |
| 1994 | 130,175,343,748 | 130.175 |
| 1995 | 136,218,680,414 | 136.219 |
| 1996 | 143,014,263,359 | 143.014 |
| 1997 | 150,869,114,036 | 150.869 |
| 1998 | 159,280,817,658 | 159.281 |
| 1999 | 168,922,784,451 | 168.923 |
| 2000 | 179,683,172,290 | 179.683 |
| 2001 | 186,035,425,185 | 186.035 |
| 2002 | 190,482,051,409 | 190.482 |
| 2003 | 196,565,009,504 | 196.565 |
| 2004 | 204,608,590,454 | 204.609 |
| 2005 | 213,758,163,785 | 213.758 |
| 2006 | 228,387,426,640 | 228.387 |
| 2007 | 244,575,133,305 | 244.575 |
| 2008 | 262,077,623,378 | 262.078 |
| 2009 | 274,326,082,661 | 274.326 |
| 2010 | 288,446,290,410 | 288.446 |
| 2011 | 293,536,132,736 | 293.536 |
| 2012 | 300,070,833,531 | 300.071 |
| 2013 | 306,628,779,734 | 306.629 |
| 2014 | 315,569,804,752 | 315.570 |
| 2015 | 329,366,576,819 | 329.367 |
| 2016 | 343,682,967,577 | 343.683 |
| 2017 | 358,053,111,989 | 358.053 |
| 2018 | 377,141,312,303 | 377.141 |
| 2019 | 398,080,548,971 | 398.081 |
| 2020 | 412,213,064,650 | 412.213 |
| 2021 | 425,777,537,423 | 425.778 |
| 2022 | 453,827,104,225 | 453.827 |
| 2023 | 470,892,276,432 | 470.892 |
| 2024 | 482,189,779,213 | 482.190 |
| 2025 | 503,367,605,841 | 503.368 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.754High human developmentRank 100 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.572
20000.639
20100.677
20200.736
20230.754
71.6 yearsLife expectancy at birth
10.1 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Egypt.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which city is identified as the capital of Egypt?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.