Key Facts

GDP (ppp) per CAPITA

$5,400 (2008 est.)

Inflation Rate

18.3% (2008 est.)

Population

83,082,869 (July 2009 est.)

Country Risk Ratings

B

Ease of Doing Business

114/181

Global Competitiveness

81/134

Country Map

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gE Network

There are 63 members in the
gE Network for this country.

Egypt : Introduction

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. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. 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 with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy 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 growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Egypt: Central Bank of Egypt

The CBE is an autonomous public legal entity responsible for formulating monetary, credit and banking policy, and supervising its implementation as well as maintaining the stability of the Egyptian currency. The site provides quarterly and periodic economic review reports, monthly surveys and statistics, documentation on banking laws in addition to the contact information of the banks and other related bodies in Egypt.

Egypt: Business Today (BT)

English business newspaper for Egypt. The monthly publication covers a variety of topics including business news, sector trends and management issues.

Egypt: Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchanges

Egypt: Ministry of Trade and Industry

Egyptian International Trade Point (EITP) provides statistical data including economic indicators, sectoral output, balance of payments, import and export figures. The Investment section provides data on investment projects and local/international participation indicators in the said projects.

Sources:
CIA World Factbook (September 2009)
U.S. Dept. of State Country Background Notes (March 2008)

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