| Flag: |
 - Click here |
| Official name: |
Arab Republic of Egypt |
| conventional short form: |
Egypt |
| Government type: |
Republic |
| Capital: |
Cairo |
| Location: |
Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, a country in north-eastern Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The principal geographic feature of the country is the Nile River. |
| Population: |
70346452
|
| Capital City: |
Cairo (Al Qahira) |
Administrative divisions: |
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj |
| Largest Cities: |
Egypt's capital and largest city is Cairo. In addition to the capital, major cities include Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Tanta, and Aswan. |
| Currency: |
Egyptian Pound EGP |
| Languages: |
The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in commerce and government. |
| Independence: |
28 February 1922 |
| National day: |
Revolution Day, 23 July 1952 |
| Constitution: |
11 September 1971 |
| Government: |
Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif (since 14 July 2004) |
| Religions: |
Islam is the official religion, and about 90 percent of all Egyptians are Muslims, most of them members of the Sunni sect. According to official Egyptian estimates, the Coptic Orthodox church, a Christian denomination, has no more than 3 million adherents and constitutes the largest religious minority; Copts themselves claim some 7 million members. An estimated 1 million people belong to the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian, and various Protestant churches. The country has a very small Jewish community. |
| Area: |
Egypt has a maximum length from north to south of about 1085 km (about 675 mi) and a maximum width, near the southern border, of about 1255 km (about 780 mi). It has a total area of 997,739 sq km (385,229 sq mi). |
| Memberships:: |
Egypt is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, OPEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference. |
| Time difference: |
GMT + 2 ( GMT + 3 in summer) |
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