{{Short description|Country in North Africa}}
{{About|the country}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Arab Republic of Egypt
| name = {{native name|ar|جمهورية مصر العربية}}
{{transliteration|ar|{{not a typo|G}}umhūriyyat Miṣr al-ʻArabiyyah}}
| common_name = Egypt
| image_flag = Flag of Egypt.svg
| image_coat = Coat of arms of Egypt (Official).svg
| coa_size = 75
| image_map = EGY orthographic.svg
| map_caption =
| national_anthem = {{lang|ar|بلادي، بلادي، بلادي}}
''[[Biladi, Biladi, Biladi]]''
("My country, my country, my country")
{{center|[[File:Bilady, Bilady, Bilady.ogg]]}}
| official_languages = [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]][{{cite web |url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/LastPage.aspx?Category_ID=1155 |title=Constitutional Declaration: A New Stage in the History of the Great Egyptian People |date=30 March 2011 |publisher=Egypt State Information Service |access-date=15 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427083143/http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/LastPage.aspx?Category_ID=1155 |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=live }}] [[Egyptian Arabic]] is the [[spoken language]]. Other [[Languages of Egypt|dialects and minority languages]] are spoken regionally.|name=lang}}
| religion = See ''[[Religion in Egypt]]''{{efn|While [[Islam]] is the majority and official religion of the country, the size of the country's historic [[Christianity in Egypt|Christian minority]] is highly controversial and disputed by various entities and groups. Estimates range from as low as 5% to as high as 20%. Since 2006, religion has been omitted from censuses after widespread claims that the figures had been distorted.[{{Cite news|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/2011/02/16/how-many-christians-are-there-in-egypt/|title=How many Christians are there in Egypt?|date=16 February 2011|work=Pew Research Center|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002004401/https://www.pewresearch.org/2011/02/16/how-many-christians-are-there-in-egypt/|url-status=live}}][{{Cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/53839/Egypt/Politics-/Egyptian-Copts-reject-population-estimate.aspx|title=Egyptian Copts reject population estimate – Politics|website=english.ahram.org.eg|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029011854/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/53839/Egypt/Politics-/Egyptian-Copts-reject-population-estimate.aspx|url-status=live}}]|name=relig}}
| demonym = Egyptian
| capital = [[Cairo]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|30|2|N|31|13|E|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| government_type = Unitary [[semi-presidential republic]] under an [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] government{{refn|[{{cite journal |last1=Truex |first1=Rory |last2=Tavana |first2=Daniel L. |title=Implicit Attitudes toward an Authoritarian Regime |journal=The Journal of Politics |date=July 2019 |volume=81 |issue=3 |pages=1014–1027 |doi=10.1086/703209 }}][{{Cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/22/egypts-sisi-is-getting-pretty-good-at-being-a-dictator/ |title=Egypt's Sisi Is Getting Pretty Good ... at Being a Dictator |last1=Cambanis |first1=Thanassis |date=22 May 2015 |website=Foreign Policy |access-date=25 July 2017 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210231855/https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/22/egypts-sisi-is-getting-pretty-good-at-being-a-dictator/ |url-status=live }}][{{Cite web|title=Egypt: A Move to Enhance Authoritarian Rule|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/02/12/egypt-move-enhance-authoritarian-rule|date=2019|website=Human Rights Watch|access-date=4 January 2024|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713152806/https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/02/12/egypt-move-enhance-authoritarian-rule|url-status=live}}][{{Cite news|date=9 July 2020|access-date=22 November 2022|title=Egypt tries to silence its critics in the United States by jailing their relatives|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Sudarsan|last=Raghavan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egypt-tries-to-silence-its-critics-in-the-united-states-by-jailing-their-relatives/2020/07/08/c93a809e-c053-11ea-864a-0dd31b9d6917_story.html|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109023939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egypt-tries-to-silence-its-critics-in-the-united-states-by-jailing-their-relatives/2020/07/08/c93a809e-c053-11ea-864a-0dd31b9d6917_story.html|url-status=live}}][{{Cite web|last=Al-Arian|first=Abdullah|date=27 February 2020|title=Hosni Mubarak's legacy is Abdel Fattah el-Sisi|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/2/27/hosni-mubaraks-legacy-is-abdel-fattah-el-sisi|url-status=live|access-date=2 November 2021|website=Al Jazeera|language=en|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201019213139/https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/2/27/hosni-mubaraks-legacy-is-abdel-fattah-el-sisi/ |archive-date = 19 October 2020 }}]}}
| leader_title1 = [[President of Egypt|President]]
| leader_name1 = [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]]
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Egypt|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[Mostafa Madbouly]]
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| legislature = [[Parliament of Egypt|Parliament]]
| upper_house = [[Senate (Egypt)|Senate]]
| lower_house = [[House of Representatives (Egypt)|House of Representatives]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Egypt|Establishment history]]
| established_event1 = [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|Declaration of independence]]
| established_date1 = 28 February 1922
| established_event2 = [[Egyptian revolution of 1952|Revolution of 1952]]
| established_date2 = 23 July 1952
| established_event3 = [[Declaration of the Republic]]
| established_date3 = 18 June 1953
| established_event4 = [[Constitution of Egypt|Current constitution]]
| established_date4 = 18 January 2014
| area_rank = 29th
| area_km2 = 1,010,408[{{cite web|url=https://www.capmas.gov.eg/Pages/StaticPages.aspx?page_id=5035|title=Density By Governorate 1/7/2020 – Area km2 (Theme: Population – pg.14)|publisher=Capmas.gov.eg|access-date=8 July 2021|archive-date=2 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102023819/https://www.capmas.gov.eg/Pages/StaticPages.aspx?page_id=5035|url-status=live}}][{{cite web |url=http://www.capmas.gov.eg/pdf/EgyptinFigures2015/EgyptinFigures/Tables/PDF/1-%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86/pop.pdf |title=Total area km2, pg.15 |publisher=Capmas.Gov – Arab Republic of Egypt |access-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321110107/http://capmas.gov.eg/pdf/EgyptinFigures2015/EgyptinFigures/Tables/PDF/1-%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86/pop.pdf |archive-date=21 March 2015 }}]
| area_sq_mi = 387,048
| percent_water = 0.632
| population_census = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 94,798,827[{{cite web|title=الجهاز المركزي للتعبئة العامة والإحصاء|url=http://www.capmas.gov.eg/Pages/ShowPDF.aspx?page_id=%20/Admin/Pages%20Files/2017109143840cns.pdf|website=www.capmas.gov.eg|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013224804/http://www.capmas.gov.eg/Pages/ShowPDF.aspx?page_id=%20%2FAdmin%2FPages%20Files%2F2017109143840cns.pdf|url-status=live}}]
| population_census_year = 2017
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 120,101,175[
| population_estimate_year = 2026
| population_estimate_rank = 15th
| population_density_km2 = 120.7][{{cite web | last=API | first=Africa | title=Africa API | website=Africa API | date=2026-03-07 | url=https://africa-api.com/data/egypt/population-density | access-date=2026-09-04}}]
| population_density_sq_mi = 312[{{cite web | title=Egypt Demographics 2026 (Population, Age, Sex, Trends) | website=Worldometer | url=https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/egypt-demographics/ | access-date=2026-09-04}}]
| population_density_rank = 103rd
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $2.567 trillion[{{cite web |url=https://data.imf.org/en/Data-Explorer?datasetUrn=IMF.RES:WEO(9.0.0) |title=World Economic Outlook Database (April 2026 Edition) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=www.imf.org |date=14 April 2026 |access-date=19 April 2026}}]
| GDP_PPP_year = 2026
| GDP_PPP_rank = 18th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $23,321[{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/gini-index-coefficient-distribution-of-family-income/country-comparison/ |title=Gini Index coefficient|publisher=[[The World Factbook]]|access-date=28 December 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214092912/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/gini-index-coefficient-distribution-of-family-income/country-comparison/|archive-date=2025-12-14|url-status=dead}}]
| HDI_year = 2023
| HDI_change = increase
| HDI = 0.754
| HDI_ref = [{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]}}]
| HDI_rank = 100th
| currency = [[Egyptian pound]] (LE/E£/£E)
| currency_code = EGP
| time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]{{efn|Known locally as [[Egypt Standard Time]] (EGY) ({{Langx|ar|توقيت مصر القياسي}} ''Tawqīt Miṣr al-qiyāsiyy'')|name=UTCoff2}}
| utc_offset = +2
| time_zone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]{{efn|See [[Daylight saving time in Egypt]].|name=UTCoff}}
| utc_offset_DST = +3
| calling_code = [[+20]]
| cctld = {{unbulleted list |[[.eg]] |{{lang|ar|[[مصر.]]}}}}
| footnote_a =
| footnote_b =
| footnote_c =
| footnote_d =
}}
'''Egypt''',{{efn|{{langx|ar|مصر|Miṣr}}, {{IPA|ar|mɪsˤr|pron|audio=Ar-Misr2.oga}}, {{IPA|arz|mɑsˤr|lang|link=yes}}}} officially the '''Arab Republic of Egypt''', is a country spanning the [[Northeast Africa|northeast corner]] of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via the [[Sinai Peninsula]]. It is bordered by the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to [[northern coast of Egypt|the north]], [[Palestine]] and [[Israel]] to [[Egypt–Israel barrier|the northeast]], the [[Red Sea]] to the east, [[Sudan]] and the [[Sahara]] to [[Egypt–Sudan border|the south]], and [[Libya]] to [[Egypt–Libya border|the west]]. The [[Gulf of Aqaba]] in the northeast separates Egypt from [[Jordan]] and [[Saudi Arabia]]. [[Cairo]] is the capital, [[list of cities and towns in Egypt|largest city]], and leading cultural centre, while [[Alexandria]] is the second-largest city and an important hub of industry and tourism.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.egy-map.com/|title=محافظة الأسكندرية |website=Egypt's Projects Map |access-date=13 May 2022|archive-date=25 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525194517/https://www.egy-map.com/|url-status=live}}] With over 107 million inhabitants, Egypt is [[List of Arab League countries by population|the most populous]] country in the [[Arab world]], [[List of African countries by population|third-most populous]] country in [[Africa]], and [[List of countries and dependencies by population|15th-most populated in the world]].
Egypt has one of the longest histories of any country, tracing its heritage along the [[Nile Delta]] back to the 6th–4th millennia BCE. Considered a [[cradle of civilisation]], [[Ancient Egypt]] saw some of the earliest developments of writing, agriculture, urbanisation, organised religion and central government.[{{Cite book|title=The Prehistory of Egypt: From the First Egyptians to the First Kings|last=Midant-Reynes|first=Béatrix|publisher=Blackwell Publishers|location=Oxford}}] Following nearly three millennia of [[Pharaoh|pharaonic]] rule, Egypt came under foreign rule beginning in the 6th century BC. Egypt was an early and important [[Christianity in Egypt|centre of Christianity]], later [[Islamization of Egypt|adopting Islam]] from the seventh century onwards. [[Alexandria]], Egypt's former capital and currently second largest city, was a hub of global knowledge through its [[Library of Alexandria|Library]]. Cairo became the capital of the [[Fatimid Caliphate]] in the tenth century and of the subsequent [[Mamluk Sultanate]] in the 13th century. Egypt then became part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1517, until its local ruler [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]] established modern Egypt as an autonomous [[Khedivate of Egypt|Khedivate]] in 1867. The country was then [[History of Egypt under the British|occupied]] by the [[British Empire]] along with [[British Sudan|Sudan]] and gained independence in 1922 as [[Muhammad Ali dynasty|a monarchy]].
After the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], Egypt [[United Arab Republic occupation of the Gaza Strip|occupied]] the Gaza Strip. Following the [[1952 Egyptian revolution|1952 revolution]], Egypt declared itself a [[Republic of Egypt (1953–58)|republic]]. In 1958, Egypt [[Second Syrian Republic|merged with Syria]] to form the [[United Arab Republic]], with Syria withdrawing in 1961 after their [[1961 Syrian coup d'état|coup]]. Egypt fought [[Arab–Israeli conflict|several armed conflicts]] with Israel in 1948, [[Suez Crisis|1956]], [[Six-Day War|1967]] and [[Yom Kippur War|1973]]. After the 1967 war, Egypt lost the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip to Israel. In 1978, Egypt signed the [[Camp David Accords]], which [[Egypt–Israel peace treaty|recognised Israel]] and heavily demilitarised the Sinai in exchange for the latter's withdrawal from the occupied Sinai, completely turning over control of the Sinai to Egypt in 1982. After the [[Arab Spring]], which led to the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] and overthrow of [[Hosni Mubarak]], the country faced a [[Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014)|protracted period of political unrest]]; its first [[2012 Egyptian presidential election|democratic election in 2012]] resulted in the short-lived, [[Muslim Brotherhood]]-aligned government of [[Mohamed Morsi]], which was [[2013 Egyptian coup d'etat|overthrown]] by the military after [[June 2013 Egyptian protests|mass protests in 2013]]. The current government is a [[semi-presidential republic]] led by [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]], who was [[2014 Egyptian presidential election|elected in 2014]] but is widely regarded as [[authoritarian]].[Sources that categorise Sisi as a dictator:
{{bulleted list|{{Cite news|title=Egypt's rushed election shows Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is nervous|url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/10/03/egypts-rushed-election-shows-abdel-fattah-al-sisi-is-nervous |access-date=16 August 2026|newspaper=The Economist |quote="Last month Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt's military dictator..." |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004021038/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/10/03/egypts-rushed-election-shows-abdel-fattah-al-sisi-is-nervous |archive-date=4 October 2023}}|{{Cite web |last=Dunne |first=Michele |date=8 April 2019 |title=Why Is Trump Helping Egypt's Dictator Entrench His Power? |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/08/donald-trump-abdel-fattah-al-sisi-egypt-226579/ |access-date=27 December 2024 |website=POLITICO Magazine |language=en}}|{{Cite web |title=President Trump, Condemn This Sham Egyptian Election |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/president-trump-condemn-sham-egyptian-election |access-date=27 December 2024 |website= The Washington Institute |quote="...issued a statement praising the Egyptian dictator's magnificent work for the country"}}|{{Cite news |title=A Blank Check for Egypt's Dictator |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-06-26/u-dot-s-dot-gives-egypts-dictator-a-blank-check?embedded-checkout=false |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}|{{Cite web |last=Toosi |first=Nahal |date=12 July 2021 |title=In D.C. visit, Egypt spy boss claims U.S. agreed—in writing—to jail American activist |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/12/egypt-spy-boss-jail-american-498983 |access-date=27 December 2024 |website=POLITICO |language=en |quote="...Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Egyptian dictator who has imprisoned tens of thousands of dissidents."}}{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Dave |date=23 April 2019 |title=Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi could rule until 2030 after winning referendum |url=https://www.axios.com/2019/04/23/sisi-referendum-rule-egypt-2030-constitution |access-date=27 December 2024 |website=Axios |language=en |quote="He has now cemented his status as Egypt's dictator without losing his position as a U.S. ally."}}|{{Cite web |last=Greenwald |first=Glenn |date=31 March 2015 |title=Obama Personally Tells the Egyptian Dictator That U.S. Will Again Send Weapons (and Cash) to His Regime |url=https://theintercept.com/2015/03/31/obama-lifts-freeze-weapons-transfer-egyptian-dictator/ |access-date=27 December 2024 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}}|{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jennifer |date=3 April 2017 |title=Egypt's president is a bloodthirsty dictator. Trump thinks he's done a "fantastic job." |url=https://www.vox.com/world/2017/4/3/15160358/trump-egypt-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-white-house |access-date=27 December 2024 |website=Vox |language=en-US}}|{{Cite news |date=1 December 2020 |title=Egypt President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi: Ruler with an iron grip |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-19256730 |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}|{{Cite news |title=Egypt is again under military rule, but Sisi lacks Nasser's appeal |url=https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/08/24/egypt-is-again-under-military-rule-but-sisi-lacks-nassers-appeal |access-date=16 August 2026 |url-access=subscription|newspaper=The Economist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826044857/https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/08/24/egypt-is-again-under-military-rule-but-sisi-lacks-nassers-appeal|archive-date=26 August 2021|url-status=live}}|{{cite book |last1=Grewal |first1=Sharan |title=Soldiers of Democracy? |chapter=Egypt: A Coup against Democracy |date=2023 |pages=136–176 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780192873910.003.0007 |isbn=978-0-19-287391-0 }}|{{Cite web |date=15 March 2024 |title=EU Deal with Egypt Rewards Authoritarianism, Betrays 'EU Values' {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/15/eu-deal-egypt-rewards-authoritarianism-betrays-eu-values |access-date=14 December 2024 |language=en}}}}]
Egypt is a [[developing country]] with the [[List of African countries by GDP (nominal)|second-largest economy in Africa]]. It is considered to be a [[regional power]] in the Middle East, North Africa and the [[Muslim world]], and a [[middle power]] worldwide. [[Islam]] is the [[State religion|official religion]] and [[Arabic]] its official language. Egypt is a founding member of the United Nations, the [[Non-Aligned Movement]], the [[Arab League]], the [[African Union]], [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], [[World Youth Forum]], and a member of [[BRICS]].[{{cite web |title=Constitution of The Arab Republic of Egypt 2014 |url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/Newvr/Dustor-en001.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718052913/http://www.sis.gov.eg/Newvr/Dustor-en001.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2015 |access-date=13 April 2017 |website=sis.gov.eg}}][{{cite journal |last1=Cooper |first1=Andrew F. |last2=Antkiewicz |first2=Agata |last3=Shaw |first3=Timothy M. |title=Lessons from/for BRICSAM about South-North Relations at the Start of the 21st Century: Economic Size Trumps All Else?: Economic Size Trumps All Else? |journal=International Studies Review |date=10 December 2007 |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=673–689 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2486.2007.00730.x |jstor=4621867 }}][{{cite web |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=469,&s=NGDP_R,NGDP_RPCH,NGDP,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDP_D,NGDPRPC,NGDPRPPPPC,NGDPPC,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PPPSH,PPPEX,NID_NGDP,NGSD_NGDP,PCPI,PCPIPCH,PCPIE,PCPIEPCH,TM_RPCH,TMG_RPCH,TX_RPCH,TXG_RPCH,LUR,LP,GGR,GGR_NGDP,GGX,GGX_NGDP,GGXCNL,GGXCNL_NGDP,GGSB,GGSB_NPGDP,GGXONLB,GGXONLB_NGDP,GGXWDN,GGXWDN_NGDP,GGXWDG,GGXWDG_NGDP,NGDP_FY,BCA,BCA_NGDPD,&sy=2023&ey=2024&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |website=IMF |access-date=24 October 2024 |language=en}}]
== Names ==
[[Ancient Egypt]] had several names; one of them was ([[wikt:Special:Search/𓆎|𓆎]] [[wikt:Special:Search/𓅓|𓅓]] [[wikt:Special:Search/𓏏|𓏏]]𓊖) {{transliteration|egy|km.t}}, which is formed from [[wiktionary:km#Egyptian|𓆎 𓅓]], meaning black.[{{citation|title=Ancient Egypt Etymology|url=http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/9kemet.html|access-date=9 January 2026}}] This likely refers to the [[Soil fertility|fertile]] black soils of the [[Nile flood|Nile floodplains]], distinct from the ''deshret'' {{angbr|{{transliteration|egy|dšṛt}}}}, or "red land" of the [[desert]].[{{cite book|author=Rosalie, David |title=Pyramid Builders of Ancient Egypt: A Modern Investigation of Pharaoh's Workforce |publisher=Routledge |year=1997 |page=18}}][{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZWuVAL2GooC&pg=PA43 |title=Ancient Civilizations of Africa |author=Muḥammad Jamāl al-Dīn Mukhtār |page=43 |access-date=28 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131155854/https://books.google.com/books?id=gZWuVAL2GooC&pg=PA43 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |url-status=live |isbn=978-0-85255-092-2 |year=1990 |publisher=Currey }}] This name is commonly vocalised as [[Km_and_Km.t_(Kemet)_(hieroglyphs)|Kemet]] {{IPA|[kɛmɛt]}}, but was pronounced differently in Ancient Egyptian.[Antonio Loprieno, "Egyptian and Coptic Phonology", in ''Phonologies of Asia and Africa (including the Caucasus). Vol 1 of 2.'' Ed: Alan S Kaye. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1997: p. 449] Scholars reconstruct its [[Old Egyptian]] pronunciation as {{IPA|[ˈkuːmat]}},[{{Cite book |last=Loprieno |first=Antonio |url=http://archive.org/details/ancientegyptianl0000lopr |title=Ancient Egyptian : a linguistic introduction |date=1995 |publisher=Cambridge; New York : Cambridge University Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-521-44384-5}}] its [[Middle Egyptian]] pronunciation as {{IPA|[ˈkuːmaʔ]}}, and its [[Late Egyptian]] pronunication as {{IPA|[ˈkeːmə]}}.[{{Cite book |last=Loprieno |first=Antonio |title=Language Typology and Language Universals |year=2001}}] The name is realised as ''{{transliteration|cop|K(h)ēmə}}'' ({{Langx|cop|ⲭⲏⲙⲓ|label=[[Coptic language#Dialects|Bohairic]]}}, {{Langx|cop|ⲕⲏⲙⲉ|label=[[Coptic language#Dialects|Sahidic]]}}) in [[Coptic language|Egyptian Coptic]], and appeared in [[Greek language|Early Greek]] as {{lang|grc|Χημία}} (''{{transliteration|grc|Khēmía}}'').[{{Cite web |title=Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, Χ χ, χεσι^φωνέω, Χημία |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:alphabetic+letter=*x:entry+group=20:entry=*xhmi/a |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419212900/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:alphabetic+letter=*x:entry+group=20:entry=*xhmi/a |url-status=live }}][{{cite web|url=http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/history.html|title=A Brief History of Alchemy|publisher=University of Bristol School of Chemistry|access-date=21 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005180735/http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/history.html|archive-date=5 October 2008|url-status=live}}] Another name was {{angbr|{{transliteration|egy|tꜣ-mry}}}} "land of the riverbank".[{{cite book|title=Ancient Records of Egypt |last=Breasted |first=James Henry |author2=Peter A. Piccione |year=2001 |publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-06975-8 |pages=76, 40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bT0q7nt1-gUC}}]
The names of [[Upper and Lower Egypt]] were ''Ta-Sheme'aw'' ({{angbr|{{transliteration|egy|tꜣ-šmꜥw}}}}) "[[Sedge|sedgeland]]" and ''Ta-Mehew'' ({{angbr|{{transliteration|egy|tꜣ mḥw}}}}) "northland", respectively. They were also collectively called "tꜣwy" (tāwy), meaning [[Upper and Lower Egypt#Structure|The Two Lands]], referring to both Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt after unification.[{{citation|last1=Sleim |first1=Ahmed |url=https://www.academia.edu/97245539|website=academia.edu|title=tAwy The Two Lands: The North and the South or the East and the West?|date=January 2020 |access-date=9 January 2026}}]
The English name "Egypt" is derived from the [[Ancient Greek]] "{{transliteration|grc|Aígyptos}}" ("{{lang|grc|Αἴγυπτος}}"), via [[Middle French]] "Egypte" and [[Latin]] "{{lang|la|Aegyptus}}". It is reflected in early Greek [[Linear B]] tablets as "a-ku-pi-ti-yo".[Breyer, Fr. A. K. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=JpNY7VPn1WUC&dq=%22a-ku-pi-ti-yo%22&pg=PA381 Morgenländische Wörter im Deutschen: Die ägyptischen Lehnwörter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409180842/https://books.google.com/books?id=JpNY7VPn1WUC&dq=%22a-ku-pi-ti-yo%22&pg=PA381 |date=9 April 2024 }}". In: W. Raunig/St. Wenig. ''Afrikas Horn: Akten der Ersten Internatio-nalen Littmann-Konferenz 2. bis 5. Mai 2002 in München''. Meroitica 22. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2005. p. 381. {{ISBN|9783447051750}}.] The [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] [[geographer]] [[Strabo]] provided a [[folk etymology]] stating that "''{{lang|grc|Αἴγυπτος}}''" (Aigýptios) had originally evolved as a [[Compound (linguistics)|compound]] from "''{{lang|grc|Aἰγαίου ὑπτίως}}''" ({{transliteration|grc|Aegaeou huptiōs}}), meaning "[[Aegean Sea|Below the Aegean]]".[{{cite journal |last1=Engsheden |first1=Åke |title=An etymological safari to Aigyptos |journal=Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur |date=2018 |volume=47 |pages=1–30 |jstor=26863322 }}] Another tradition claims that it was named after the legendary king [[Aegyptus]].[[https://topostext.org/work/530#B1479 St. Jerome, Chronicon (Hier.+Chron.), B1479]] The actual derivation is thought to be from ''[[wikt:ḥwt-kꜣ-ptḥ|ḥwt-kꜣ-ptḥ]]'' (''Hutkaptah'', [[Late Egyptian]] pronunciation {{IPA|egy|ħəjˌkojpəˈtaħ|}}), "[[Egyptian temple|Temple]] of the [[Ancient Egyptian conception of the soul#Ka (vital essence)|''Ka'']] of [[Ptah]]," a term for the city of [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]].[{{Cite web|url=https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/736963/hwt-ka723-pth|title=ḥwt-kꜣ-Ptḥ: a Pleiades name resource|first1=B.|last1=Siewert-Mayer|first2=W.|last2=Röllig|first3=H.|last3=Kopp|date=21 March 2025|website=Pleiades: a gazetteer of past places}}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/egypt|title=Meaning, origin and history of the name Egypt|first=Mike|last=Campbell|website=Behind the Name}}]
Greco-Roman writers report that Egypt was sometimes called Aeria (Ἀερία).[[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2007.01.0072%3Abook%3D14%3Achapter%3D6 Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, 14.6]][[https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSETHNICAvol.AALPHAGAMMA2006ByMargaretheBillerbeck/page/60/mode/2up Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, p. 61, 70]][[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0068%3Atext%3Dcomm%3Abook%3D4%3Acommline%3D267 George W. Mooney, Commentary on Apollonius: Argonautica]] [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] derives the name from aer (ἀήρ, "air"), explaining that Egypt was a "misty land". From this name, the ethnic form Aerioi (Ἀέριοι) is also recorded for its inhabitants.[{{cite journal|journal=Il-Malti |last=Z. |first=T. |date=1928 |volume=2 |issue=1 |language=mt |publisher=Il-Ghaqda tal-Kittieba tal-Malti |title=Il-Belt (Valletta) |edition=2 |url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Il-Malti/Il-Malti.%20004(1928)2/01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417234107/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Il-Malti/Il-Malti.%20004%281928%292/01.pdf |archive-date=17 April 2016 |page=35 |url-status=usurped }}] The current name of Egypt, Misr/Misir/Misru, stems from the [[Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples|Ancient]] [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] name for it. The term originally connoted "[[Civilization|Civilisation]]" or "[[Metropolis]]".[{{Citation|title=Civilizations and World Order|isbn = 9780739186077|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QeqBAAAQBAJ&q=misr+means+civilization&pg=PA87|last1 = Dallmayr|first1 = Fred|last2 = Akif Kayapınar|first2 = M.|last3 = Yaylacı|first3 = İsmail| date=24 September 2014 | publisher=Lexington Books|access-date=31 July 2024}}] [[Classical Arabic]] ''{{transliteration|ar|Miṣr}}'' (Egyptian Arabic ''{{transliteration|arz|Maṣr}}'') is directly cognate with the [[Biblical Hebrew language|Biblical Hebrew]] ''Miṣráyīm'' (מִצְרַיִם / מִצְרָיִם), meaning "the two straits", a reference to the predynastic separation of [[Upper and Lower Egypt]]. Also mentioned in several Semitic languages as ''Mesru'', ''Misir'' and ''Masar''.[The ending of the Hebrew form is either a [[Dual (grammatical number)|dual]] or an ending identical to the dual in form (perhaps a [[locative]]), and this has sometimes been taken as referring to the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt. However, the application of the (possibly) "dual" ending to some toponyms and other words, a development peculiar to Hebrew, does not in fact imply any "two-ness" about the place. The ending is found, for example, in the Hebrew words for such single entities as "water" ("מַיִם"), "noon" ("צָהֳרַיִם"), "sky/heaven" ("שָׁמַיִם"), and in the ''[[Qere and Ketiv|qere]]'' – but not the original "ketiv" – of "Jerusalem" ("ירושל[י]ם"). It should also be noted that the dual ending – which may or may not be what the ''-áyim'' in "Mitzráyim" actually represents – was available to other Semitic languages, such as Arabic, but was not applied to Egypt. See ''inter alia'' Aaron Demsky ("Hebrew Names in the Dual Form and the Toponym Yerushalayim" in Demsky (ed.) ''These Are the Names: Studies in Jewish Onomastics'', Vol. 3 (Ramat Gan, 2002), pp. 11–20), [{{GBurl|p1AMBAAAQBAJ|p=128}} Page 128] in {{cite book |last1=Hurvitz |first1=Avi |title=A Concise Lexicon of Late Biblical Hebrew |chapter=List of Abbreviations and Sigla |date=2014 |pages=18–243 |doi=10.1163/9789004266438_004 |isbn=978-90-04-26643-8 }} and {{cite journal |last1=Na'aman |first1=Nadav |title=Shaaraim – The Gateway To The Kingdom Of Judah |journal=The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |date=31 December 2008 |volume=8 |doi=10.5508/jhs.2008.v8.a24 }}][{{cite journal |last1=Izre'el |first1=Shlomo |title=On the So-Called Ventive Morpheme in the Akkadian Texts of Amurru |journal=Ugarit-Forschungen |volume=16 |date=1984 |pages=83–92 }}] related to ''miṣru/miṣirru/miṣaru'', meaning "border" or "frontier".[{{cite book|title = A Concise Dictionary of Akkadian|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-qIuVCsRb98C&pg=PA212|publisher = Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|year= 2000|isbn = 978-3-447-04264-2|first1 = Jeremy A.|last1 = Black|first2 = Andrew|last2 = George|first3 = J.N.|last3 = Postgate}}] The [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]] used the derived term [[File:Rassam cylinder Mu-s,ur.jpg|60px]], ''Mu-ṣur''.[As in inscriptions such as the [[Rassam cylinder]] of [[Ashurbanipal]]. For transcription, the word being written Mu-s,ur [https://cdli.ucla.edu/search/archival_view.php?ObjectID=P421807] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613113247/https://cdli.ucla.edu/search/archival_view.php?ObjectID=P421807|date=13 June 2020}}]
== History ==
{{Main|History of Egypt}}
=== Prehistoric Egypt ===
{{Main|Prehistoric Egypt}}
[[File:Predynastic collage.png|thumb|'''Clockwise''': a [[Badarian culture|Badarian]] mortuary figurine, a [[Naqada culture|Naqada]] jar, a [[Naqada culture|Naqada]] statuette of the goddess [[Bat (goddess)|Bat]], the [[Cosmetic palette|Four dogs palette]], the [[Gebel el-Arak Knife]], and a [[Naqada culture|Naqada]] diorite vase.]]
Evidence of [[rock carvings]] along the [[Nile]] and in surrounding oases indicates early habitation. In the [[10th millennium BCE]], a culture of [[hunter-gatherer]]s and [[fishing|fishers]] was replaced by a [[cereal|grain]]-grinding culture. Climate changes or [[overgrazing]] around 8000 [[before common era|BCE]] began to desiccate the pastoral lands of Egypt, forming the [[Sahara]]. Early [[tribal people]]s migrated to the Nile River where they developed a settled agricultural [[Economic system|economy]] and more centralised society.[Midant-Reynes, Béatrix. ''The Prehistory of Egypt: From the First Egyptians to the First Kings''. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.]
By about 6000 BCE, a [[Neolithic]] culture took root in the Nile Valley.[{{cite web|url=http://www.worldtimelines.org.uk/world/africa/nile_valley/6000-4000BC |title=The Nile Valley 6000–4000 BCE Neolithic |publisher=The British Museum |year=2005 |access-date=21 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214084636/http://www.worldtimelines.org.uk/world/africa/nile_valley/6000-4000BC |archive-date=14 February 2009 }}] During the Neolithic era, several predynastic cultures developed independently in [[Upper and Lower Egypt]]. The [[Badarian]] culture and the successor [[Naqada]] series are generally regarded as precursors to [[Ancient Egypt|dynastic Egypt]]. The earliest known Lower Egyptian site, Merimda, predates the Badarian by about seven hundred years. Contemporaneous Lower Egyptian communities coexisted with their southern counterparts for more than two thousand years, remaining culturally distinct, but maintaining frequent contact through trade. The earliest known evidence of [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|Egyptian hieroglyphic]] inscriptions appeared during the predynastic period on Naqada III pottery vessels, dated to about 3200 BCE.[{{Cite book|editor-last=Shaw|editor-first=Ian|title=The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=0-19-280458-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofa00shaw/page/69 69]|url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofa00shaw/page/69}}]
===Ancient Egypt (3150 BCE–305 BCE)===
{{Main|Ancient Egypt}}
[[File:All Gizah Pyramids.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Giza Necropolis]] is the oldest of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World|ancient Wonders]] and the only one still in existence.]]
Around {{circa|3150}} BCE, King [[Menes]] unified Egypt, establishing a succession of [[List of Egyptian dynasties|dynasties]] that ruled for three millennia. [[Culture of Egypt|Egyptian civilisation]] thrived with distinctive achievements in [[Ancient Egyptian religion|religion]], [[Art of Ancient Egypt|art]], and [[Egyptian language|writing]]. The [[Old Kingdom]] ({{circa|2700–2200}} BCE) saw the construction of the [[Egyptian pyramids|pyramids]], including those at [[Giza Necropolis|Giza]]. A brief [[First Intermediate Period of Egypt|interregnum]] followed, succeeded by the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]] ({{circa|2040}} BCE), a phase of renewed stability and prosperity under rulers such as [[Amenemhat III]].[{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/apocalypse_egypt_01.shtml|title=The Fall of the Egyptian Old Kingdom |publisher=BBC |date=17 February 2011 |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117133705/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/apocalypse_egypt_01.shtml|archive-date=17 November 2011 |url-status=live }}]
After the [[Second Intermediate Period of Egypt|Second Intermediate Period]] and the [[Hyksos]] occupation, Egypt was reunified by [[Ahmose I]], founder of the [[Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt|Eighteenth Dynasty]] and the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]] ({{circa|1550–1070}} BCE). This era marked Egypt's height as a major power in the region, extending influence into [[Nubia]] and the [[Levant]]. It produced many of Egypt's most renowned [[Pharaoh]]s, [[Hatshepsut]], [[Thutmose III]], [[Akhenaten]], [[Tutankhamun]], and [[Ramesses II]], and witnessed the rise of [[Atenism]], one of the earliest forms of [[monotheism]]. Despite later invasions by [[Ancient Libya|Libyans]], [[Kingdom of Kush|Nubians]], and [[Assyria]]ns, native dynasties eventually reasserted control.[{{cite web |url=http://www.ancientsudan.org/history_06_nubconegypt.htm |title=The Kushite Conquest of Egypt |publisher=Ancientsudan.org |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201014554/http://www.ancientsudan.org/history_06_nubconegypt.htm|archive-date=1 February 2011}}]
[[File:BD Weighing of the Heart.jpg|thumb|The Weighing of the Heart from the ''[[Papyrus of Ani|Book of the Dead of Ani]]'']]
In 525 BCE, [[Cambyses II of Persia]] conquered Egypt, beginning the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid]] [[satrapy]] period (the [[Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt|Twenty-seventh Dynasty]]). Although several revolts occurred, Egypt remained under Persian control until briefly regaining independence before falling again in 343 BCE.[{{Cite book|editor-last=Shaw|editor-first=Ian|title=The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|location=Oxford|isbn=0-19-280458-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofa00shaw/page/383 383]|url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofa00shaw/page/383}}
] The [[Thirtieth dynasty of Egypt|Thirtieth Dynasty]] was the last native royal house. Following renewed Persian domination, [[Alexander the Great]] conquered Egypt in 332 BCE, after which his general [[Ptolemy I Soter]] established the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]].[{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Prudence J.|title=Cleopatra: A Sourcebook|url=https://archive.org/details/cleopatrasourceb0000jone|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/cleopatrasourceb0000jone/page/14 14]|location=Norman|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|year=2006|isbn=978-0806137414|quote=They were members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Macedonian Greeks, who ruled Egypt after the death of its conqueror, Alexander the Great.}}]
===Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt (305 BCE–641 CE)===
{{Main|Ptolemaic Kingdom|Roman Egypt}}
[[File:Denderah3 Cleopatra Cesarion.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|The Ptolemaic Queen [[Cleopatra VII]] and her son by Julius Caesar, [[Caesarion]], at the [[Dendera Temple complex|Temple of Dendera]]]]
The [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] was a [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenistic]] state from southern Syria to [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]] and south to Nubia, with [[Alexandria]] as its capital and a centre of [[Greeks|Greek]] culture and trade. The Ptolemies adopted pharaonic traditions to legitimise their rule, appearing on monuments in Egyptian style and participating in local religious life.[{{cite book |last=Bowman |first=Alan K |title= Egypt after the Pharaohs 332 BC – AD 642 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley |year=1996 |edition=2nd |pages=25–26 |isbn=0-520-20531-6}}][{{cite book |last=Stanwick |first=Paul Edmond |title= Portraits of the Ptolemies: Greek kings as Egyptian pharaohs |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |location=Austin |year=2003 |isbn=0-292-77772-8}}{{pn|date=January 2026}}] The [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]], built c. 280 BCE, was one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]], later destroyed by earthquakes. The last ruler, [[Cleopatra VII]], committed suicide after [[Octavian]] captured Alexandria, ending the dynasty and paving the way for Roman annexation. Native rebellions and dynastic disputes weakened the kingdom, facilitating its annexation by Rome.
Egypt was a wealthy imperial province of the [[Roman Empire]], supplying grain and hosting the major city of Alexandria.[{{Cite web |date=31 March 2025 |title=Ancient Egypt - Roman, Byzantine, 30 BCE-642 CE |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Egypt/Roman-and-Byzantine-Egypt-30-bce-642-ce |access-date=26 April 2025 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}] Governed with Roman administration and Hellenistic culture, its population primarily spoke [[Koine Greek|Greek]] in major cities and [[Coptic language|Coptic Egyptian]] in rural areas.[{{cite book |last1=Bowman |first1=Alan |title=Settlement, Urbanization, and Population |chapter=Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt |date=2011 |pages=317–358 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199602353.003.0011 |isbn=978-0-19-960235-3 }}][{{cite web |last1=Janzen |first1=Mark |title=Ancient Egypt Population Estimates: Slaves and Citizens |url=https://thetorah.com/ancient-egypt-population-estimates-slaves-and-citizens/ |website=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=2017}}] Christianity reached Egypt in the 1st century, brought by [[Saint Mark the Evangelist]].[ During [[Diocletian]]'s reign (284–305 CE), the [[New Testament]] had been translated into Egyptian and many Egyptian Christians were persecuted. By CE 451, a distinct [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Church]] was firmly established.][Kamil, Jill. ''Coptic Egypt: History and Guide''. Cairo: American University in Cairo, 1997. p. 39]
=== Medieval Egypt (641–1517) ===
{{Main|Egypt in the Middle Ages}}
{{multiple image
| width = 200
| image1 = C9B5617-Pano.jpg
| image2 = ساحة مسجد احمد بن طولون.jpg
| image3 = مسـجد الحاكم بأمر الله 06.jpg
| footer = The [[Al-Hakim Mosque]] in Cairo, of [[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]], the sixth [[Fatimid]] caliph
| caption2 = The [[Ibn Tulun Mosque]] in Cairo, of [[Ahmad Ibn Tulun]]
| caption1 = The [[Amr ibn al-As]] mosque in Cairo, recognised as the oldest in Africa
| direction = vertical
| align = right
| alt2 = The [[Ibn Tulun Mosque]] in Cairo, of [[Ahmad Ibn Tulun]]
| alt1 =
}}
The Byzantines regained control of Egypt after a brief [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanid Persian]] invasion early in the 7th century, until 639–42, when the country was conquered by Arab Muslim forces under [[Amr ibn al-As]] during the [[Early Muslim conquests]]. The Arabs defeated the Byzantine armies, bringing [[Islam]] to Egypt. Alexandria briefly returned to Byzantine control in 645 but fell again to the Arabs in 646. In 654, an invasion fleet sent by [[Constans II]] was repulsed.[{{cite web|url=http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/countries/egypt |title=Egypt |publisher=[[Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs]] |access-date=14 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220145046/http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/countries/egypt |archive-date=20 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}] The Arabs founded [[Fustat]], later replaced by Cairo in 969.
Under the [[Abbasid]] caliphate, Egypt was governed through deputies residing in Baghdad. Revolts occurred frequently, including the Egyptian revolt of 828 and the uprising of 831 when Copts joined Muslims against the government. Semi-independent dynasties arose, including the [[Tulunid dynasty]] (868–905) and [[Ikhshidid dynasty]] (935–969), which maintained Abbasid allegiance while exercising local authority.
The [[Fatimid Caliphate]] ruled Egypt from the 10th century, with [[Cairo]] as their capital. After the Fatimids, the [[Ayyubid dynasty]] governed until 1250, when the [[Mamluk]]s, a military caste of [[Turkic people|Turco]]-[[Circassians|Circassian]] origin, took control. The Mamluks ruled Egypt for the next three centuries and maintained control over parts of the Levant. By the late 13th century, Egypt linked trade routes connecting the Red Sea with India, Malaya, and the East Indies.[{{cite book|last=Abu-Lughod|first=Janet L.|author-link=Janet Abu-Lughod|title=Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250–1350|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|orig-year=1989|pages=[https://archive.org/details/beforeeuropeanhe00abul_1/page/243 243–244]|isbn=978-0-19-506774-3|chapter=The Mideast Heartland|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYlgGU2SLiQC&pg=PA244|url=https://archive.org/details/beforeeuropeanhe00abul_1/page/243}}] The mid-14th century [[Black Death]] killed about 40% of Egypt's population.[{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/egypt/57.htm|title=Egypt – Major Cities |publisher=Countrystudies.us |access-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117011718/http://countrystudies.us/egypt/57.htm |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live }}]
=== Ottoman Egypt (1517–1867) ===
{{Main|Egypt Eyalet|History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty}}
{{multiple image
| image1 = ModernEgypt, Muhammad Ali by Auguste Couder, BAP 17996.jpg
| image2 = Egypt under Muhammad Ali Dynasty map en.png
| footer = [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]], founder of the [[Muhammad Ali dynasty]], and the extent of their realm.
| direction = vertical
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}}
Egypt was conquered by the [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] in 1517, following the defeat of the [[Mamluk Sultanate]], and became a province of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The Mamluks, who had dominated Egypt's military and political life for centuries, retained influence under Ottoman rule, creating a semi-autonomous power structure. The Ottomans faced repeated challenges in maintaining control, while plagues and famines weakened the economy and civil society. Between 1687 and 1731, Egypt experienced six major famines, including the 1784 famine that killed roughly one-sixth of the population.[{{cite book|title=Nasser of the Arabs: an Arab assessment|last=Izzeddin|first=Nejla M. Abu|publisher=Third World Centre for Research and Publishing|year=1981|isbn=978-0-86199-012-2|page=2}}] His successors, including [[Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt|Ibrahim Pasha]], [[Abbas I of Egypt|Abbas I]], [[Sa'id of Egypt|Sa'id]], and [[Isma'il Pasha of Egypt|Isma'il Pasha]], continued reforms in agriculture, science, and industry, and abolished slavery.
Muhammad Ali expanded Egypt's control over [[Northern Sudan]] (1820–1824), [[Syria]] (1833), and parts of [[Arabia]] and [[Anatolia]], but European powers intervened in 1841, forcing him to relinquish most of his conquests. He modernised Egypt's infrastructure, built factories and irrigation networks, and strengthened the military, while broader education remained largely limited to military and technical training.[{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=217|isbn=978-1-107-50718-0}}] The centralisation of power and focus on military and economic modernisation laid the foundation for Egypt's transformation into a regional power.
=== Monarchical Egypt (1867–1952) ===
{{Main|Khedivate of Egypt {{!}} Khedivate of Egypt (1867–1914)|Sultanate of Egypt {{!}} Sultanate of Egypt (1914–1922)|Kingdom of Egypt (1922–1953)}}
In 1867, Egypt was formally granted autonomous status as a [[Khedivate of Egypt|vassal state]] of the Ottoman Empire. The [[Suez Canal]], completed in 1869 with French assistance, became a key strategic and commercial asset. Financial mismanagement and mounting debts led Isma'il Pasha to sell Egypt's shares in the canal to Britain in 1875, increasing European influence. Rising discontent culminated in the [[Urabi revolt]], after which Britain occupied Egypt in 1882, establishing a de facto protectorate while maintaining nominal Ottoman sovereignty.[Nejla M. Abu Izzeddin, ''Nasser of the Arabs'', p. 2.][Anglo French motivation: Derek Hopwood, ''Egypt: Politics and Society 1945–1981''. London, 1982, George Allen & Unwin. p. 11.][De facto protectorate: Joan Wucher King, ''Historical Dictionary of Egypt''. Metuchen, NJ; 1984; Scarecrow. p. 17.] The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium Agreement of 1899 placed Sudan under joint Egyptian and British administration, though Britain retained real control. Incidents such as the [[Denshawai incident]] in 1906 intensified nationalist sentiment, laying the groundwork for political movements that challenged both Ottoman and European dominance.
[[File:Cairo-Demonstrations1919.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Female nationalists demonstrating in [[Cairo]] during the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1919|1919 revolution]], 1919]]
In 1914, as the [[Ottoman Empire]] joined World War I alongside the Central Powers, Khedive [[Abbas II of Egypt|Abbas II]] declared support for the Ottoman side. In response, the British deposed him and installed his brother [[Hussein Kamel of Egypt|Hussein Kamel]], who assumed the title of [[Sultanate of Egypt|Sultan of Egypt]]. Egypt was formally declared independent from the Ottoman Empire but remained under British protection.[{{cite book|last=Jankowski|first=James|title=Egypt, A Short History|page=111}}][{{Cite web|url=https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Treaty_of_Lausanne|title=Treaty of Lausanne – World War I Document Archive|website=wwi.lib.byu.edu|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613183950/https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Treaty_of_Lausanne|url-status=live}}]
After [[World War I]], nationalist sentiments surged. [[Saad Zaghloul]] and the [[Wafd Party]] secured popular support, but the British exiled Zaghloul and his colleagues to Malta on 8 March 1919, prompting the [[Egyptian revolution of 1919|first modern revolution]]. This uprising pressured the UK to issue a [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|declaration of independence]] on 22 February 1922.[{{cite book|last=Jankowski|first=James|title=Egypt, A Short History|page=112}}] Sultan [[Fuad I of Egypt|Fuad I]] then assumed the title of King of Egypt. Despite nominal independence, Britain retained military presence and political influence.[
In 1923, a new constitution established a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] government. The Wafd Party won a decisive victory in the 1923–24 elections, with Saad Zaghloul becoming prime minister. The [[Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936|1936 treaty]] led to British troop withdrawal from most of Egypt, except the Suez Canal. The treaty left the status of [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Sudan]] unresolved, as real control remained with Britain.][{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zpShVWIxwIC&q=%22Anglo-Egyptian+Condominium+Agreement%22+%221899%22&pg=PA33|title=A History of Modern Sudan|last1=Collins|first1=Robert O.|last2=Collins|first2=Professor of History Robert O.|date=29 May 2008|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85820-5|language=en|access-date=10 November 2020|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518175515/https://books.google.com/books?id=-zpShVWIxwIC&q=%22Anglo-Egyptian+Condominium+Agreement%22+%221899%22&pg=PA33|url-status=live}}]
[[File:Fuad I of Egypt, Edward VIII, & Mohamed Sa'id Paşa.jpg|thumb|[[Fuad I of Egypt]] with [[Edward VIII|Edward, Prince of Wales]], 1932|left|223x223px]]
During [[World War II]], Egypt served as a strategic base for [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] operations, particularly in [[North Africa]]. Although Egypt declared martial law and severed diplomatic relations with [[Axis powers]], the Egyptian army did not engage directly. Political tensions persisted, highlighted by the 1942 [[Abdeen Palace Incident of 1942|Abdeen Palace Incident]], in which British forces pressured King Farouk to install a Wafd-coalition government.[{{cite web | title=British troops in Egypt. | url=https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2020/07/British-Troops-Egypt-History-Personnel.pdf | access-date=29 July 2025}}]
After the war, nationalist and anti-British sentiments intensified. British troops largely withdrew in 1947, leaving a residual presence around the Suez Canal. Egypt's defeat in the [[First Arab-Israeli War]] fuelled anti-monarchy feeling. The Wafd Party's 1950 election victory forced King Farouk to appoint [[Mostafa El-Nahas]] as prime minister. In 1951, Egypt unilaterally renounced the [[Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936|1936 treaty]] and demanded British troop withdrawal. The situation around the Suez Canal escalated, culminating in violent confrontations that led to the killing of 43 Egyptian policemen in 1952 by British troops. The Ismailia incident outraged Egypt and led to the subsequent [[Cairo fire|Black Saturday]] anti-British riots, which saw widespread destruction in Cairo.[{{cite web|title=Egypt|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=2 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009073315/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/|url-status=dead}}]
These events precipitated the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952|Free Officers Movement coup]] on 22–23 July 1952, led by [[Muhammad Naguib]] and [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. King Farouk abdicated in favour of his infant son, [[Fuad II of Egypt|Fuad II]], but real power rested with the [[Egyptian Revolutionary Command Council]]. By 18 June 1953, the monarchy was formally abolished, the 1923 constitution suspended, and Egypt was declared a republic, with Naguib as president and Nasser as prime minister.[{{cite web|url=http://modernegypt.bibalex.org/Types/Persons/Details.aspx?type=ruler&ID=ieiMjZc32OCIOCRsXII4PA==|title=ذاكرة مصر المعاصر – السيرة الذاتية|website=modernegypt.bibalex.org|access-date=24 September 2018|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226053316/http://modernegypt.bibalex.org/Types/Persons/Details.aspx?type=ruler&ID=ieiMjZc32OCIOCRsXII4PA==|url-status=live}}]
In October 1954, Egypt and the United Kingdom agreed to end the [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Anglo-Egyptian Condominium Agreement]] of 1899, granting Sudan full independence, which came into effect on 1 January 1956. In June 1956, Nasser assumed the presidency and immediately became the central figure in Egypt's domestic and foreign policy. British forces completed their withdrawal from the Suez Canal Zone on 13 June 1956. Later that year, on 26 July, Nasser [[nationalised]] the Suez Canal, provoking the [[Suez Crisis]] when Israel, with support from France and the United Kingdom, invaded the Sinai Peninsula and targeted the Canal. The conflict ended following diplomatic pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union, restoring the pre-war status quo.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Suez-Crisis|title=Suez Crisis | Definition, Summary, Location, History, Dates, Significance, & Facts | Britannica|date=22 October 2025|website=www.britannica.com|accessdate=20 November 2025}}]
[[File:Nasser in Mansoura, 1960.jpg|thumb|Egyptian President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] in [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]], 1960]]
In 1958, Egypt formed a political union with Syria, creating the [[United Arab Republic]]. The union, also loosely connected with [[Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen|North Yemen]] in the [[United Arab States]], was short-lived; Syria seceded in 1961. During this period, Egypt became heavily involved in the [[North Yemen Civil War]], with military interventions and peace conferences ultimately leading to a prolonged stalemate.[{{cite thesis |last1=Orkaby |first1=Asher Aviad |title=The International History of the Yemen Civil War, 1962-1968 |date=2014 |url=http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12269828 }}{{pn|date=January 2026}}] In May 1967, tensions with Israel escalated after warnings from the Soviet Union, deployment of Egyptian forces to Sinai, expulsion of UN peacekeepers, and closure of the [[Straits of Tiran]]. These measures precipitated the [[Third Arab-Israeli War|Six-Day War]], during which Israel captured the [[Sinai Peninsula]] and the [[Gaza Strip]]. In response to the conflict, an [[Emergency law in Egypt|Emergency Law]] was enacted, greatly expanding police powers, restricting constitutional rights, and legalising censorship; it remained in force until 2012, except for a brief break in 1980–81.[{{cite web|title=The Emergency Law in Egypt|url=http://www.fidh.org/THE-EMERGENCY-LAW-IN-EGYPT|work=International Federation for Human Rights|access-date=2 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201210318/http://fidh.org/THE-EMERGENCY-LAW-IN-EGYPT|archive-date=1 February 2011|url-status=live}}]
Socially and economically, Nasser's policies transformed Egypt. At the time of the monarchy's fall, less than half a million Egyptians were considered upper class, four million were middle class, and seventeen million were lower class or poor.[''Egypt on the Brink'' by Tarek Osman, Yale University Press, 2010, p. 120] Education was expanded, with school enrolment more than doubling from 1953 to 1966. Land reforms, industrial support, and growth in public-sector employment created a larger middle class, including doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, and journalists. However, by the late 1960s, the Egyptian economy faced stagnation, political freedoms had declined, and Nasser's personal popularity began to wane.[{{cite book|author=Jesse Ferris|title=Nasser's Gamble: How Intervention in Yemen Caused the Six-Day War and the Decline of Egyptian Power|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UC4_aVRh7MgC&pg=PA172|year=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-15514-2|page=2|access-date=20 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906085333/https://books.google.com/books?id=UC4_aVRh7MgC&pg=PA172|archive-date=6 September 2015|url-status=live}}]
=== Egypt under Sadat and Mubarak (1970–2011) ===
{{Main|History of Egypt under Anwar Sadat|History of Egypt under Hosni Mubarak}}
[[File:Egyptian Armor.jpg|thumb|Egyptian vehicles advancing in the [[Sinai Peninsula]] during the [[Yom Kippur War]], 1973]]
[[File:Sadat_and_A_Ismail.jpg|thumb|220px|Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]] and [[Ministry of Defense (Egypt)|Minister of War]] [[Ahmad Ismail Ali]] attending the re-opening ceremony of Suez Canal after the Yom Kippur war, 1975]]
After the death of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] in 1970, [[Anwar Sadat]] assumed the presidency of Egypt. Sadat consolidated his power by marginalising Nasserist and leftist factions, while controlling opposition both secular and religious. He shifted Egypt's Cold War alignment from the Soviet Union to the United States, expelling Soviet advisors in 1972, and renamed the country the Arab Republic of Egypt in 1971. Sadat launched the [[Infitah]] ("open door") economic reforms.[{{cite book |last1=Amin |first1=Galal A. |title=Egypt's Economic Predicament |date=1995 |doi=10.1163/9789004491175 |isbn=978-90-04-49117-5 }}{{pn|date=January 2026}}] Some measures of this economic liberalisation caused social tensions, most notably the removal of food subsidies in 1977 which sparked widespread [[1977 Egyptian bread riots|bread riots]].
In 1973, Sadat coordinated with Syria in the [[Fourth Arab-Israeli War]] to reclaim the [[Sinai Peninsula]] from Israeli occupation. Though militarily mixed, the war restored Arab morale and strengthened Sadat's domestic legitimacy. His historic 1977 visit to Jerusalem led to the 1979 [[Egypt–Israel peace treaty|Egypt-Israel peace treaty]], with Israel withdrawing from Sinai and Egypt recognising Israel as a sovereign state. This initiative provoked widespread controversy across the Arab world, resulting in Egypt's temporary expulsion from the [[Arab League]], but remained popular domestically.[{{cite book|last=Vatikiotis|first=P. J.|title=The History of Modern Egypt: From Muhammad Ali to Mubarak|year=1991|publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson|location=London|isbn=978-0-297-82034-5|page=443|edition=4.}}] Sadat was assassinated in 1981 by an Islamic extremist opposed to his domestic policies and peace initiative.
[[Hosni Mubarak]] succeeded Sadat in a 1981 referendum in which he was the sole candidate.[{{cite news |last=Cambanis |first=Thanassis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html
|title=Succession Gives Army a Stiff Test in Egypt |location=Egypt |work=The New York Times |date=11 September 2010 |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027041857/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html
|archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=live }}] He maintained Egypt's peace treaty with Israel and improved relations with Arab neighbours. Domestically, he faced widespread poverty, high unemployment, and urban overcrowding. The 1986 Security Police riots, sparked by reports of extended military service, led to violent protests, destruction of businesses, and 107 deaths.[Middle East International No. 270, 7 March 1986, Publishers [[Christopher Mayhew|Lord Mayhew]], [[Dennis Walters]]. Simon Ingram p. 8, [[Per Gahrton]] p. 20]
Terrorist attacks, particularly by Islamist groups like [[Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya]], targeted government officials, foreigners, and Christian [[Copts]], devastating tourism, Egypt's primary source of hard currency.[Murphy, Caryle ''Passion for Islam: Shaping the Modern Middle East: the Egyptian Experience'', Scribner, 2002, p. 4][{{Cite web |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/741/eg1.htm |title=Al-Ahram Weekly | Egypt | Fearing the worst |access-date=13 August 2013 |archive-date=24 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924131816/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/741/eg1.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}] The political scene was dominated by the [[National Democratic Party (Egypt)|NDP]], which curtailed freedoms of association, expression, and political participation through laws such as the 1993 Syndicates Law, 1995 Press Law, and 1999 NGOs Law.[{{cite report |last1=Dunne |first1=Michele |title=Evaluating Egyptian Reform |date=2006 |publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |jstor=resrep12830 |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/files/CP66.Dunne.FINAL.pdf }}]
[[File:Cairo north.JPG|thumb|Cairo grew into a [[metropolitan area]] with a population of over 22 million.[{{cite web |title=Major Agglomerations of the World - Population Statistics and Maps |url=http://citypopulation.de/en/world/agglomerations/ |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=3 May 2025}}]]]
In 1997, the [[Luxor massacre]] left 62 dead, mostly tourists. Security and the economy remained under threat. In 2005, limited reforms allowed multi-candidate presidential elections, but restrictions on candidates and alleged government interference ensured Mubarak's easy reelection. Voter turnout was less than 25%, and opposition leader [[Ayman Nour]] was subsequently imprisoned.[{{cite web|url=http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/December/20051224115656retnuhategdirb0.6396906.html
|title=United States 'Deeply Troubled' by Sentencing of Egypt's Nour |publisher=U.S. Department of State |date=24 December 2005 |access-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021051128/http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/December/20051224115656retnuhategdirb0.6396906.html
|archive-date=21 October 2011 }}]
[[Human Rights Watch]] and [[Amnesty International]] reported widespread human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, and the use of Egypt as an international "torture hub" in the context of the [[war on terror]].[{{cite book |chapter-url=http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/18/egypt12212.htm
|title=Egypt: Overview of human rights issues in Egypt |chapter=Egypt: Events of 2005 |date=5 January 2006 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114115428/http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/18/egypt12212.htm
|archive-date=14 November 2008 |url-status=live }}][{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6544149.stm
|title=Egypt torture centre, report says |publisher=BBC News |date=11 April 2007 |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126031108/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6544149.stm
|archive-date=26 November 2011 |url-status=live }}] Constitutional changes in 2007 further expanded presidential powers, restricted religious parties, and broadened police authority. Egypt remained under strong military influence, described by officials as a "pharaonic" system, with democracy as a distant aspiration.[{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6472031.stm
|title=Anger over Egypt vote timetable |work=BBC News |date=20 March 2007 |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129222423/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6472031.stm
|archive-date=29 November 2011 |url-status=live }}]
=== Contemporary (2011–present) ===
{{Main|2011 Egyptian revolution||Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014)||2013 Egyptian protests|2013 Egyptian coup d'état}}
{{multiple image
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| footer = '''Top:''' Celebrations in [[Tahrir Square]] after the announcement of [[Hosni Mubarak]]'s resignation, 2011.
'''Bottom:''' Protests in Tahrir Square against [[Mohamed Morsi|Morsi]], 2012.
| image1 = Tahrir Square on February11.png
| image2 = TahrirSquareAgainstMorsi.jpg
}}
On 25 January 2011, [[2011 Egyptian revolution|widespread protests]] erupted against President Hosni Mubarak's government, triggered by demands for political freedom, social justice, and the end of long-standing corruption. Demonstrations rapidly spread across major cities, particularly in [[Cairo]]'s [[Tahrir Square]], capturing global attention.[{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/mubarak-red-sea-egypt_n_821812.html
|title=Mubarak Resigns As Egypt's President, Armed Forces To Take Control |work=The Huffington Post |date=11 February 2011 |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322095317/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/mubarak-red-sea-egypt_n_821812.html
|archive-date=22 March 2013 |url-status=live }}] After 18 days of escalating unrest, Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011 and fled Cairo. The [[Egyptian military]] assumed control, with [[Mohamed Hussein Tantawi]], chairman of the [[Supreme Council of the Armed Forces]], acting as interim head of state.[{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html |title=Mubarak Steps Down, Ceding Power to Military |work=The New York Times |date=11 February 2010 |access-date=11 February 2011 |first=David D. |last=Kirkpatrick |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211081712/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html
|archive-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=live }}][{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12433045 |title=Egypt crisis: President Hosni Mubarak resigns as leader |publisher=BBC |date=11 February 2010 |access-date=11 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211192204/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12433045
|archive-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=live }}] On 13 February, the military dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution.[{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12443678|title=Egyptian Parliament dissolved, constitution suspended|publisher=BBC|date=13 February 2011|access-date=13 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214045727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12443678|archive-date=14 February 2011|url-status=live}}] A constitutional referendum followed on 19 March 2011.[{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Marty |title=The Egyptian constitutional referendum of March 2011 a new beginning|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2011/March/The_Egyptian_constitutional_referendum_of_March_2011_a_new_beginning |website=www.aph.gov.au |language=en-AU |access-date=21 November 2022 |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121104622/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2011/March/The_Egyptian_constitutional_referendum_of_March_2011_a_new_beginning |url-status=live }}] Later that year, Egypt held its first parliamentary elections since the previous regime, with high voter turnout and no major reported irregularities.[{{cite news |last=Memmott|first=Mark|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/28/142840895/egypts-historic-day-begins-peacefully-turnout-high-for-elections |title=Egypt's Historic Day Proceeds Peacefully, Turnout High For Elections |newspaper=NPR |publisher=Npr.org |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202183307/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/28/142840895/egypts-historic-day-begins-peacefully-turnout-high-for-elections |archive-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=live }}]
[[Mohamed Morsi]], affiliated with the [[Muslim Brotherhood]], won the [[2012 Egyptian presidential election|presidency]] on 24 June 2012 and was sworn in on 30 June.[{{cite news|title=Egypt's new president moves into his offices, begins choosing a Cabinet|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/25/world/africa/egypt-politics|publisher=CNN|access-date=13 February 2013|date=25 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512224527/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/25/world/africa/egypt-politics/|archive-date=12 May 2013|url-status=live}}][{{cite news |title=Mohamed Morsi sworn in as Egypt's president|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/7/1/mohamed-morsi-sworn-in-as-egypts-president |work=www.aljazeera.com|language=en |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820031904/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/7/1/mohamed-morsi-sworn-in-as-egypts-president
|url-status=live }}] His cabinet, announced in August 2012, included significant representation from the Muslim Brotherhood, prompting liberal and secular groups to withdraw from the [[Constituent Assembly of Egypt]] over concerns of imposing strict Islamic law.[{{cite news|title= Egypt unveils new cabinet, Tantawi keeps defence post |date= 3 August 2012}}] In November 2012, Morsi issued a decree granting immunity to his decisions and protecting the constituent assembly's work, sparking [[2012–2013 Egyptian protests|mass protests and violent clashes]] across the country.[{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20451208 |title=Egypt's President Mursi assumes sweeping powers |work=BBC News |date=22 November 2012 |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122182256/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20451208 |archive-date=22 November 2012 |url-status=live}}] Tensions escalated, with the largest confrontations between Islamist supporters and opponents since the 2011 revolution occurring on 5 December 2012.[{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324640104578160902530961768 |title=Egypt Sees Largest Clash Since Revolution |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=8 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421184804/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324640104578160902530961768
|archive-date=21 April 2015 |url-status=live }}] Morsi refused to cancel the December 2012 [[2012 Egyptian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]].[{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-egypt-morsi-20121207,0,2119116.story|title=Morsi refuses to cancel Egypt's vote on constitution|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=6 December 2012|access-date=8 December 2012|first=Jeffrey|last=Fleishman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208041127/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-egypt-morsi-20121207,0,2119116.story|archive-date=8 December 2012|url-status=live}}]
Following growing public discontent, the [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état|military removed Morsi]] on 3 July 2013, dissolved the [[Senate (Egypt)|Shura Council]], and installed [[Adly Mansour]], chief justice of the [[Supreme Constitutional Court (Egypt)|Supreme Constitutional Court]], as interim president.[{{cite news |last1=Holpuch |first1=Amanda |last2=Siddique |first2=Haroon |last3=Weaver |first3=Matthew |title=Egypt's interim president sworn in - Thursday 4 July|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/04/egypt-revolution-new-president-live-updates |work=The Guardian |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=21 November 2022 |archive-date=18 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518175613/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/04/egypt-revolution-new-president-live-updates |url-status=live }}] Authorities cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, jailing thousands and conducting mass trials. Violence during [[Rabaa massacre|dispersals of pro-Morsi camps]] left hundreds dead.[{{cite news|title=Egypt protests: Hundreds killed after police storm pro-Morsi camps|newspaper=ABC News|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-15/hundreds-killed-in-cairo-as-security-forces-move-in-on-proteste/4887954|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 August 2013|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804050054/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-15/hundreds-killed-in-cairo-as-security-forces-move-in-on-proteste/4887954|archive-date=4 August 2014|url-status=live}}][{{cite news|title=Abuse claims rife as Egypt admits jailing 16,000 Islamists in eight months|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/abuse-claims-rife-as-egypt-admits-jailing-16000-islamists-in-eight-months-9195824.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=16 March 2014|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904163847/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/abuse-claims-rife-as-egypt-admits-jailing-16000-islamists-in-eight-months-9195824.html|archive-date=4 September 2014|url-status=live}}] A new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] was approved by referendum on 18 January 2014 with 98.1% voting in favour.[{{cite web|title=Egypt constitution 'approved by 98.1 percent'|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/01/egypt-constitution-approved-981-percent-201411816326470532.html|publisher=Al Jazeera English|date=18 January 2014|access-date=18 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119234504/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/01/egypt-constitution-approved-981-percent-201411816326470532.html|archive-date=19 January 2014|url-status=live}}][{{Cite web |date=18 January 2014 |title=Egypt's new constitution gets 98% 'yes' vote |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/18/egypt-constitution-yes-vote-mohamed-morsi |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=18 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518175646/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/18/egypt-constitution-yes-vote-mohamed-morsi |url-status=live }}]
[[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] won the [[2014 Egyptian presidential election|presidential elections]] in June 2014 with 96.1% of the vote and was sworn in on 8 June. Under his rule, Egypt intensified security on the Gaza border, dismantled tunnels between Sinai and Gaza, and consolidated political power. Presidential terms were extended to six years in 2019, allowing El-Sisi to run for a third term in 2024. Parliamentary elections in 2020 confirmed a pro-El-Sisi majority for the [[Nation's Future Party|Mostaqbal Watan Party]]. The constitutional reforms and strengthened military authority under El-Sisi have been described as a return to authoritarianism.[{{cite news |last1=Mehmood |first1=Ashna |date=31 March 2021 |title=Egypt's Return to Authoritarianism |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2021/03/31/egypts-return-to-authoritarianism/ |work=Modern Diplomacy}}][{{cite news |date=23 April 2019 |title=Sisi wins snap Egyptian referendum amid vote-buying claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/23/sisi-wins-snap-egyptian-referendum-amid-vote-buying-claims |work=the Guardian |language=en}}] In December 2023, El-Sisi won the elections that gave him a third six-year term.[{{cite web | title=Egypt election: President Sisi wins third term | website=BBC Home | date=2023-12-18 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67751459 | access-date=2026-01-09}}]
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Egypt}}
[[File:Egypt Topography.png|thumb|Egypt's topography]]
Egypt lies primarily between latitudes [[22nd parallel north|22°]] and [[32nd parallel north|32°N]], and longitudes [[25th meridian east|25°]] and [[35th meridian east|35°E]]. At {{convert|1001450|km2|-1}}, it is the world's 29th largest country.[{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html |title=World Factbook area rank order |publisher=Cia.gov |access-date=1 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209041128/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}] Due to the extreme aridity of Egypt's climate, population centres are concentrated along the narrow Nile Valley and Delta, meaning that about 99% of the population uses about 5.5% of the total land area.[{{cite web |url=http://iodeweb1.vliz.be/odin/bitstream/1834/383/1/Hamza.pdf |title=Land use and Coastal Management in the Third Countries: Egypt as a case |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324233515/http://iodeweb1.vliz.be/odin/bitstream/1834/383/1/Hamza.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2009 |url-status=live }}] 98% of Egyptians live on 3% of the territory.[{{cite book|last1=Fouberg|first1=Erin H.|last2=Murphy|first2=Alexander B.|author3=de Blij|title=Human Geography: People, Place, and Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ThFncGxOrzEC&pg=PT91|access-date=10 February 2013|year=2009|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-57647-2|page=91|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509151021/http://books.google.com/books?id=ThFncGxOrzEC&pg=PT91|archive-date=9 May 2013|url-status=live}}]
[[File:Sand Dunes (Qattara Depression).jpg|thumb|The [[Qattara Depression]] in Egypt's north west]]
Egypt is bordered by Libya to the west, the Sudan to the south, and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east. A [[transcontinental nation]], it possesses a land bridge (the Isthmus of Suez) between Africa and Asia, traversed by a navigable waterway (the [[Suez Canal]]) that [[Indo-Mediterranean|connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean]] by way of the Red Sea.
Apart from the Nile Valley, the majority of Egypt's landscape is desert, with a few [[oasis|oases]] scattered about. Winds create prolific [[Dune|sand dunes]] that peak at more than {{convert|100|ft|m|order=flip|-1}} high. Egypt includes parts of the [[Sahara]] desert and of the [[Libyan Desert]].
Sinai peninsula hosts the highest mountain in Egypt, [[Mount Catherine]] at 2,642 metres. The [[Red Sea Riviera]], on the east of the peninsula, is renowned for its wealth of coral reefs and marine life.
Towns and cities include [[Alexandria]], the second largest city; [[Aswan]]; [[Asyut]]; [[Cairo]], the modern Egyptian capital and largest city; [[El Mahalla El Kubra]]; [[Giza]], the site of the Pyramid of Khufu; [[Hurghada]]; [[Luxor]]; [[Kom Ombo]]; [[Port Safaga]]; [[Port Said]]; [[Sharm El Sheikh]]; [[Suez]], where the south end of the Suez Canal is located; [[Zagazig]]; and [[Minya, Egypt|Minya]]. [[Oasis|Oases]] include [[Bahariya Oasis|Bahariya]], [[Dakhla Oasis|Dakhla]], [[Farafra, Egypt|Farafra]], [[Kharga Oasis|Kharga]] and [[Siwa Oasis|Siwa]]. [[Protectorates]] include Ras Mohamed National Park, Zaranik Protectorate and Siwa.
On 13 March 2015, plans for a [[proposed new capital of Egypt]] were announced.[{{cite news|title=Egypt to build new administrative and business capital|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31874886|work=BBC News|date=13 March 2015|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216003921/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31874886|archive-date=16 December 2018|url-status=live}}]
=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Egypt}}
[[File:Crop limit, Nile Valley-2.jpg|thumb|The sharp boundary between the hyper-arid [[Western Desert|desert]] and the irrigated [[Nile Valley]], where most of Egypt's population and agriculture are concentrated.]]
[[File:Water_stress,_top_countries_(2022).svg|thumb|Egypt was the eighth most water-stressed country in the world in 2022.]]
Most of Egypt's rain falls in the winter months.[{{cite journal |last1=Soliman |first1=K. H. |title=Rainfall over Egypt |journal=Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society |date=July 1953 |volume=79 |issue=341 |pages=389–397 |doi=10.1002/qj.49707934106 |bibcode=1953QJRMS..79..389S }}] South of Cairo, rainfall averages only around {{convert|2|to|5|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} per year and at intervals of many years. On a very thin strip of the northern coast the rainfall can be as high as {{convert|410|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}},[{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=60326&refer= |title=Marsa Matruh, Egypt |publisher=Weatherbase.com |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104040540/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=60326&refer= |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=live }}] mostly between October and March. Snow falls on Sinai's mountains and some of the north coastal cities such as [[Damietta]], [[Baltim]] and [[Sidi Barrani]], and rarely in Alexandria. A very small amount of snow fell on Cairo on 13 December 2013, the first time in many decades.[{{cite news |title= Biblical snowstorm: Rare flakes in Cairo, Jerusalem paralyzed by over a foot |first= Jason |last= Samenow |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= 13 December 2013 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/12/13/rare-snow-in-cairo-jerusalem-paralyzed-in-historic-snow/ |access-date= 26 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150903233952/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/12/13/rare-snow-in-cairo-jerusalem-paralyzed-in-historic-snow/ |archive-date= 3 September 2015 |url-status=live |df= dmy-all }}] [[Frost]] is also known in mid-Sinai and mid-Egypt.
Egypt has a very hot, sunny and dry climate. Average temperature highs are very high to extremely high throughout most of the country. The exception to this is the northern part of the country, which, although still hot, has its temperatures moderated by the cool Mediterranean winds consistently blowing in over the sea coast, especially at the height of summer. The [[Khamaseen]] is a hot, dry wind that originates from the vast deserts in the south and blows in the spring or in the early summer. It brings scorching sand and dust particles, and usually brings daytime temperatures over {{convert|40|°C}} and sometimes over {{convert|50|°C}} in the interior, while the relative humidity can drop to 5% or even less.
Prior to the construction of the [[Aswan Dam]], the Nile flooded annually, replenishing Egypt's soil. This gave Egypt a consistent harvest throughout the years.
Egypt's hot and arid climate is under increasing strain from climate change, which has brought extreme temperatures, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels.[{{Cite web |title=Climate Resilience for Energy Transition in Egypt – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-resilience-for-energy-transition-in-egypt |access-date=29 October 2023 |website=IEA |date=3 July 2023 |language=en-GB}}] Egypt is highly vulnerable, and these shifts threaten food security, water availability, public health, and economic stability.[{{Cite web |last=USAID |date=1 November 2024 |title=Egypt Climate Change Country Profile {{!}} Fact Sheet |url=https://www.usaid.gov/climate/country-profiles/egypt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204143712/https://www.usaid.gov/climate/country-profiles/egypt |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2023 |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=U.S. Agency for International Development |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=UNDP Climate Change Adaptation |title=Egypt |url=https://www.adaptation-undp.org/explore/arab-states/egypt |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=www.adaptation-undp.org |date=25 April 2024 |language=en}}]
=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Wildlife of Egypt}}
[[File:Eastern Imperial Eagle cr.jpg|thumb|The [[Eastern Imperial Eagle]] is the national animal of Egypt.]]
Egypt signed the Rio [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] on 9 June 1992, and became a party to the convention on 2 June 1994.[{{cite web |url=http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/ |title=List of Parties |access-date=8 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124005746/http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/ |archive-date=24 January 2011 |url-status=live }}] It produced a [[Biodiversity Action Plan|National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan]] which was received by the convention on 31 July 1998.[{{cite web |url=http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/eg/eg-nbsap-01-en.pdf |title=Egypt: National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation |access-date=9 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117012234/http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/eg/eg-nbsap-01-en.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live }}]
The plan stated that the following numbers of species of different groups had been recorded from Egypt: algae (1483 species), animals (about 15,000 species of which more than 10,000 were insects), fungi (more than 627 species), monera (319 species), plants (2426 species), protozoans (371 species). For some major groups, for example lichen-forming fungi and nematode worms, the number was not known. Apart from small and well-studied groups like amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles, the many of those numbers are likely to increase as further species are recorded from Egypt. For the fungi, including lichen-forming species, for example, subsequent work has shown that over 2200 species have been recorded from Egypt, and the final figure of all fungi actually occurring in the country is expected to be much higher.[A.M. Abdel-Azeem, ''The History, Fungal Biodiversity, Conservation, and Future Perspectives for Mycology in Egypt'' IMA Fungus 1 (2): 123–142 (2010).] For the grasses, 284 native and naturalised species have been identified and recorded in Egypt.[{{cite book|last1=Ibrahim|first1=Kamal M.|last2=Hosni|first2=Hasnaa A.|last3=Peterson|first3=Paul M.|title=Grasses of Egypt|date=2016|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo67060|access-date=16 April 2016|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518190122/https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GOVPUB-SI-PURL-gpo67060|url-status=live}}]
== Government ==
{{Main|Politics of Egypt}}
{{multiple image
| total_width = 340
| image1 = AbdelFattah Elsisi (cropped).jpg
| caption1 = [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]]
[[President of Egypt|President]]
| image2 = Mostafa Madbouly (cropped).jpg
| caption2 = [[Mostafa Madbouly]]
[[Prime Minister of Egypt|Prime Minister]]
| caption_align = center
}}
The [[House of Representatives (Egypt)|House of Representatives]], whose members are elected to serve five-year terms, specialises in legislation. [[Elections in Egypt|Elections]] were held between [[2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election|November 2011 and January 2012]], which were later dissolved.
After a wave of public discontent with the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] government of President [[Mohamed Morsi]],[{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/01/28/think-again-the-muslim-brotherhood/|title=Think Again: The Muslim Brotherhood|publisher=Al-Monitor|date=28 January 2013|access-date=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202110236/http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/01/28/think-again-the-muslim-brotherhood/|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}] on 3 July 2013 then-[[Egyptian Army ranks|General]] [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] announced the removal of Morsi from office and the suspension of the [[Egyptian Constitution of 2012|constitution]]. A 50-member constitution committee was formed for modifying [[Egyptian Constitution of 2014|the constitution]] which was later published for [[Egyptian constitutional referendum, 2014|public voting]] and was adopted on 18 January 2014.[{{cite news|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/80519.aspx|title=Who's Who: Members of Egypt's 50-member constitution committee|newspaper=Al-Ahram|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903224524/http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/80519.aspx|archive-date=3 September 2013|url-status=live}}]
[[Egyptian parliamentary election, 2015|The next parliamentary election]] was announced to be held within 6 months of the constitution's ratification on 18 January 2014, and were held in two phases, from 17 October to 2 December 2015.[{{Cite news |date=30 August 2015 |title=Timetable for Egypt's parliamentary elections announced; voting to start 17 Oct |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/139288/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-parliamentary-elections-to-start--October---.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904023424/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/139288/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-parliamentary-elections-to-start--October---.aspx |archive-date=4 September 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |agency=Ahram Online}}] Originally, the parliament was to be formed before the president was elected, but interim president [[Adly Mansour]] pushed the date.[{{cite web |date=26 January 2014 |title=Egypt to Hold Presidential Polls First: Interim President |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/92617.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072629/http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/92617.aspx |archive-date=7 April 2014 |access-date=2 April 2014 |publisher=Ahram Online}}] The [[2014 Egyptian presidential election]] took place on 26–28 May. Official figures showed a turnout of 25,578,233 or 47.5%, with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi winning with 23.78 million votes, or 96.9% compared to 757,511 (3.1%) for [[Hamdeen Sabahi]].[{{cite web |title=El-Sisi wins Egypt's presidential race with 96.91% |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/102841/Egypt/Politics-/BREAKING-PEC-officially-announces-AbdelFattah-ElSi.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731100838/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/102841/Egypt/Politics-/BREAKING-PEC-officially-announces-AbdelFattah-ElSi.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2014 |access-date=28 July 2014 |website=English.Ahram.org |publisher=Ahram Online}}]
In 2024, as part of its [[Freedom in the World]] report, [[Freedom House]] rated [[political rights]] in Egypt at 6 (with 40 representing the most free and 0 the least), and [[civil liberties]] at 12 (with 60 being the highest score and 0 the lowest), which gave it the freedom rating of "Not Free".[{{cite web|title=Egypt|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/egypt/freedom-world/2024|work=Freedom in the World 2024|publisher=Freedom House|access-date=3 March 2024|archive-date=2 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302233711/https://freedomhouse.org/country/egypt/freedom-world/2024|url-status=live}}] According to the 2023 [[V-Dem Democracy indices]] Egypt is the eighth least [[democracy in Africa|democratic country in Africa]].[{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208183458/https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |url-status=live }}] The 2023 edition of [[The Economist Democracy Index]] categorises Egypt as an "authoritarian regime", with a score of 2.93.[{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Democracy Index 2023: Age of conflict |url=https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/Democracy-Index-2023-Final-report.pdf |website=[[Economist Intelligence Unit]] |page=3 |language=en-GB |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320115317/http://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/Democracy-Index-2023-Final-report.pdf |url-status=live }}]
Egypt has the oldest continuous parliamentary tradition in the Arab world.[{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Nathan J.|title=Mechanisms of Accountability in Arab Governance: The Present and Future of Judiciaries and Parliaments in the Arab World|url=http://www.undp-pogar.org/publications/governance/nbrown/potential.html#foot1|publisher=Programme on Governance in the Arab Region|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605005203/http://www.undp-pogar.org/publications/governance/nbrown/potential.html#foot1|archive-date=5 June 2012}}]
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Egypt}}
{{multiple image
| width1 = 185
| width2 = 185
| direction = vertical
| footer = Top: Former President [[Hosni Mubarak]] with former US President [[George W. Bush]] at Camp David in 2002.
Bottom: President [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] at the [[16th BRICS Summit]] in 2024
| image1 = Hosni Mubarak with George W. Bush.jpg
| image2 = Meeting between Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Vladimir Putin at 2024 BRICS Summit.jpg
}}
Egypt's foreign policy is shaped by its strategic geographical position, historical legacy, and diplomatic influence in Africa, the Mediterranean, and Southwest Asia. As a founding member of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] and the United Nations, Egypt has maintained a non-aligned stance while remaining active in regional diplomacy. Cairo, historically a crossroads of commerce and culture, remains a centre of intellectual and political influence in the region.
The [[Egypt–United States relations|United States]] has been a key partner, providing Egypt with US$1.3 billion in annual military assistance as of 2015.[{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/31/obama-restores-us-military-aid-to-egypt |title=Obama restores US military aid to Egypt over Islamic State concerns |date=31 March 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214044811/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/31/obama-restores-us-military-aid-to-egypt |archive-date=14 December 2016 |url-status=live }}] In 1989, Egypt was designated a [[major non-NATO ally]], but relations soured following the [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état]], as the [[Obama administration]] criticised Egypt's crackdown on the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and suspended joint military exercises.[{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-protests-obama-idUSBRE97E0N020130816 |title=Obama cancels military exercises, condemns violence in Egypt |work=Reuters |date=15 August 2013 |access-date=8 October 2014 |author1=Holland, Steve |author2=Mason, Jeff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014033253/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/16/us-egypt-protests-obama-idUSBRE97E0N020130816 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |url-status=live }}] Under President [[Donald Trump]], relations improved, with [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]]'s 2017 visit to the White House marking the first by an Egyptian president in eight years.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/world/middleeast/-egypt-sisi-trump-white-house.html|title=Trump Shifts Course on Egypt, Praising Its Authoritarian Leader|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|date=3 April 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=10 February 2019|last2=Walsh|first2=Declan|language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215120743/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/world/middleeast/-egypt-sisi-trump-white-house.html|archive-date=15 February 2019|url-status=live}}]
Relations with [[Egypt–Russia relations|Russia]] strengthened after Morsi's removal, with both nations expanding military cooperation[{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-egypt-arms-idUSKBN0HC19T20140917 |title=Russia, Egypt seal preliminary arms deal worth $3.5 billion: agency |work=Reuters |date=17 September 2014 |access-date=8 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014032747/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/17/us-russia-egypt-arms-idUSKBN0HC19T20140917 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |url-status=live }}] and trade relations.[{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/russia-boost-wheat-supplies-egypt-mulls-free-trade-144820576--sector.html |title=Russia to boost trade with Egypt after Western food ban |work=Yahoo News |date=12 August 2014 |access-date=8 October 2014 |author=Anishchuk, Alexei |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014204101/http://news.yahoo.com/russia-boost-wheat-supplies-egypt-mulls-free-trade-144820576--sector.html |archive-date=14 October 2014 |url-status=live }}] Similarly, [[China–Egypt relations|relations with China]] have deepened, culminating in the establishment of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in 2014.["[https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/chinas-egypt-opportunity/ China's Egypt Opportunity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927040951/https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/chinas-egypt-opportunity/ |date=27 September 2015 }}". ''[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]''. 24 December 2014]
In 2024, Egypt and the [[European Union]] elevated their relationship to a "strategic and comprehensive partnership", emphasising political cooperation, and economic collaboration. Both sides are also working on deepening trade relations under the Association Agreement, supporting Egypt's economic stability, and strengthening counterterrorism efforts.[{{cite web |url=https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/joint-declaration-strategic-and-comprehensive-partnership-between-arab-republic-egypt-and-european-2024-03-17_en |title=Joint Declaration on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the European Union |publisher=European Commission |date=17 March 2024 |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Egypt remains an influential mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly in brokering ceasefires in Gaza and facilitating the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]].[{{cite book |last1=Maddy-weitzman |first1=Bruce |title=Middle East Contemporary Survey: Volume XIX, 1995 |date=1997 |publisher=The Moshe Dayan Center |isbn=978-0-8133-3411-0 |url={{GBurl|E6H6GAzdrXcC|p=265}} |page=265 }}] It is also a Member State of the [[African Union]] and the [[Arab League]], hosting the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The Arab League temporarily moved to Tunis in 1978 in protest of the [[Egypt–Israel peace treaty]], but returned to Cairo in 1989. Egypt has also cultivated strong economic ties with Gulf nations such as [[Egypt–Saudi Arabia relations|Saudi Arabia]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]], both of which have provided billions of dollars in financial assistance.[{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/saudi-arabia-uae-prop-egypt-5bn-aid-boost-1469781 |title=Saudi Arabia and UAE to Prop Up Egypt With $5bn Aid Boost |website=International Business Times |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=17 October 2014 |author=Wilson, Nigel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019104420/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/saudi-arabia-uae-prop-egypt-5bn-aid-boost-1469781 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=live }}]
=== Military ===
{{Main|Egyptian Armed Forces}}
{{Further|Military industry of Egypt}}
[[File:Defense.gov photo essay 090421-N-0696M-106.jpg|thumb|[[Egyptian Republican Guard|Egyptian honour guard soldiers]] in 2009]]
The [[Egyptian Armed Forces]] constitute Egypt's military establishment, comprising the [[Egyptian Army]], [[Egyptian Navy|Navy]], [[Egyptian Air Force|Air Force]], and [[Egyptian Air Defence Forces|Air Defence Forces]] under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff,[{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/14/egypt.military.facts/index.html|title=Egypt's military: Key facts|access-date=12 April 2017|language=en}}] with their headquarters at the [[State Strategic Command Center]], commonly known as the Octagon, in the [[New Administrative Capital]]. The military primarily oversees external defence but also plays a domestic role, assisting police in protecting vital infrastructure during emergencies and counterterrorism operations.[{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Egypt|section=Military and Security |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
The military wields significant political influence, operating autonomously and remaining exempt from many civilian laws.[{{cite news|last=Cambanis|first=Thanassis|title=Succession Gives Army a Stiff Test in Egypt|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html?_r=1&ref=global-home&pagewanted=all|access-date=11 September 2010|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=11 September 2010}}] A significant amount of military information is not made publicly available, including budget information, the names of the general officers and the military's size (which is considered a state secret).[{{cite web |url=http://carnegie-mec.org/2015/04/15/egyptian-armed-forces-and-remaking-of-economic-empire |title=The Egyptian Armed Forces and the Remaking of an Economic Empire |publisher=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] |date=15 April 2015 |access-date=23 June 2015 |author=Marshall, Shana |work=Carnegie Middle East Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709153851/http://carnegie-mec.org/2015/04/15/egyptian-armed-forces-and-remaking-of-economic-empire |archive-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=live }}] it is one of the largest and best-equipped militaries in the region.[ Conscription is mandatory for men aged 18–30, with service obligations ranging from 14 to 36 months, depending on educational level, followed by a nine-year reserve duty. Voluntary enlistment is possible from age 16 for men and 17 for women.][
The military operates a diverse arsenal sourced primarily from China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the United States. Recent efforts have focused on modernisation and procurement of advanced weaponry.][ The domestic defence industry is also well-established, manufacturing small arms, armoured vehicles, and naval vessels, while maintaining licensed production agreements with countries such as [[Germany]] and the [[United States]].][
Egypt is one of few countries in the region to possess spy satellites, launching [[EgyptSat 1]] in 2007,][{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Yaacov|url=https://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=48099|title=Egypt to launch first spy satellite|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=15 January 2007}}] followed by [[EgyptSat 2]] in 2014.[{{cite news |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1404/16egyptsat2/ |title=Egyptian reconnaissance satellite launched by Soyuz |author=Stephen Clark |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=18 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013018/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1404/16egyptsat2/ |archive-date=19 April 2014 |url-status=live }}] In 2019, Egypt launched MisrSat-A, an observation satellite,[{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/egyptsat-a.htm |title=EgyptSat-A |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=5 April 2025}}] followed later that year by Tiba-1, a civilian and military communications satellite.[{{cite web |url=https://spaceinafrica.com/2019/11/27/egypt-launches-tiba-1-communications-satellite-on-board-ariane-5-rocket/ |title=Egypt Launches Tiba-1 Communications Satellite on Board Ariane 5 Rocket |website=Space in Africa |date=27 November 2019 |access-date=5 April 2025}}][{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tiba-1.htm |title=Tiba-1 |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=5 April 2025}}] In 2023, Egypt launched Horus-1 and Horus-2, about a month apart. The country also placed MisrSat-2 into orbit later that year. All three of them are high-resolution observation satellites.[{{cite web |url=https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/new-technologies-innovation/egypt-already-has-its-fourth-spy-satellite-orbit-and-emirates-its-second-astronaut/20230304094404182042.html |title=Egypt already has its fourth spy satellite in orbit, and the Emirates its second astronaut |date=4 March 2023 |publisher=Atalayar |access-date=10 March 2025}}][{{cite web |url=https://spaceinafrica.com/2023/12/04/egypt-launches-misrsat-2/ |title=Egypt Launches MisrSat-2 |date=4 December 2023 |publisher=Space in Africa |access-date=3 March 2025}}][{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/horus-1.htm |title=Horus-1 |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=5 April 2025}}] In 2024, two months after MisrSat-2's launch, the country successfully completed the initial operational phase of NEXSAT-1, its first experimental Earth observation satellite, achieving milestones such as developing indigenous onboard software, advanced attitude-control systems, and independently capturing and processing satellite imagery, all of which marked a major step forward in Egypt's national space capabilities.[{{cite web |url=https://spaceinafrica.com/2024/07/31/egypt-marks-milestone-with-its-experimental-satellite-nexsat-1/ |title=Egypt Marks Milestone With Its Experimental Satellite Nexsat-1 |website=Space in Africa |date=31 July 2024 |access-date=5 April 2025}}]
=== Law ===
{{Main|Egyptian Civil Code}}
[[File:Egyptian High Court of Justice.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The High Court of Justice in [[Downtown Cairo]]]]
The legal system is based on [[Sharia law|Islamic]] and civil law (particularly the [[Napoleonic Code]]); and judicial review by a Supreme Court, which accepts compulsory [[International Court of Justice]] jurisdiction only with reservations.[{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7235357.stm |title=Incorporating Sharia into legal systems |work=BBC News |date=8 February 2008 |access-date=18 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425031043/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7235357.stm |archive-date=25 April 2013 |url-status=live }}] The personal status law that regulates matters such as marriage, divorce and child custody is governed by Sharia. In a family court, a woman's testimony is worth half of a man's testimony.[{{cite web|title=Egypt Gender Equality Profile|url=http://www.unicef.org/gender/files/Egypt-Gender-Eqaulity-Profile-2011.pdf|publisher=UNICEF|access-date=20 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019172446/https://www.unicef.org/gender/files/Egypt-Gender-Eqaulity-Profile-2011.pdf|archive-date=19 October 2018|url-status=live}}]
On 26 December 2012, the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to institutionalise a controversial new constitution. It was approved by the public in a [[Egyptian constitutional referendum, 2012|referendum]] held 15–22 December 2012 with 64% support, but with only 33% electorate participation.[{{Cite news|title=Egyptian constitution 'approved' in referendum|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20829911|work=BBC News|date=23 December 2012|access-date=23 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223022054/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20829911|archive-date=23 December 2012|url-status=live}}] It replaced the [[2011 Provisional Constitution of Egypt]], adopted following the revolution.
The Penal code was unique as it contains a "[[Blasphemy law in Egypt|Blasphemy Law]]".[{{cite web |url=http://www.lexadin.nl/wlg/legis/nofr/oeur/lxweegy.htm |title=Legislation Egypt |publisher=Lexadin.nl |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117012239/http://www.lexadin.nl/wlg/legis/nofr/oeur/lxweegy.htm |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live }}] The present court system allows a death penalty including against an absent individual [[tried in absentia|tried ''in absentia'']]. Several Americans and Canadians were sentenced to death in 2012.[{{cite news |title=7 Egyptian Christians, Florida pastor sentenced to death for anti-Islam film |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/7-egyptian-christians-florida-pastor-sentenced-to-death-for-anti-islam-film |publisher=Fox News |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105210156/https://www.foxnews.com/world/7-egyptian-christians-florida-pastor-sentenced-to-death-for-anti-islam-film |archive-date=5 November 2018 |url-status=live }}]
On 18 January 2014, the interim government successfully institutionalised a more [[Egyptian Constitution of 2014|secular constitution]].[{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25796110 |title=BBC News – Egypt referendum: '98% back new constitution' |last=BBC |date=18 January 2014 |work=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118203701/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25796110|archive-date=18 January 2014 |url-status=live }}] The president is elected to a four-year term and may serve 2 terms.[{{cite web|url=http://www.nchregypt.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=3 |title=Law No. 94 of 2003 Promulgating The National Council for Human Rights |publisher=Nchregypt.org |date=16 February 2010 |access-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117012238/http://www.nchregypt.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=3 |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}][{{cite web|url=http://www.eohr.org/PRESS/2003/6-3.HTM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030701015847/http://www.eohr.org/PRESS/2003/6-3.HTM |archive-date=1 July 2003 |title=Egyptian National Council for Human Rights Against Human Rights NGOs |publisher=EOHR |date=3 June 2003 |access-date=8 February 2013}}][{{cite web |url=http://anhri.net/en/discussion/2004/ehrc.shtml |title=The Egyptian Human Rights Council: The Apple Falls Close to the Tree |publisher=ANHRI |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105202323/http://www.anhri.net/en/discussion/2004/ehrc.shtml |archive-date=5 January 2015 |url-status=live }}]
Egypt has been ranked among the worst countries for religious freedom, with widespread discrimination against minorities such as [[Coptic Christians]], [[Baháʼís]], and other Muslim sects. A 2009 report by [[Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life]] ranked Egypt fifth worst globally for religious freedom,[{{cite web |url=http://www.ipsnorthamerica.net/news.php?idnews=2748 |title=Religion: Few States Enjoy Freedom of Faith, Report Says |publisher=Ipsnews.net |date=17 December 2009 |access-date=1 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112201851/http://www.ipsnorthamerica.net/news.php?idnews=2748 |archive-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}] while the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] has placed Egypt on its watch list due to state-tolerated violations.[{{cite web |url=http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1457&Itemid=1 |title=USCIRF Watch List – USCIRF |publisher=Uscirf.gov |access-date=1 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114131553/http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1457&Itemid=1 |archive-date=14 November 2010 |url-status=live }}] A 2010 [[Pew Research Center|Pew]] survey found that 84% of Egyptians supported the death penalty for [[Apostasy in Islam|apostasy]], 77% backed amputations for theft, and 82% endorsed stoning for [[adultery]].[{{cite web|title=Muslim Publics Divided on Hamas and Hezbollah|date=2 December 2010|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/|publisher=Pew Global Attitudes Project|access-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513123330/http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/|archive-date=13 May 2013|url-status=live}}]
Since the [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état]], political repression has intensified, with mass arrests and harsh crackdowns on dissent. During the [[August 2013 Egyptian raids|August 2013 sit-in dispersal]], 595 protesters were killed, making 14 August 2013 the deadliest day in Egypt's modern history.[{{Cite news|author=Mohsen, Manar |url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/08/16/health-ministry-raises-death-toll-of-wednesdays-clashes-to-638/ |title=Health Ministry raises death toll of Wednesday's clashes to 638 |newspaper=Daily News Egypt |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821044205/http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/08/16/health-ministry-raises-death-toll-of-wednesdays-clashes-to-638/ |archive-date=21 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}]["[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/world/middleeast/memory-egypt-mass-killing.html Memory of a Mass Killing Becomes Another Casualty of Egyptian Protests] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325055057/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/world/middleeast/memory-egypt-mass-killing.html |date=25 March 2017 }}". ''The New York Times.'' 13 November 2013.] Since then, an estimated 60,000 [[political prisoners in Egypt|political prisoners]] remain behind bars.[{{cite news |title=My brother is one of Egypt's 60,000 political prisoners – and Trump is happy to let him rot in jail |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/moustafa-kassem-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-trump-egypt-us-prisoner-a9288401.html |work=The Independent |date=17 January 2020 |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127171138/https://www.independent.co.uk//voices/moustafa-kassem-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-trump-egypt-us-prisoner-a9288401.html |url-status=live }}]
Egypt has also drawn international condemnation for mass death sentences, including a 2014 ruling sentencing 529 people to death in a single hearing.[{{cite news|title=Egyptian court sentences nearly 530 to death|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egypt-sentences-529-morsi-supporters-to-death/2014/03/24/46b21f46-b32c-11e3-bab2-b9602293021d_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325150616/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egypt-sentences-529-morsi-supporters-to-death/2014/03/24/46b21f46-b32c-11e3-bab2-b9602293021d_story.html|archive-date=25 March 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=24 March 2014|url-status=dead}}] The [[United Nations]] and human rights groups have condemned these trials as gross violations of [[international law]].[{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/world/middleeast/un-expresses-alarm-over-egyptian-death-sentences.html |work=The New York Times |first=Nick |last=Cumming-Bruce |title=U.N. Expresses Alarm Over Egyptian Death Sentences |date=25 March 2014 |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718152729/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/world/middleeast/un-expresses-alarm-over-egyptian-death-sentences.html |archive-date=18 July 2017 |url-status=live }}]
[[LGBT rights in Egypt|Homosexuality]] remains [[de facto]] criminalised, with 95% of Egyptians opposing its acceptance, according to a 2013 [[Pew Research Center|Pew]] survey.[[http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/ "The Global Divide on Homosexuality."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103034522/http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/ |date=3 November 2013 }} ''pewglobal''. 4 June 2013.] A poll by the [[Thomson Reuters Foundation]], based on assessments from specialists in women's rights, ranked Cairo as the worst megacity for women, evaluating cities on sexual harassment, healthcare access, harmful cultural practices, and economic opportunities.[{{Cite news|url=http://poll2017.trust.org/|publisher=Thomson Reuters Foundation|title=The world's most dangerous megacities for women 2017|work=poll2017.trust.org|access-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025024053/http://poll2017.trust.org/ |archive-date=25 October 2017}}]
==== Freedom of the press ====
[[Reporters Without Borders]] ranked Egypt in their 2017 [[Press Freedom Index|World Press Freedom Index]] at {{abbr|No.|Number}} 160 out of 180 nations. At least 18 journalists were imprisoned in Egypt, {{as of|2015|August|lc=y}}. A new anti-terror law was enacted in August 2015 that threatens members of the media with fines ranging from about US$25,000 to $60,000 for the distribution of wrong information on acts of terror inside the country "that differ from official declarations of the Egyptian Department of Defence".[Gehlen, M. (2015) [http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2015-08/aegypten-al-dschasira-journalisten-haft Al-Dschasira-Journalisten zu drei Jahren Haft verurteilt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830030511/http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2015-08/aegypten-al-dschasira-journalisten-haft |date=30 August 2015 }}, Zeit Online, 29 August 2015]
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Subdivisions of Egypt}}
Egypt is divided into 27 governorates. The governorates are further divided into regions. The regions contain towns and villages. Each governorate has a capital, sometimes carrying the same name as the governorate.[{{cite book|author=Pierre Beckouche|title=Europe's Mediterranean Neighbourhood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tHpHDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA121|year=2017|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=978-1-78643-149-3|page=121}}]
[[File:Egypt - Administrative Divisions - Nmbrs - colored.png|center|thumb|upright=2|Governorates of Egypt:
{{divcol|colwidth=17em|style=column-count:2}}
{{ordered list
|[[Matrouh Governorate|Matrouh]] [[File:Matrouh Governorate-logo.PNG|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Matrouh Governorate]]
|[[Alexandria Governorate|Alexandria]] [[File:Flag of Alexandria.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Alexandria Governorate]]
|[[Beheira Governorate|Beheira]] [[File:Flag of Behira Govenorate.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Beheira Governorate]]
|[[Kafr El Sheikh Governorate|Kafr El Sheikh]] [[File:Flag of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Kafr El Sheikh Governorate]]
|[[Dakahlia Governorate|Dakahlia]] [[File:Dakahlya Governorate Flag - Egypt.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Dakahlia Governorate]]
|[[Damietta Governorate|Damietta]] [[File:Flag of Damietta Governorate.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Damietta Governorate]]
|[[Port Said Governorate|Port Said]] [[File:Port Said Flag Version 2.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Port Said Governorate]]
|[[North Sinai Governorate|North Sinai]] [[File:North Sinai (New Flag).svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=North Sinai Governorate]]
|[[Gharbia Governorate|Gharbia]] [[File:Flag of Gharbia Governorate.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Gharbia Governorate]]
|[[Monufia Governorate|Monufia]] [[File:Flag of Menoufia Governorate.PNG|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Monufia Governorate]]
|[[Qalyubia Governorate|Qalyubia]] [[File:Governadorat de Qalyubiya.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Qalyubia Governorate]]
|[[Sharqia Governorate|Sharqia]] [[File:Flag Of Sharkia Governorate.svg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Sharqia Governorate]]
|[[Ismailia Governorate|Ismailia]] [[File:Governadorat d'Ismailiya.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Ismailia Governorate]]
|[[Giza Governorate|Giza]] [[File:Flag of Giza Governorate.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Giza Governorate]]
|[[Faiyum Governorate|Faiyum]] [[File:Governadorat de Faium.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Faiyum Governorate]]
|[[Cairo Governorate|Cairo]] [[File:Flag Cairo Governorate.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Cairo Governorate]]
|[[Suez Governorate|Suez]] [[File:Flag of the governorate of suez.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Suez Governorate]]
|[[South Sinai Governorate|South Sinai]] [[File:Flag of the South Sinai Governorate.svg|frameless|border|upright=0.12|link=South Sinai Governorate]]
|[[Beni Suef Governorate|Beni Suef]] [[File:Beni Suef Governorate New Flag.svg|frameless|border|upright=0.12|link=Beni Suef Governorate]]
|[[Minya Governorate|Minya]] [[File:Flag of Minya Governorate.jpg|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Minya Governorate]]
|[[New Valley Governorate|New Valley]] [[File:Flag of New Valley Governorate.png|frameless|border|upright=0.12|link=New Valley Governorate]]
|[[Asyut Governorate|Asyut]] [[File:Flag of Assiut Governorate.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Asyut Governorate]]
|[[Red Sea Governorate|Red Sea]] [[File:Red sea governorate flag.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Red Sea Governorate]]
|[[Sohag Governorate|Sohag]] [[File:Governadorat de Suhaj.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Sohag Governorate]]
|[[Qena Governorate|Qena]] [[File:Flag of Qena Governorate.png|frameless|border|upright=0.12|link=Qena Governorate]]
|[[Luxor Governorate|Luxor]] [[File:Eg luxor1.png|frameless|border|upright=0.12|link=Luxor Governorate]]
|[[Aswan Governorate|Aswan]] [[File:Flag of Aswan Governorate.png|frameless|upright=0.12|link=Aswan Governorate]]
}}
{{divcolend}}]]
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Egypt}}
[[File:GDP per capita development of Egypt.svg|thumb|Change in per capita GDP of Egypt, 1820–2018. Figures are inflation-adjusted to 2011 International dollars.|right]]
The economy of Egypt is the second-largest in [[Africa]] and ranks [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|44th worldwide]] as of 2025.[{{cite web |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2025/april/weo-report?c=469,&s=NGDP_R,NGDP_RPCH,NGDP,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDP_D,NGDPRPC,NGDPRPPPPC,NGDPPC,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PPPSH,PPPEX,NID_NGDP,NGSD_NGDP,PCPI,PCPIPCH,PCPIE,PCPIEPCH,TM_RPCH,TMG_RPCH,TX_RPCH,TXG_RPCH,LUR,LP,GGR,GGR_NGDP,GGX,GGX_NGDP,GGXCNL,GGXCNL_NGDP,GGSB,GGSB_NPGDP,GGXONLB,GGXONLB_NGDP,GGXWDN,GGXWDN_NGDP,GGXWDG,GGXWDG_NGDP,NGDP_FY,BCA,BCA_NGDPD,&sy=2025&ey=2025&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |website=IMF |access-date=3 May 2025 |language=en}}] It is a major [[emerging market]] economy, marked by its membership in organisations like the [[African Union]], [[Arab League]], [[BRICS]], and its participation in the [[African Continental Free Trade Area]] (AfCFTA).[{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-03-11/egypt-stocks-rally-saudi-aramco-s-dividend-biden-warns-israel | title=Egypt Stocks Rally, Saudi Aramco's Dividend, Biden Warns Israel | date=11 March 2024 | access-date=27 February 2025 }}] The Egyptian economy has evolved significantly since the early 2000s, transitioning towards a market-oriented system through fiscal and monetary reforms, privatisation efforts, and foreign investment incentives. These measures have contributed to macroeconomic stability and improved unemployment and poverty rates.[{{Cite web|title=Egypt's Unemployment Falls to Lowest Levels in 14 Years|url=https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2794696/egypt%E2%80%99s-unemployment-falls-lowest-levels-14-years|access-date=3 March 2021|website=Asharq AL-awsat|language=en}}][{{Cite web|title=Egypt's poverty rate declines to 29.7%: CAPMAS - Economy - Business|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/396107/Business/Economy/Egypt%E2%80%99s-poverty-rate-declines-to--CAPMAS.aspx|access-date=3 March 2021|website=Ahram Online|language=en|archive-date=13 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313123200/https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/396107/Business/Economy/Egypt%E2%80%99s-poverty-rate-declines-to--CAPMAS.aspx|url-status=dead}}]
Despite waves of privatisation and fiscal reforms, the government remains one of the country's largest employers, and state contracts continue to stimulate activity in other sectors of the still partly [[Socialist economics|socialised economy]].[{{cite web |title=Egypt: The service sector |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt/The-service-sector |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=6 October 2025 }}] Construction, particularly large-scale [[public works]], has remained a major source of employment and public expenditure.[ However, as part of an $8 billion [[International Monetary Fund]] programme launched in 2024, Egypt has committed to rationalising such spending.][{{cite news|title=Egypt is promising change – do investors believe it? |work=Euromoney |date=25 November 2024|url=https://www.euromoney.com/article/2e2er5lw9n9fknd84jdog/sponsored-content/egypt-is-promising-change-do-investors-believe-it |access-date=6 October 2025 |publisher=Euromoney Limited}}] As a result, private investments rose to 47.5% of total executed investments in FY 2024/25, up from 39.6%, while public investment fell to 43.3%. This marks the highest private share in five years and represents a clear shift in Egypt's investment landscape.[{{cite news |title=Egypt private investment hits 5-year high in FY24/25 |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/554176.aspx |work=Ahram Online |date=1 October 2025 |access-date=6 October 2025 |author=Doaa A. Moneim}}]
[[File:Central business district 2, New Administrative Capital.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The central business district in Egypt's [[New Administrative Capital|new capital]]]]
Egypt is among the world's top five recipients of [[remittances]],[{{cite news | url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2024/12/24/egypts-remittances-hit-23-7bn-in-10m-2024-marking-45-3-growth/ | title=Egypt's Remittances Hit $23.7bn in 10M 2024, Marking 45.3% Growth | work=Daily News Egypt | date=24 December 2024 | access-date=28 February 2025 }}] which have more than doubled over the past decade, rising from $17.1 billion in FY 2015/2016 to a record $36.5 billion in FY 2024/2025, according to data from the [[Central Bank of Egypt]].[{{cite web |title=Egyptian Remittances Double in Ten Years and Surge 66% in One Year |url=https://weetracker.com/2025/10/02/egyptian-remittances-double-in-ten-years-and-surge-66-in-one-year/ |website=WeeTracker |publisher=Wee Media |author=Staff Reporter |date=2 October 2025 |access-date=4 October 2025}}] These inflows are crucial for Egypt's foreign reserves and household incomes.[{{cite web |title=Migration and Development in Egypt |url=http://www.egypt.iom.int/Doc/IOM%20Migration%20and%20Development%20in%20Egypt%20Facts%20and%20Figures%20(English).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205011709/http://www.egypt.iom.int/Doc/IOM%20Migration%20and%20Development%20in%20Egypt%20Facts%20and%20Figures%20(English).pdf |archive-date=5 February 2011 |access-date=2 December 2015 |publisher=International Organization for Migration Cairo}}]
International trade is a key component of Egypt's economy, accounting for 40% of GDP according to the [[World Bank]]. The country has pursued broader economic integration through free trade agreements, including the EU-Egypt Association Agreement and [[African Continental Free Trade Area|AfCFTA]].[{{cite web | url=https://www.lloydsbanktrade.com/en/market-potential/egypt/trade-profile#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20Egypt's%20main%20export,4.2%25%20%2D%20data%20Comtrade). | title=Egypt - Trade Profile | publisher=Lloyds Bank Trade | access-date=28 February 2025 }}] Egypt's exports have seen significant growth in the past years,[{{cite web |title=Egypt (EGY) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners {{!}} OEC |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/country/egy?yearSelector1=2023|website=OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity |access-date=27 February 2025 |language=en}}] and the government aims to raise them to $145 billion by 2030.[{{cite news | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1202/538582/AlAhram-Weekly/Economy/New-support-for-exports.aspx | title=New support for exports | date=11 March 2024 | access-date=27 February 2025 }}]
Since 1979, Egypt has received substantial [[United States foreign aid]], averaging $1.5 billion annually, with approximately $200 million allocated to economic assistance and the remainder directed towards military aid for procuring weapon systems from American suppliers.
===Manufacturing===
{{See also|Automotive industry in Egypt}}
[[File:MCV C127 EV, Busworld Europe 2023, Brussels (P1140238).jpg|thumb|The fully electric [[Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles|MCV]] C127 EV, made in Egypt for the German market]]
Egypt has the largest manufacturing sector in Africa, accounting for approximately 22% of the continent's total manufacturing value.[{{cite book |title=Production Transformation Policy Review of Egypt |series=OECD Development Pathways |date=2023 |doi=10.1787/3ac95e0c-en |isbn=978-92-64-53990-7 }}{{pn|date=January 2026}}] Under [[Egypt Vision 2030]] and its related development plans, the country has relied on [[industrial parks]], [[Free-trade zone|free zones]] and [[special economic zones]] to boost industrialisation and manufacturing.[{{cite web |title=Egypt shifts towards technology-intensive manufacturing |url=https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/reports/egypt/2022-report/economy/focus-on-local-higher-value-added-activities-targeted-as-emphasis-shifts-towards-more-sustainable-technology-intensive-manufacturing
|website=Oxford Business Group |access-date=6 October 2025 |year=2022 }}]
The industrial base is diverse, spanning [[Chemical products|chemicals]], [[electronics]], [[steel]], [[automotive manufacturing]], [[pharmaceuticals]], and [[textiles]]. The chemical industry, one of the largest, includes [[plastics]], [[rubber]], [[detergents]], [[fertilizers|fertilisers]], and [[glass]], with [[petrochemicals]] alone contributing about 12% of industrial output, while total sector exports are projected to reach $9 billion in 2024.[{{cite web |url=https://www.investinegypt.gov.eg/english/pages/exploremap.aspx?secId=105| title=Investment Map of Egypt | publisher=Invest in Egypt | access-date=27 February 2025 }}][{{cite web | url=https://www.arabfinance.com/News/newdetails/14935 | title=Chemical Industry: Transforming Egypt's Economy | publisher=Arab Finance | access-date=27 February 2025 | archive-date=16 July 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716144944/https://www.arabfinance.com/News/newdetails/14935 | url-status=dead }}]
Light manufacturing is one of Egypt's main industries, and several government-led programmes aim to grow it further.[{{cite web |last=Ebatamehi |first=Sebastiane |title=Top 10 Light Manufacturing Hubs in Africa in 2025 |website=The African Exponent |url=https://www.africanexponent.com/top-10-light-manufacturing-hubs-in-africa-in-2025/ |date=15 August 2025 |access-date=6 October 2025}}] The ''Egypt Makes Electronics'' initiative has attracted factories from international firms, including [[Vivo (technology company)|Vivo]], [[Infinix]], [[Oppo]], [[Xiaomi]], [[Nokia]], [[Electrolux]], [[Samsung]], [[Hisense]], [[Beko]], and [[Haier]]. These plants have made Egypt a regional centre for electronics and home appliance production.[{{cite web |title=Egypt's Handset Market Set to Double by 2031 on Local Assembly Push |url=https://techafricanews.com/2025/08/29/egypts-handset-market-set-to-double-by-2031-on-local-assembly-push/ |website=TechAfrica News |publisher=TechAfrica Media |author=Akim Benamara |date=29 August 2025 |access-date=4 October 2025}}][{{cite web |title=Where we stand on Egypt's plans to localize electronics manufacturing |url=https://enterprise.press/industries/where-we-stand-on-egypts-plans-to-localize-electronics-manufacturing/|website=Enterprise |access-date=27 February 2025}}][{{cite web |title=International investment heats up Egypt's home appliances sector |url=https://enterprise.news/egypt/en/news/story/38b5c5b6-12da-4675-8d04-d24da127f663/international-investment-heats-up-egypt%25e2%2580%2599s-home-appliances-sector |website=Enterprise |date=21 April 2024 |access-date=27 February 2025}}] The [[textile industry]] is also a cornerstone of Egypt's economy, contributing around 12% of export earnings and employing 2.5 million people. It spans the entire production chain from cotton cultivation to finished garments and is globally recognised for its premium [[Gossypium barbadense#Egyptian|Giza cotton]].[{{cite web |title=The textile industry of Egypt |url=https://www.egypt-business.com/paper/details/2303-the-textile-industry-of-egypt/425541 |website=Egypt Business Directory |date=23 January 2023 |access-date=22 April 2025}}][{{cite web |title=Textile Sector in Egypt – Dec 2023 |url=https://elsewedydevelopment.com/case-studies/textile-sector-in-egypt-dec-2023/ |website=Elsewedy Industrial Development |access-date=21 April 2025}}]
In addition to light manufacturing, the economy also includes a heavy manufacturing sector. Egypt is Africa's leading [[steel]] producer and ranks 20th globally, with 9.8 million tons in 2022.[{{Cite web |title=Egypt's steel: a flourishing industry with future potential |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/north-africa/egypts-steel-a-flourishing-industry-with-future-potential-cmlch9kw |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Zawya}}] Egyptian steel company [[EZDK]] is the largest in the region, ranked 77th globally in 2020.[{{Cite web |title=Top Producers |url=https://worldsteel.org/steel-by-topic/statistics/top-producers/
|access-date=12 April 2022 |website=worldsteel.org |language=en-US}}] The country's [[Automotive industry in Egypt|automotive industry]], led by [[El Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company|Nasr]], [[Ghabbour Group|Ghabbour]], and [[Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles|MCV]], is expanding through partnerships with global manufacturers under the government's ''2024–2030 National Automotive Industry Development Strategy'', which targets 500,000 vehicles annually and promotes local [[electric vehicle]] production.[{{cite web | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/537157.aspx| title=All eyes on the car industry | publisher=Ahram Online | date=18 December 2024 | access-date=27 February 2025 }}]
===Retail and services===
{{see also|Banking in Egypt}}
[[File:National Bank of Egypt-2020.jpg|thumb|The [[National Bank of Egypt]] towers in [[Cairo]]]]
Egypt's retail and services sector has expanded steadily in recent years, driven by population growth, rising incomes, and urbanisation.[{{cite web |title=Diverse approach: A mix of legislation, private investment and consumer spending is spurring steady growth in the retail market|url=https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/reports/egypt/2022-report/economy/diverse-approach-a-mix-of-legislation-private-investment-and-consumer-spending-is-spurring-steady-growth-in-the-retail-market |website=Oxford Business Group |date=2022 |access-date=6 October 2025}}]
The retail food and grocery sector is still largely dominated by traditional, family-run stores and [[wet markets]], although supermarket and convenience store chains expanded in both size and popularity between 2015 and 2020.[ [[Hypermarkets]] and [[Discount store|wholesale discounters]] recorded the highest growth rates over this period, at 153% and 162% respectively, accounting for 26% of the sector's sales.][
Many shopping malls have opened in Egypt in recent years. [[Cairo]] has the highest concentration with over 20 commercial malls, while smaller cities such as [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]] and [[Tanta]] have only just got their first.][
The Egyptian government controls much of the telecommunications sector through its majority ownership of [[Telecom Egypt]].][{{cite news |title=Government sells 9.5% of state-controlled Telecom Egypt |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/14/government-sells-9-5-of-state-controlled-telecom-egypt|work=Al Jazeera |date=14 May 2023 |access-date=6 October 2025}}] Between 2019 and 2022, mobile internet subscriptions in Egypt grew 77.9%, from 39 million to 69.4 million, with total mobile subscriptions reaching 106.2 million by December 2023.[{{cite news | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/519378.aspx | title=Mobile and internet subscriptions in Egypt increased by 6 million in 2023| publisher=Ahram Online| date=13 March 2024 | access-date=28 February 2025 }}] Internet penetration reached 72.2% in early 2024, with 82 million users.[{{cite web | url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/462957/internet-users-egypt/| title=Number of Internet Users in Egypt | publisher=Statista | access-date=28 February 2025 }}] Since 2022 Egypt has the fastest internet speeds in Africa.[{{cite web |url=https://we.hse.ru/en/irs/cas/passeg | title=Egypt's Digital Transformation and ICT Growth | publisher=Higher School of Economics | access-date=28 February 2025 }}]
Egyptian banks are among the largest and most dynamic in the region. Most Egyptian lenders are adopting new technologies to expand into nonbanking financial services.[{{cite web |last=Domat |first=Chloe |title=Egypt's Cautious Comeback: IMF Support and Rising FDI Fuel Growth |website=Global Finance Magazine |date=6 October 2025 |url=https://gfmag.com/banking/egypts-cautious-comeback-imf-support-and-rising-fdi-fuel-growth/ |access-date=16 October 2025}}] The [[fintech]] sector has grown 5.5-fold since 2020, with 177 startups, ranking Egypt 10th among emerging markets.[{{cite news | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/541157.aspx | title=Egypt's Fintech Sector Expands Fivefold in Five Years | date=27 February 2025 | access-date=27 February 2025 }}] The banking sector is dominated by [[Big Four (banking)|four state-owned commercial banks]], the [[National Bank of Egypt]], [[Banque Misr]], [[Banque du Caire]], and [[Alexbank]], which together account for about 55% of total banking assets.[{{cite journal |last=Gebba |first=Tarek Roshdy Abdel Halem |title=Corporate Governance of Egyptian State-Owned Banks |journal=International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research |volume=15 |issue=21 |year=2017 |publisher=Serials Publications Pvt. Ltd.|url=http://www.serialsjournal.com/abstract/13487_ch_23_f_-_ijaber-04.pdf |access-date=6 October 2025}}{{dead link|date=January 2026}}{{predatory}}] [[Commercial International Bank|CIB]] is the country's largest private bank and the third-largest overall.[{{cite report |title=Commercial International Bank (Egypt) S.A.E |publisher=Fitch Ratings |date=27 November 2024 |url=https://www.fitchratings.com/research/banks/commercial-international-bank-egypt-sae-27-11-2024 |access-date=6 October 2025}}]
===Hydrocarbons and mining===
{{Main|Mining industry of Egypt|Energy in Egypt}}
[[File:Darfeel plat.png|thumb|An offshore platform in the Darfeel Gas Field]]
Egypt's oil production is concentrated in the Western Desert, the [[Gulf of Suez]], and the Nile Delta, with peak crude oil output reaching approximately {{convert|941000|oilbbl/d|m3/d|abbr=on}} in 1993 before declining to {{convert|630000|oilbbl/d|abbr=on}} by 2008.[{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Egypt|access-date=4 March 2015}}] This decline transformed Egypt into a net oil importer by 2008–2009, prompting a strategic shift towards natural gas.
Natural gas has since become central to Egypt's economy, drawing major foreign investment.[{{cite web|url=https://www.eni.com/en-IT/actions/global-activities/egypt/zohr.html|title=Zohr Gas Field – Egypt|publisher=Eni|access-date=28 February 2025}}] greatly enhancing Egypt's energy outlook, though recent technical issues have reduced output; new drilling is planned to restore capacity.[{{cite news | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1202/541105/AlAhram-Weekly/Economy/Tightening-the-deficit-on-gas.aspx | title=Tightening the Deficit on Gas | publisher=Al-Ahram Weekly | date=22 February 2024 | access-date=28 February 2025 }}] [[BP]] has made major investments, including a $12 billion commitment in 2015 to the West Nile Delta project, along with other developments such as Atoll, North Damietta, and Qattameya, which began production in 2020.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/business/international/bp-signs-12-billion-deal-to-develop-natural-gas-in-egypt.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/business/international/bp-signs-12-billion-deal-to-develop-natural-gas-in-egypt.html|archive-date=1 January 2022|title=BP Signs $12 Billion Deal to Develop Natural Gas in Egypt|first=Stanley|last=Reed|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}][{{cite web|url=https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/what-we-do/bp-worldwide/bp-in-egypt.html|title=BP in Egypt|publisher=BP|access-date=28 February 2025}}]
Egypt possesses substantial mineral wealth, with deposits of [[gold]], [[copper]], [[iron ore]], [[phosphate]], [[uranium]], [[tantalum]], [[manganese]], [[chromium]], [[coal]], [[zinc]], [[lead]], [[tin]], and black sand minerals such as [[ilmenite]], [[zircon]], [[rutile]], and [[magnetite]].[{{cite news |url=https://www.intellinews.com/egypt-s-mineral-wealth-shifting-away-from-oil-and-gas-dependence-321266/ |title=Egypt's mineral wealth: shifting away from oil and gas dependence |date=23 April 2024 |work=bne IntelliNews |access-date=22 April 2025}}] It also produces abundant industrial materials like [[granite]], [[marble]], [[limestone]], white sand, [[kaolin]], and [[feldspar]].[ The [[gold mining]] sector has grown rapidly following investment reforms and exploration bids involving [[AngloGold Ashanti]] and [[Alexander Nubia International]].][{{cite news|last=Mariaan|first=Webb|title=AngloGold and JV partner to accelerate exploration in Egypt|url=http://www.miningweekly.com/article/anglogold-and-jv-partner-to-accelerate-exploration-in-egypt-2011-04-20|access-date=7 September 2012|newspaper=Mining Weekly|date=20 April 2011|archive-date=28 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228033911/http://www.miningweekly.com/article/anglogold-and-jv-partner-to-accelerate-exploration-in-egypt-2011-04-20|url-status=dead}}] The [[Sukari mine]] remains the core operation, with the sector's GDP share expected to reach 5–6% by 2030.[{{cite news | url=https://www.miningmagazine.com/africa/news-analysis/4401327/egypt-goes-gold | title=Egypt Goes Gold: Mining Sector Reforms | publisher=Mining Magazine | date=22 February 2024 | access-date=28 February 2025 }}] Gold exports doubled to $2.17 billion in 2024, with Egypt aiming to join the world's top ten exporters by 2027.[{{cite news | url=https://english.news.cn/20241217/f6a7cbe3c21d4d99893d6572e10c5f8e/c.html| title=Egypt's Gold Industry Sees Strong Growth in Exports | publisher=Xinhua | date=17 December 2024 | access-date=28 February 2025 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}]
===Agriculture===
[[File:Egyptian Countryside R02.jpg|thumb|Farmland in the Egyptian countryside]]
Egypt's agricultural sector remains essential to its economy, though its share of GDP and employment has declined over time. Egypt produces substantial quantities of [[wheat]], [[maize]], [[sugarcane]], [[fruits]], [[vegetables]], [[fodder]], and [[rice]], yet remains reliant on wheat and maize imports, primarily from Ukraine and Russia, despite yield improvements since 1970.[{{cite book|first1=Fouad N.|last1=Ibrahim|first2=Barbara|last2=Ibrahim|title=Egypt: An Economic Geography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rdyv_lA95aUC&pg=PA133|date=5 December 2003|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=978-1-86064-548-8|pages=133–}}][{{Cite web |title=Egypt: main crops by production volume 2021 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1063560/egypt-main-crops-by-production-volume/ |access-date=28 June 2024 |website=Statista |language=en}}] This dependency stems from high domestic demand, driven by subsidies and a [[Egyptian cuisine#Bread|culinary preference for bread]], as well as Egypt's limited arable land and its emphasis on high-value export crops.[{{cite web |last=Bower |first=Edmund |title=Egypt's food exports grow by a third |website=Arabian Gulf Business Insight|date=8 November 2024 |url=https://www.agbi.com/agriculture/2024/11/egypt-food-exports-grow-by-a-third-this-year/ |access-date=25 October 2025}}] and roughly $6.1 billion in food industry products.[{{cite web |url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2025/05/14/egypts-food-exports-surge-21-in-2024/ |title=Egypt's food exports surge 21% in 2024 |work=Daily News Egypt |date=14 May 2025 |access-date=6 October 2025}}]
The country has achieved self-sufficiency in several key agricultural products, including [[vegetables]], [[fruits]], [[poultry]], [[dairy]], [[Eggs as food|eggs]], and [[rice]], while nearing full self-sufficiency in [[sugar]] and [[fish]], with production reaching approximately 90% of demand.[{{cite web |url=https://see.news/egypt-achieved-self-sufficiency-in-7-agricultural-crops-minister |title=Egypt Achieved Self-sufficiency in 7 Agricultural Crops: Minister |publisher=Sada Elbalad |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=6 October 2025}}] Self-sufficiency ratios are lower for [[red meat]] (60%),[{{cite web |url=https://www.foodbusinessmea.com/egypt-is-producing-60-of-red-meat-nears-full-poultry-self-sufficiency-ministry-of-agriculture-and-land-reclamation/ |title=Egypt is producing 60% of red meat, nears full poultry self-sufficiency – Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation |publisher=Food Business Middle East & Africa |date=18 September 2025 |access-date=6 October 2025}}] [[cereals]] (58%), [[vegetable oils]] (26%), and [[food oil|oil crops]] (35%). Consequently, Egypt relies on imports for roughly 45% of its domestic food demand.[{{cite web |url=https://www.siani.se/news-story/egypts-food-system/ |title=Egypt's Food System Under a Perfect Storm |publisher=SIANI |date=10 March 2023 |access-date=6 October 2025}}]
The [[Aswan High Dam]], completed in 1971, improved irrigation stability.[{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Michael |date=26 December 1987 |title=Parched Egypt Watches Anxiously as Waters Behind Aswan Dam Recede |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-26-mn-7439-story.html |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}] In 2010, 3.6 million hectares were cultivated, with the government targeting 4.8 million hectares by 2030.[{{cite web |title=Country profile – Egypt (Version 2016) |url=http://www.fao.org/3/i9729en/I9729EN.pdf |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |access-date=6 June 2018}}] Major initiatives include the New Delta and [[Toshka Project]], designed to convert desert areas into farmland using advanced irrigation techniques, [[wastewater treatment]], [[groundwater]] and water [[desalination]].[{{cite news | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/482357/Business/Economy/Egypt-expands-land-reclamation-projects-to-boost-f.aspx | title=Egypt expands land reclamation projects to boost food security | date=20 December 2023 | access-date=3 March 2025 }}] Efforts to deregulate agriculture have improved price alignment with global markets, but climate change and water scarcity continue to pose long-term challenges.
=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Egypt}}
[[File:Camel and the pyramids.jpg|thumb|Tourists riding a [[Arabian camel|camel]] in front of [[Pyramid of Khafre]]. The [[Giza Necropolis]] is one of Egypt's main tourist attractions.]]
Tourism is an important sector in Egypt's economy. Egypt received a record 15.7 million tourists in 2024, up from 14.9 million in 2023. Tourism revenues also rose, to $14.1 billion.[{{cite web |url=https://sis.gov.eg/Story/204112/A-record-15.7-million-tourists-visited-Egypt-in-2024?lang=en-us |title=A record 15.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2024 |publisher=State Information Service |date=2024 |access-date=27 February 2025 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}]
Egypt's tourism strategy aims to attract 30 million tourists by 2028, with a focus on infrastructure improvements, high-profile projects like the [[Grand Egyptian Museum]], and enhancing visitor experiences. In 2024, the country's top tourism markets included Germany, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.[
The [[Giza Necropolis]] is one of Egypt's best-known tourist attractions; it is the only one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]] still in existence.
Egypt's beaches on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, which extend to over {{convert|3,000|km|abbr=off}}, are also popular tourist destinations; the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] beaches, [[Safaga]], [[Sharm el-Sheikh]], [[Hurghada]], [[Luxor]], [[Dahab]], [[Ras Sidr]] and [[Marsa Alam]] are popular sites.
==Infrastructure==
=== Energy ===
{{Main|Energy in Egypt|Electricity sector in Egypt}}
[[File:Aswan Dam.jpg|thumb|Power plant of the [[Aswan High Dam]], with the dam itself in the background]]
Egypt's electricity sector has shifted from full state control to a more diversified energy mix that includes [[Fossil fuel power station|natural gas]], [[Renewable energy|renewables]], and [[nuclear power]], with growing private sector participation and regional interconnections. [[Fossil fuels]] still dominate, generating 88% of electricity in 2023, while hydropower provides 7% and wind and solar together 5%, up from 1% in 2015 but still below the global average of 13% and Africa's 6%.][{{cite web |url=https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/egypt/ |title=Egypt |publisher=Ember Energy |access-date=3 March 2025}}] Egypt remains Africa's largest producer of gas-fired electricity, accounting for 45% of the continent's total in 2022, yet its per capita carbon emissions remain below the global average.[{{Cite web|date=2 March 2021|title=France's Coface favours Egypt to lead Africa's economic recovery|url=https://www.theafricareport.com/69219/frances-coface-favours-egypt-to-lead-africas-economic-recovery/|access-date=7 March 2021|website=The Africa Report.com|language=en-US}}] As part of its renewable energy strategy, Egypt has undertaken large-scale projects like the [[Benban Solar Park]] and the Gabal El Zeit wind farm. Benban, located near Aswan, has a total capacity of 1650 MW and generates about 3.8 TWh annually, making it the fourth-largest solar power plant globally.[{{cite web |access-date=23 April 2018 |location=Beijing |author=Forum on China-Africa Cooperation |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201804120269.html |title=Egypt: China's Green Energy Company Starts Construction of Biggest Solar Plant in Egypt |date=11 April 2018 |publisher=Forum on China-Africa Cooperation via [[AllAfrica.com]] |archive-date=24 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424072329/http://allafrica.com/stories/201804120269.html |url-status=live }}] Additionally, the Gabal El Zeit wind farm, costing €340 million, spans 100 square kilometres with 300 turbines, generating 580 MW of electricity.[{{cite web|url=https://www.evwind.es/2018/07/23/middle-easts-largest-wind-farm-in-jabal-al-zeit/64021|title=Middle East's largest wind farm in Jabal al-Zeit, Egypt - REVE News of the wind sector in Spain and in the world|date=23 July 2018 |publisher=}}][{{Cite web|title=The Egyptian winds, a clean energy source {{!}} EU Neighbours|url=https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/south/eu-in-action/stories/egyptian-winds-clean-energy-source|access-date=14 November 2021|website=www.euneighbours.eu|language=en}}] Egypt is currently constructing its first nuclear power facility, the [[El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant]], in the northern coastal region.[{{cite web|title=Russia to lend Egypt $25 billion to build nuclear power plant|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-russia-nuclear-idUSKCN0YA1G5|date=19 May 2016|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516193807/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-russia-nuclear-idUSKCN0YA1G5|archive-date=16 May 2017|url-status=live}}]
Egypt and [[Cyprus]] are considering implementing the proposed [[EuroAfrica Interconnector]] project.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.euroafrica-interconnector.com/|title=EuroAfrica Interconnector|website=www.euroafrica-interconnector.com|access-date=30 November 2020|archive-date=18 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418180827/https://www.euroafrica-interconnector.com/|url-status=dead}}] This consists of laying a 2 GW [[high-voltage direct current|HVDC]] [[submarine power cable|undersea power cable]] between them and between Cyprus and Greece, thus connecting Egypt to the greater European power grid.[{{Cite web|date=8 February 2017|title=ENERGY: EuroAfrica 2,000MW cable boosts Egypt-Cyprus ties|url=https://www.financialmirror.com/2017/02/08/energy-euroafrica-2000mw-cable-boosts-egypt-cyprus-ties/}}] The interconnector will make Egypt an electricity hub between Europe and Africa.[{{Cite news|date=8 February 2017|title=Electricity Cable Aims to Link Cyprus, Egypt, Greece|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-08/electricity-cable-aims-to-link-cyprus-egypt-greece|via=www.bloomberg.com}}] The president of Egypt and the prime minister of Cyprus met in [[Nicosia]] on 21 November 2017 and showed their full support for the EuroAfrica Interconnector pointing out its importance for their energy security.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/D5A706294139C3B3C22581DF004E38D7?Opendocument&L=E|title=Joint Declaration following the 5th Cyprus – Egypt – Greece Trilateral Summit, PIO Cyprus, Nicosia, 21 November 2017|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-date=4 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204123922/http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/D5A706294139C3B3C22581DF004E38D7?Opendocument&L=E|url-status=dead}}][{{Cite web|title=Egypt President El-Sisi fully endorses EuroAfrica Interconnector "electricity corridor" in historic meeting, Press release|url=http://www.euroafrica-interconnector.com/20171120_press.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000429/http://www.euroafrica-interconnector.com/20171120_press.html|archive-date=4 February 2018|access-date=5 February 2018}}]
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Egypt}}
[[File:المترو من جهة اخرى.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Cairo Metro]]]]
Transport in Egypt is primarily concentrated around Cairo, following the Nile River's settlement patterns. The country's {{convert|4800|km|mi|adj=on}} railway network is operated by [[Egyptian National Railways]], with its main line running from [[Alexandria]] to [[Aswan]]. In 2021, Egypt launched a $4.5 billion [[High-speed rail in Egypt|high-speed rail project]] to connect [[Ain Sokhna]], [[Mersa Matruh]], and Alexandria, later expanding to include routes linking [[Greater Cairo]] to Aswan and [[Luxor]] to [[Hurghada]] and [[Safaga]].[{{Cite web |title=High-speed train El Ain El Sokhna - Marsa Matrouh |url=http://www.nat.gov.eg/LocationActivity.aspx?id=2082 |access-date=18 August 2022 |website=National Authority for Tunnels}}][{{cite news |title=Siemens Mobility secures high-speed rail contract in Egypt |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/news/siemens-mobility-rail-contract/ |access-date=30 May 2022 |work=Railway Technology |date=30 May 2022}}]
The [[Cairo Metro]] operates three lines, with a fourth line under construction and plans for additional expansions in the future. Meanwhile, two [[Cairo Monorail|monorail lines]] are also being built in the city, along with a [[Alexandria Metro|metro system]] in [[Alexandria]].[{{cite web |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/138743/Phase-1-of-Alexandria-Metro-Construction-Ongoing-Says-Ministry-of |title=Phase 1 of Alexandria Metro Construction Ongoing, Says Ministry of Transport |date=28 February 2025 |publisher=Egypt Today |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Egypt has undertaken major road infrastructure expansion through the [[National Roads Project]], increasing the total length of main roads by nearly 30% from 23,500 km in 2014 to 30,500 km in 2024. Alongside constructing new highways, thousands of kilometres of roads have been upgraded. Egypt's ranking in the Road Quality Index rose from 118th place in 2015 to 18th place in 2024.[{{cite web |url=https://lca.logcluster.org/23-egypt-road-network |title=Egypt Road Network |publisher=Logistics Capacity Assessment |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Egypt's aviation sector is led by [[EgyptAir]], the country's [[flag carrier]] and largest airline, founded in 1932 by [[Talaat Harb]]. Now state-owned, EgyptAir operates from its [[Cairo International Airport]] hub, with scheduled passenger and cargo services to over 75 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The airline's current fleet consists of 80 aircraft.
The [[Suez Canal]], an artificial sea-level waterway, connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, enabling direct shipping between Europe and Asia without navigating around Africa. In 2023, it generated a record $9.4 billion in revenue for Egypt.[{{Cite news |date=21 June 2023 |title=Suez Canal annual revenue hits record $9.4 billion, chairman says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/suez-canal-annual-revenue-hits-record-94-bln-chairman-2023-06-21/ |access-date=15 August 2023}}] Opened in November 1869, the {{convert|193.30|km|mi|frac=8|abbr=on}} canal runs from [[Port Said]] in the north to [[Port Tawfiq]] in the south, with [[Ismailia]] situated {{convert|3|km|mi|frac=8|abbr=off}} west of its midpoint.[{{cite news |title=New Suez Canal project proposed by Egypt to boost trade |url=http://www.caironews.net/index.php/sid/224460353 |access-date=7 August 2014 |publisher=Cairo News |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129022814/http://www.caironews.net/index.php/sid/224460353|url-status=live}}][{{cite web|title=Egypt Says Work Finished on New Suez Canal|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/egypt-says-work-is-finished-on-new-suez-canal/2883548.html|publisher=Voice of America|date=29 July 2015|access-date=24 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803133542/http://www.voanews.com/content/egypt-says-work-is-finished-on-new-suez-canal/2883548.html|archive-date=3 August 2015|url-status=live}}][{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33800076|title=Egypt launches Suez Canal expansion|date=6 August 2015|access-date=6 August 2015|agency=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806152649/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33800076|archive-date=6 August 2015|url-status=live}}]
=== Water supply and sanitation ===
{{Main|Water supply and sanitation in Egypt}}
[[File:Egypt sat.png|thumb|Green irrigated land along the Nile amidst the desert and in the [[Nile Delta]]]]
Egypt's [[water supply]] is heavily dependent on the [[Nile River]], which provides approximately 90% of the country's total water resources, with an annual share of 55 billion cubic metres, unchanged since 1954. An additional 0.5 billion cubic metres comes from non-renewable groundwater sources. However, national demand exceeds 90 billion cubic metres annually, creating a persistent water deficit. As a result, Egypt's per capita water share fell to 570 cubic metres in 2018, well below the 1,000 cubic metre international water scarcity threshold. To address this, the government has prioritised efficient water management, particularly in response to population growth and agricultural expansion.[{{cite web |url=https://sdgs.un.org/basic-page/egypt-34124#:~:text=The%20country%20highlights%20the%20following,soap%20and%20water%20increased%20from |title=Egypt |publisher=United Nations Sustainable Development Goals |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Even so, water access has improved sharply. Between 1990 and 2010, piped water coverage rose from 89% to 100% in urban areas and from 39% to 93% in rural areas, eliminating [[open defecation]] in rural regions and achieving near-universal access to an [[improved water source]]. By 2015, 90% of the population had access to safely managed drinking water, increasing to 96.9% by 2019. Similarly, proper sanitation coverage expanded from 50% in 2015 to 66.2% in 2019, while the percentage of treated wastewater relative to total wastewater rose from 50% to 68.7% in the same period, reaching 74% in 2022.[{{cite web |url=https://www.sdg6data.org/en/country-or-area/Egypt |title=Egypt - SDG 6 Data |publisher=United Nations SDG 6 Data Portal |access-date=3 March 2025}}] However, gaps in sanitation infrastructure have historically led to health concerns, with a 2007 report estimating 17,000 child deaths annually from diarrhoeal diseases linked to poor sanitation.[National Water Research Center, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (2007): [https://web.archive.org/web/20160118112500/http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-127200-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html Actualizing the Right to Water: An Egyptian Perspective for an Action Plan], Shaden Abdel-Gawad. Retrieved 30 April 2012.]
Egypt has made significant investments in wastewater treatment infrastructure as part of its broader water management strategy. In 2021, the Bahr El Baqar Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed, becoming the largest in the world at the time, with a capacity of 5 million cubic metres per day. The treated water from this facility is allocated to irrigating 342,000 acres under the Sinai Peninsula Development Plan.[ In 2023, Egypt inaugurated the [[New Delta Wastewater Treatment Plant]], surpassing Bahr El Baqar as the largest wastewater facility globally, with a capacity of 7.5 million cubic metres per day.][{{cite news | url=https://www.metito.com/news-detail/egypts-new-delta-treatment-plant-sets-four-guinness-world-records-revolutionizing-and-setting-unprecedented-agriculture-and-environmental-preservation-standards/ | title=Egypt's New Delta Treatment Plant Sets Four Guinness World Records | date=29 March 2023 | access-date=1 March 2025 | archive-date=1 March 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250301124322/https://www.metito.com/news-detail/egypts-new-delta-treatment-plant-sets-four-guinness-world-records-revolutionizing-and-setting-unprecedented-agriculture-and-environmental-preservation-standards/ | url-status=dead }}] A key component of Egypt's agricultural expansion strategy, the plant supports the New Delta reclamation project while also reducing pollution in [[Lake Mariout]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]].[
Given Egypt's arid climate and lack of appreciable rainfall, agriculture is entirely dependent on irrigation. The Nile River, regulated by the [[Aswan High Dam]], releases an annual average of 55 billion cubic metres, of which 46 billion cubic metres are diverted into irrigation canals.][Egyptian Water Use Management Project (EWUP), 1984. Improving Egypt's Irrigation System in the Old Lands, Final Report. Colorado State University and Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources.] This irrigation sustains 33,600 square kilometres (13,000 square miles) of agricultural land in the Nile Valley and Nile Delta, producing an average of 1.8 crops per year.[{{cite web | title=Africa: most populated countries 2026 | website=Statista | date=2026-07-03 | url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121246/population-in-africa-by-country/ | access-date=2026-09-04}}] Its population grew rapidly from 1970 to 2010 due to [[History of medicine#Late modern medicine|medical advances]] and increases in agricultural productivity[{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6496585.stm |title=The limits of a Green Revolution? |work=BBC News |date=29 March 2007 |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728055441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6496585.stm |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=live }}] enabled by the [[Green Revolution]].[{{cite web|author=admin |url=http://www.foodfirst.org/media/opeds/2000/4-greenrev.html |title=Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy |publisher=Foodfirst.org |date=8 April 2000 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714215036/http://www.foodfirst.org/media/opeds/2000/4-greenrev.html |archive-date=14 July 2009 }}] Egypt's population was estimated at 3 million when [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] invaded the country in 1798.[{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/egypt/55.htm |title=Egypt – Population |publisher=Countrystudies.us |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117011712/http://countrystudies.us/egypt/55.htm |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live }}] The great majority of its people live near the banks of the [[Nile]] River, an area of about {{convert|40000|km2|-3}}, where the only [[arable land]] is found. The large regions of the [[Sahara]] desert, which constitute most of Egypt's territory, are sparsely inhabited. About 43% of Egypt's residents live across the country's urban areas,[{{cite web |title=Urban population (% of total population) - Egypt, Arab Rep. |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=EG |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314193242/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=EG |archive-date=14 March 2024 |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=[[World Bank]]}}] with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
Egypt's people are highly urbanised, being concentrated along the Nile (notably Cairo and Alexandria), in the Delta and near the Suez Canal. Egyptians are divided demographically into those who live in the major urban centres and the [[fellah]]in, or farmers, that reside in rural villages. The total inhabited area constitutes [http://citypopulation.de/Egypt-Cities.html only 77,041 km2], putting the [[physiological density]] at over 1,200 people per km2, similar to Bangladesh.
While emigration was restricted under Nasser, thousands of Egyptian professionals were dispatched abroad in the context of the [[Arab Cold War]].[{{cite journal |last1=Tsourapas |first1=Gerasimos |title=Nasser's Educators and Agitators across al-Watan al-'Arabi : Tracing the Foreign Policy Importance of Egyptian Regional Migration, 1952-1967 |journal=British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies |date=2 July 2016 |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=324–341 |doi=10.1080/13530194.2015.1102708 }}] Egyptian emigration was liberalised in 1971, under President Sadat, reaching record numbers after the 1973 oil crisis.[{{cite journal |last1=Tsourapas |first1=Gerasimos |title=Why Do States Develop Multi-tier Emigrant Policies? Evidence from Egypt |journal=Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies |date=10 November 2015 |volume=41 |issue=13 |pages=2192–2214 |doi=10.1080/1369183X.2015.1049940 }}] An estimated 2.7 million Egyptians live abroad. Approximately 70% of Egyptian migrants live in Arab countries (923,600 in Saudi Arabia, 332,600 in Libya, 226,850 in Jordan, 190,550 in Kuwait with the rest elsewhere in the region) and the remaining 30% reside mostly in Europe and North America (318,000 in the United States, 110,000 in Canada and 90,000 in Italy).[{{cite web|url=http://www.egypt.iom.int/Doc/IOM%20Migration%20and%20Development%20in%20Egypt%20Facts%20and%20Figures%20(English).pdf|publisher=International Organization for Migration|title=Migration and Development in Egypt: Facts and Figures|year=2010|access-date=21 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205011709/http://www.egypt.iom.int/Doc/IOM%20Migration%20and%20Development%20in%20Egypt%20Facts%20and%20Figures%20(English).pdf|archive-date=5 February 2011}}] The process of emigrating to non-Arab states has been ongoing since the 1950s.[{{Cite book|title=From Egypt to Europe: globalisation and migration across the Mediterranean|last=Talani |first=Leila Simona |date=1 January 2010|publisher=Tauris Academic Studies|oclc=650606660}}]
=== Ethnic groups ===
Ethnic [[Egyptians]] are by far the largest ethnic group in the country, constituting 99.7% of the total population.[{{cite web |url=https://egypt.iom.int/news/iom-egypt-estimates-current-number-international-migrants-living-egypt-9-million-people-originating-133-countries |title=IOM Egypt estimates the current number of international migrants living in Egypt at 9 million people originating from 133 countries |publisher=International Organization for Migration |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Egypt}}
The [[official language]] of Egypt is [[Modern Standard Arabic|Literary Arabic]].[{{cite web|title=Constitutional Declaration 2011|url=http://www.egypt.gov.eg/english/laws/constitution/|website=Egyptian Government Services|access-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201095854/http://www.egypt.gov.eg/english/laws/constitution/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}] The [[spoken language]]s are: [[Egyptian Arabic]] (68%), [[Sa'idi Arabic]] (29%), [[Bedawi Arabic|Eastern Egyptian Bedawi Arabic]] (1.6%), [[Sudanese Arabic]] (0.6%), [[Domari language|Domari]] (0.3%), [[Nobiin language|Nobiin]] (0.3%),[{{cite web | last=Sawe | first=Benjamin Elisha | title=Languages Spoken In Egypt | website=WorldAtlas | date=2016-09-23 | url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/languages-spoken-in-egypt.html | access-date=2025-12-08}}] [[Beja language|Beja]] (0.1%), [[Siwi language|Siwi]] and others.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} Additionally, Greek, [[Armenian language|Armenian]] and Italian, and more recently, African languages like [[Amharic language|Amharic]] and [[Tigrinya language|Tigrigna]] are the main languages of immigrants.
The main foreign languages taught in schools, by order of popularity, are English, French, German and Italian.
Historically [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] was spoken, the latest stage of which is [[Coptic language|Coptic Egyptian]]. Spoken Coptic was mostly extinct by the 17th century but may have survived in isolated pockets in [[Upper Egypt]] as late as the 19th century. It remains in use as the liturgical language of the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]].[The language may have survived in isolated pockets in [[Upper Egypt]] as late as the 19th century, according to {{cite news |last1=Quibell |first1=J. E. |date=1901 |title=Wann starb das Kobtische aus? |trans-title=When did Coptic become extinct? |language=de |page=87 |hdl=2027/hvd.32044098373418?urlappend=%3Bseq=107 |hdl-access=free }} in {{cite journal |title=Miscellen |journal=Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde |date=1901 |volume=39 |pages=83–88 |doi=10.1524/zaes.1901.39.jg.83 }}][{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=106|title=Daily News Egypt – Full Article|date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071828/http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=106|archive-date=21 July 2011}}] It forms a separate branch among the family of [[Afroasiatic languages]].
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Egypt}}
[[File:Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan (4).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan|Madrasa-Mosque of Sultan Hassan]]]]
Islam is the [[state religion]] of Egypt. Egypt has the largest Muslim population in the [[Arab world]] and the world's [[Islam by country|sixth largest Muslim population]], accounting for five percent of all Muslims worldwide.[{{cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/|title=The Global Religious Landscape|date=December 2012|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117084054/http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/|url-status=live}}] Egypt also has the [[Christianity in the Middle East|largest Christian population]] in the [[Middle East and North Africa]].[{{cite web |author=Analysis |url=http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Global-Christianity-exec.aspx |title=Global Christianity |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=19 December 2011 |access-date=17 August 2012 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226061838/http://www.pewforum.org/christian/global-christianity-exec.aspx |url-status=dead }}] Official data about religion is lacking due to social and political sensitivities.[{{Cite web |last=Hackett |first=Conrad |date=16 February 2011 |title=How many Christians are there in Egypt? |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/02/16/how-many-christians-are-there-in-egypt/ |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}] An estimated 85–90% are identified as Muslim, 10–15% as [[Coptic Christians]], and 1% as other Christian denominations; other estimates place the Christian population as high as 15–20%.{{efn|The population of Egypt is estimated as being 90% Muslim, 9% Coptic Christian and 1% other Christian, though estimates vary.[{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/egypt/180843.htm|title=Background Note: Egypt|date=10 November 2010|publisher=US Department of State|access-date=5 March 2011|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722024956/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/egypt/180843.htm|url-status=live}}][{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/|title=Egypt|date=4 September 2008|publisher=CIA|access-date=15 May 2007|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009073315/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/|url-status=dead}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/middle-east-north-africa/egypt|title=Egypt|date=27 January 2008|publisher=UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121212135632/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/middle-east-north-africa/egypt|archive-date=12 December 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=16 February 2016}}] Microsoft Encarta Online similarly estimates the Sunni population at 90% of the total.[{{cite encyclopedia|title=Egypt|publisher=Microsoft Encarta Online|url=http://encarta.msn.com/text_761557408___0/Egypt.html|date=30 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021003619/http://encarta.msn.com/text_761557408___0/Egypt.html|archive-date=21 October 2009}}] The [[Pew Research Center|Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life]] gave a higher estimate of the Muslim population, at 94.6%.[{{cite web|url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf|title=Mapping The Global Muslim Population|publisher=Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life|page=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010050756/http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=25 July 2011}}] In 2017, the government-owned newspaper ''[[Al Ahram]]'' estimated the percentage of Christians at 10 to 15%.[{{cite news|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/281789/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Sisi-meets-world-Evangelical-churches-deleg.aspx|title=Egypt's Sisi meets world Evangelical churches delegation in Cairo|work=Al Ahram|date=19 November 2017|author=Alhram Online|access-date=26 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504020907/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/281789/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Sisi-meets-world-Evangelical-churches-deleg.aspx|archive-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live}}]}}
Egypt was an early and leading centre of Christianity into [[late antiquity]]. The [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] was founded in the first century and remains the largest church in Egypt. With the arrival of Islam in the seventh century, Egypt was gradually Islamised into a majority-Muslim country.[{{Cite web|title = Encyclopedia Coptica: The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt|url = http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/|website = www.coptic.net|access-date = 6 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050831164722/http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/|archive-date = 31 August 2005|url-status=live|df = dmy-all}}][{{Cite book|title = The Arab Conquest of Egypt|last = Butler|first = Alfred J.|publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 1978|isbn = 978-0-19-821678-0}}{{pn|date=January 2026}}] It is unknown when Muslims reached a majority, variously estimated from {{Circa|1000 CE}} to as late as the 14th century. Egypt emerged as a centre of politics and culture in the [[Muslim world]]. Under [[Anwar Sadat]], Islam became the official [[state religion]] and [[Sharia]] the main source of law.[[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-1-religious-affiliation/#identity Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226113158/http://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-1-religious-affiliation/#identity|date=26 December 2016}} retrieved 4 September 2013] There is also a [[Shi'a]] minority. The [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs|Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs]] estimates the Shia population at 1 to 2.2 million[{{cite web |author=Col. (ret.) Jacques Neriah |url=http://jcpa.org/article/egypts-shiite-minority-between-the-egyptian-hammer-and-the-iranian-anvil/ |title=Egypt's Shiite Minority: Between the Egyptian Hammer and the Iranian Anvil |publisher=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]] |date=23 September 2012 |access-date=6 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909234700/http://jcpa.org/article/egypts-shiite-minority-between-the-egyptian-hammer-and-the-iranian-anvil/ |archive-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=live }}] and could measure as much as 3 million.[{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1107961/egypt-attack-on-shia-comes-at-dangerous-time |title=Egypt: Attack On Shia Comes At Dangerous Time |author=Tim Marshall |publisher=Sky News |date=25 June 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630001649/http://news.sky.com/story/1107961/egypt-attack-on-shia-comes-at-dangerous-time |archive-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=live }}] The [[Ahmadiyya]] population is estimated at less than 50,000,[{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmgkD3Hel5IC&pg=PA297|title=Between Heaven and Hell: Islam, Salvation, and the Fate of Others|author=Mohammad Hassan Khalil|date=2013|page=297 |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-994541-2}}] whereas the [[Salafi]] (ultra-conservative Sunni) population is estimated at five to six million.[{{cite web |url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/6073/what-salafism-and-should-we-be-worried |title=What is Salafism and should we be worried? |author=Venetia Rainey |publisher=Theweek.co.uk |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=6 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711010603/http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/6073/what-salafism-and-should-we-be-worried |archive-date=11 July 2013 |url-status=live }}]
[[Cairo]] is famous for its numerous mosque [[minaret]]s and has been dubbed "The City of 1,000 Minarets".[{{cite news|title= Cairo: Welcome to the city of 1,000 minarets|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/africa/cairo-welcome-to-the-city-of-1000-minarets-692635.html|work= [[The Independent]]|location= London|author= Robin Barton|date= 19 February 2001|access-date= 26 August 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150925234721/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/africa/cairo-welcome-to-the-city-of-1000-minarets-692635.html|archive-date= 25 September 2015|url-status=live|df= dmy-all}}] The city also hosts [[Al-Azhar University]], which is considered the preeminent institution of Islamic higher learning and jurisprudence.[{{Cite web |date=6 July 2024 |title=Egypt - Arabic, Coptic, Nubian {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt/Languages |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}] Founded in the late tenth century, it is by some measures the second oldest continuously operating university in the world.[Indira Falk Gesink, ''Islamic Reform and Conservatism: Al-Azhar and the Evolution of Modern Sunni Islam'' (I.B.Tauris, 2014), p. 2.]
It is estimated that 15 million Egyptians follow native Sufi [[Tariqah|orders]],[{{cite web |author=Kristin Deasy |date=October 2012 |title=The Sufis' Choice: Egypt's Political Wild Card |url=http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/sufis%E2%80%99-choice-egypt%E2%80%99s-political-wild-card |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724235845/http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/sufis%E2%80%99-choice-egypt%E2%80%99s-political-wild-card |archive-date=24 July 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 |publisher=World Affairs Journal}}][{{cite news |author=Hassan Ammar |date=14 June 2013 |title=Sufis In Egypt Thrive With More Than 15 Million Despite Attacks By Islamist Hardliners |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/14/sufis-in-egypt_n_3441037.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708021321/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/14/sufis-in-egypt_n_3441037.html |archive-date=8 July 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 |work=The Huffington Post}}][{{cite book |last=Hoffman |first=Valerie J. |title=Sufism, Mystics, and Saints in Modern Egypt |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |year=1995}}] with [[Sufism|Sufi]] leadership asserting that the numbers are much greater, as many Egyptian Sufis are not officially registered with a Sufi order.[Walsh, Declan, and Youssef, Nour, ''[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/24/world/middleeast/mosque-attack-egypt.html Militants Kill 305 at Sufi Mosque in Egypt's Deadliest Terrorist Attack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126223759/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/24/world/middleeast/mosque-attack-egypt.html|date=26 November 2017}}'', The New York Times, 24 November 2017]
Of the [[Christianity in Egypt|Christian population in Egypt]], over 90% belong to the native Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, an [[Oriental Orthodox]] Christian Church.[{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xrGL7o69KBIC&pg=PA145|title=Who are the Christians in the Middle East?|year=2009|publisher=Betty Jane Bailey |isbn=978-0-8028-1020-5}}] Other native Egyptian Christians are adherents of the [[Coptic Catholic Church]], the [[Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)|Evangelical Church of Egypt]] and various other [[Protestant]] denominations. Non-native Christian communities are largely found in the urban regions of Cairo and Alexandria, such as the [[Syro-Lebanese in Egypt|Syro-Lebanese]], who belong to [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Greek Catholic]], [[Greek Orthodox]], and [[Maronite Catholic]] denominations.[{{cite magazine|title=Catholics in Egypt Reflect Church's Rich and Varied Traditions|magazine=L'Osservatore Romano|date=1 March 2000|pages=6–7|url=http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHISTORY/EGPTCATH.HTM|access-date=23 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125104510/http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHISTORY/EGPTCATH.HTM|archive-date=25 January 2014|url-status=dead}}]
The Egyptian government recognises only three religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Other faiths and minority Muslim sects, such as the small [[Baháʼí Faith]] and [[Ahmadiyya]] communities, are not recognised by the state and face persecution by the government, which labels these groups a threat to Egypt's national security.[{{cite news |last =al-Shahat |first =Abdel Moneim |title =Shahat: Baha'is threaten Egypt's national security |newspaper =Egypt Independent |date =18 February 2012 |url =http://www.egyptindependent.com/node/666371 |access-date =25 February 2012 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120220192155/http://www.egyptindependent.com/node/666371 |archive-date =20 February 2012 |url-status=live |df =dmy-all }}][{{cite news |url=https://www.persecutionofahmadis.org/egypt-ahmadis-detained-under-emergency-law-rights-group/ |title=Egypt Ahmadis detained under emergency law: rights group |date=14 May 2010 |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606215554/https://www.persecutionofahmadis.org/egypt-ahmadis-detained-under-emergency-law-rights-group/ |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=live }}] Individuals, particularly Baháʼís and atheists, wishing to include their religion (or lack thereof) on their mandatory state issued identification cards [[Egyptian identification card controversy|are denied this ability]], and were put in the position of either not obtaining required identification or lying about their faith. A 2008 court ruling allowed members of unrecognised faiths to obtain identification and leave the religion field blank.[{{cite web|url= https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108481.htm|title= Egypt, International Religious Freedom Report 2008|date= 19 September 2008|publisher= [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]]|access-date= 24 June 2017|df= dmy-all|archive-date= 16 April 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160416000126/http://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108481.htm|url-status= live}}][{{cite news|first=Cynthia |last=Johnston |title= Egypt Baha'is win court fight over identity papers|url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL29677385.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215133731/http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL29677385.html|archive-date=15 February 2008 |work=Reuters |date=29 January 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 January 2008}}]
=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Egypt}}
[[File:UIS Literacy Rate Egypt population plus15 1980 2015.png|thumb|Egyptian literacy rate among the population aged 15 years and older by UNESCO Institute of Statistics]]
In 2022, Egypt's adult literacy rate was 74.5%, compared to 71.1% in 2017.[{{Cite web |title=Egypt - Literacy rate 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/572680/literacy-rate-in-egypt/ |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Statista |language=en}}] Literacy is lowest among those over 65 years of age, at 32.9% in 2021,[{{cite web |title=GAL Country Profile — Egypt |url=https://www.uil.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/files/2022/03/GAL%20Country%20profile%20-%20Egypt.pdf |website=UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning |publisher=UNESCO |date=December 2021 |access-date=8 October 2025 }}] and highest among youth between 15 and 24 years of age, at 92.2% in 2022.[{{Cite web |title=Egypt: youth literacy rate |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1253111/youth-literacy-rate-in-egypt/ |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Statista |language=en}}]
[[File:CairoUniv.jpg|thumb|[[Cairo University]]]]
A European-style education system was first introduced in Egypt by the Ottomans in the early 19th century to nurture a class of loyal bureaucrats and army officers.[{{cite web|title=Education in Egypt: Key Challenges|url=http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Middle%20East/0312egyptedu_background.pdf|publisher=Chatham House|date=March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224022844/http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Middle%20East/0312egyptedu_background.pdf|archive-date=24 December 2012}}]
Basic education, which includes six years of primary and three years of preparatory school, is a right for Egyptian children from the age of six.[{{cite book |title=Reviews of National Policies for Education: Higher Education in Egypt 2010 |date=2010 |doi=10.1787/9789264084346-en |isbn=978-92-64-07723-2 }}{{page needed|date=January 2026}}] After grade 9, students are tracked into one of two strands of secondary education: general or technical schools. General secondary education prepares students for further education, and graduates of this track normally join higher education institutes based on the results of the [[Thanaweya Amma]], the leaving exam.[{{cite web |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2025/01/09/egypt-introduces-baccalaureate-certificate-system-as-alternative-to-thanaweya-amma/ |title=Egypt Introduces Baccalaureate Certificate System as Alternative to Thanaweya Amma |publisher=Egyptian Streets |date=9 January 2025 |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Technical secondary education has two strands, one lasting three years and a more advanced education lasting five. Graduates of these schools may have access to higher education based on their results on the final exam, but this is generally uncommon.[{{cite web |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/2/524891/Egypt/Society/Cairo-University-ranked--in-QS-World-Rankings-.aspx |title=Cairo University ranked in QS World Rankings 2025 |publisher=Ahram Online |date=3 March 2025 |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Egypt is opening new research institutes to modernise scientific research and development. The most recent is [[Zewail City of Science and Technology]]. Egypt was ranked 86th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2025.[{{Cite web |title=GII Innovation Ecosystems & Data Explorer 2025 |url=https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/egypt |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=WIPO}}][{{cite book |last1=World Intellectual Property Organization |title=Global Innovation Index 2025 |date=2025 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |doi=10.34667/tind.58864 |doi-access=free |page=19 }}]
=== Health ===
{{Main|Health in Egypt|Healthcare in Egypt}}
[[File:مستشفى سرطان الاطفال 57357.jpg|thumb|[[Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt|Egypt's children cancer hospital]] known as ''57357 hospital'']]
As of 2024, Egypt's average life expectancy is 75 years, with 73.8 years for males and 76.2 years for females.[{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Egypt|access-date=3 March 2025}}] Healthcare access has improved in both urban and rural areas, with immunisation programmes now covering 98% of the population. Life expectancy has risen from 45 years in the 1960s, as medical services and disease prevention improved. The infant mortality rate has also declined sharply, dropping from 101 to 132 deaths per 1,000 live births in the 1970s and 1980s to 50–60 per 1,000 in 2000, and further to 16–18 per 1,000 in 2024.[{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsurance.com/health-insurance/egypt/|title=Egypt Health Insurance|work=globalsurance.com|access-date=25 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232826/http://www.globalsurance.com/health-insurance/egypt/|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live}}][
The [[Ministry of Health and Population (Egypt)|Ministry of Health and Population]] oversees most public hospitals, while the [[Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Egypt)|Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research]] manages university hospitals, offering free medical services. Other ministries operate hospitals for employees, and the [[Ministry of Defence (Egypt)|Ministry of Defence]] and [[Ministry of Interior (Egypt)|Ministry of Interior]] run facilities that require out-of-pocket payments for non-service members.][{{cite journal |last1=Shokr |first1=Hisham |last2=Rishworth |first2=Andrea |last3=Wilson |first3=Kathi |title=Access to emergency care in Egypt: Tiered health care and manifestations of inequity |journal=Social Science & Medicine |date=November 2023 |volume=336 |article-number=116212 |doi=10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116212 |pmid=37783622 }}]
The private sector provides about 60% of healthcare services, including for-profit and nonprofit organisations, private hospitals, pharmacies, and independent practitioners. Numerous [[nongovernmental organizations|nongovernmental organisations]] also offer healthcare, including religious and charitable institutions. As of 2021, Egypt had 1,145 private hospitals, a 23.69% increase since 2011.[{{cite web |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1389898/number-private-hospitals-egypt/ |title=Number of private hospitals in Egypt |publisher=Statista |access-date=3 March 2025}}] Private healthcare facilities in Egypt are generally of high quality.[{{cite web |url=https://www.allianzcare.com/en/support/health-and-wellness/national-healthcare-systems/healthcare-in-egypt.html#:~:text=Private%20healthcare%20in%20Egypt,facilities%20for%20more%20specialised%20care. |title=Healthcare in Egypt |publisher=Allianz Care |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
Egypt grants refugees and asylum-seekers access to public healthcare on equal terms with citizens, allowing them to receive care at primary health facilities either free or at low cost.[{{cite web |url=https://help.unhcr.org/egypt/en/health-services/health-2/ |title=Health Services in Egypt |publisher=UNHCR |access-date=3 March 2025}}]
A 2008 report by the [[World Health Organization|World Health Organisation]] estimated that 91.1% of Egypt's girls and women aged 15 to 49 have been subjected to [[Female genital mutilation|genital mutilation]]. Government measures have reduced the practice among younger generations. By 2014, rates had dropped to 10.4% in urban areas and 15.9% in rural areas among girls aged 1–14. In June 2025 the [[Ministry of Social Solidarity|Minister of Social Solidarity]] announced that the percentage of girls aged 15 to 17 who had undergone the practice dropped to 37 percent in 2021, compared to 61 percent in 2014. Public support for FGM has also fallen, with the proportion of women endorsing the practice decreasing from 75 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in 2021.
Legislative reforms, awareness campaigns, and stricter law enforcement contributed to this decline. In 2016, penalties for performing the practice were increased, with prison sentences of up to 15 years for practitioners and up to 3 years for [[Legal guardian#Guardianship for minors|guardians]] who facilitate the procedure.[{{cite web |last=Samir |first=Farah |title=FGM Rate Among Egyptian Teenage Girls Drops to 37%, Says Social Solidarity Minister |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2025/06/22/fgm-rate-among-egyptian-teenage-girls-drops-to-37-says-social-solidarity-minister/ |website=Egyptian Streets |date=22 June 2025 |access-date=6 September 2025}}][{{cite web |url=https://www.fgmcri.org/country/egypt/ |title=Egypt - Country Profile on FGM |publisher=FGM Country Risk Index |access-date=3 March 2025}}][{{cite news|title=Egypt's parliament passes bill designating FGM a felony, imposes stricter penalties|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/242112/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-parliament-passes-bill-designating-FGM-a-fe.aspx|access-date=1 December 2016|agency=Ahram Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202101139/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/242112/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-parliament-passes-bill-designating-FGM-a-fe.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live}}]
=== Largest cities ===
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Egypt}}
{{Largest cities
| country = Egypt
| stat_ref = [http://citypopulation.de/Egypt-Cities.html 2023 estimate]
| list_by_pop = List of cities and towns in Egypt
| div_name = Governorate
| div_link =
| city_1 = Cairo
| div_1 = Cairo Governorate{{!}}Cairo
| pop_1 = 9,801,536
| city_2 = Alexandria
| div_2 = Alexandria Governorate{{!}}Alexandria
| pop_2 = 5,362,517
| city_3 = Giza
| div_3 = Giza Governorate{{!}}Giza
| pop_3 = 4,458,135
| city_4 = Shubra El Kheima
| div_4 = Qalyubia Governorate{{!}}Qalyubia
| pop_4 = 1,275,700
| city_5 = Port Said
| div_5 = Port Said Governorate{{!}}Port Said
| pop_5 = 791,749
| city_6 = Suez
| div_6 = Suez Governorate{{!}}Suez
| pop_6 = 716,458
| city_7 = Mansoura
| div_7 = Dakahlia Governorate{{!}}Dakahlia
| pop_7 = 632,330
| city_8 = El Mahalla El Kubra
| div_8 = Gharbia Governorate{{!}}Gharbia
| pop_8 = 614,202
| city_9 = Tanta
| div_9 = Gharbia Governorate{{!}}Gharbia
| pop_9 = 597,694
| city_10 = Asyut
| div_10 = Asyut Governorate{{!}}Asyut
| pop_10 = 562,061
| city_11 = Faiyum
| div_11 = Faiyum Governorate{{!}}Faiyum
| pop_11 = 531,861
| city_12 = Khusus
| div_12 = Qalyubia Governorate{{!}}Qalyubia
| pop_12 = 502,864
| city_13 = Zagazig
| div_13 = Sharqia Governorate{{!}} Sharqia
| pop_13 = 460,501
| city_14 = Ismailia
| div_14 = Ismailia Governorate{{!}}Ismailia
| pop_14 = 450,388
| city_15 = Aswan
| div_15 = Aswan Governorate{{!}}Aswan
| pop_15 = 401,890
| city_16 = 6th of October (city){{!}} 6th of October
| div_16 = Giza Governorate{{!}}Giza
| pop_16 = 376,302
| city_17 = Damanhur
| div_17 = Beheira Governorate{{!}}Beheira
| pop_17 = 329,572
| city_18 = New Cairo
| div_18 = Cairo Governorate{{!}}Cairo
| pop_18 = 319,488
| city_19 = Damietta
| div_19 = Damietta Governorate{{!}}Damietta
| pop_19 = 312,863
| city_20 = Minya, Egypt{{!}}Minya
| div_20 = Minya Governorate{{!}}Minya
| pop_20 = 298,021
}}
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Egypt}}
Egypt is a recognised cultural trendsetter of the Arabic-speaking world. Contemporary Arabic and Middle-Eastern culture is heavily influenced by Egyptian literature, music, film and television. Egypt gained a regional leadership role during the 1950s and 1960s, giving a further enduring boost to the standing of Egyptian culture in the Arabic-speaking world.[{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49061 |title=Mideast: Egypt Makes Cultural Clout Count (IPS, Oct. 29, 2009) |publisher=Ipsnews.net |date=29 October 2009 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427044804/http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49061 |archive-date=27 April 2011 }}]
[[File:حديقة الأزهر ومسجد محمد على.jpg|thumb|[[Al-Azhar Park]] is listed as one of the world's sixty great public spaces by the [[Project for Public Spaces]].]]
Egyptian identity evolved in the span of a long period of occupation to accommodate [[Islam]], Christianity and Judaism; and a new language, [[Arabic language|Arabic]], and its spoken descendant, [[Egyptian Arabic]], which has a significant [[Coptic language|Coptic-Egyptian]] [[Stratum (linguistics)|substrate]].[{{cite web|url=http://www.youregypt.com/issue3/topic.htm|title=The Egyptian Identity: Pharaohs, Moslems, Arabs, Africans, Middle Easterners or Mediterranean People?|author=Raymon Kondos|date=15 February 2004|access-date=21 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829005958/http://www.youregypt.com/issue3/topic.htm|archive-date=29 August 2008|url-status=live}}]
The work of early 19th century scholar [[Rifa'a al-Tahtawi]] renewed interest in [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian antiquity]] and exposed Egyptian society to [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] principles. Tahtawi co-founded with education reformer [[Ali Mubarak]] a native [[Egyptology]] school that looked for inspiration to medieval Egyptian scholars, such as [[Suyuti]] and [[Maqrizi]], who themselves studied the [[History of ancient Egypt|history]], [[Egyptian language|language]] and [[Ancient Egyptian architecture|antiquities]] of Egypt.[{{cite book|last=El-Daly|first=Okasha|title=Egyptology: The Missing Millennium|year=2005|publisher=UCL Press|location=London|page=29}}]
Egypt's renaissance peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the work of people like [[Muhammad Abduh]], [[Ahmed Lutfi el-Sayed]], [[Muhammad Loutfi Goumah]], [[Tawfiq el-Hakim]], [[Louis Awad]], [[Qasim Amin]], [[Salama Moussa]], [[Taha Hussein]] and [[Mahmoud Mokhtar]]. They forged a liberal path for Egypt expressed as a commitment to personal freedom, [[secularism]] and faith in science to bring progress.[{{cite book|last=Jankowski|first=James|title=Egypt, A Short History|page=130}}]
=== Arts ===
{{Main|Contemporary art in Egypt|Art of ancient Egypt}}
{{See also|Architecture of Egypt}}
[[File:The judgement of the dead in the presence of Osiris.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The "weighing of the heart" scene from the ''[[Book of the Dead]]'']]
The Egyptians were one of the first major civilisations to codify design elements in art and [[Ancient Egyptian architecture|architecture]]. [[Egyptian blue]], also known as calcium copper silicate, is a pigment used by Egyptians for thousands of years. It is considered to be the first synthetic pigment. The wall paintings done in the service of the [[Pharaoh]]s followed a rigid code of visual rules and meanings. Egyptian civilisation is renowned for its colossal [[Egyptian pyramids|pyramids]], [[Egyptian temple|temples]] and monumental tombs. Well-known examples are the [[Pyramid of Djoser]] designed by ancient architect and engineer [[Imhotep]], the [[Sphinx]], and the temple of [[Abu Simbel]].
Modern and contemporary Egyptian art spans disciplines from the vernacular architecture of [[Hassan Fathy]] and [[Ramses Wissa Wassef]] to the iconic sculptures of [[Mahmoud Mokhtar]] and the distinctive [[Coptic art|Coptic iconography]] of [[Isaac Fanous]]. Its development in the twentieth century reflected a complex dialogue between national identity, global artistic trends, and social change. Early modern Egyptian artists sought to reconnect with their national heritage through Neo-Pharaonic styles in architecture, sculpture, and painting, with artists such as [[Mahmoud Mokhtar]] and [[Mahmoud Sa'id]] incorporating symbolic references to ancient Egypt and rural life.[{{cite web |last=Mikdadi |first=Salwa |title=Egyptian Modern Art |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/egyptian-modern-art |website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art |date=October 2004 |access-date=1 October 2025}}][{{cite web|last=Engelstad|first=Svein|title=Historical Themes in Modern Egyptian Art|url=http://folk.uio.no/sveinen/egypt/egypt-art-lund01.pdf|publisher=Oslo University|access-date=18 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727160612/http://folk.uio.no/sveinen/egypt/egypt-art-lund01.pdf|archive-date=27 July 2014|url-status=dead}}]
Later generations embraced international movements like [[Surrealism]], [[Cubism]], [[Dadaism]], and [[Abstract art|abstraction]], while the [[Art et Liberté]] group, including [[Ramses Younan]], promoted individual expression and antifascist ideals.[ The Contemporary Art Group, with artists such as [[Gazbia Sirry]] and [[Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar]], explored social realism and the quest for the Egyptian soul, while experimental painters and sculptors like Munir Canaan and Salah Abdel Kerim explored [[Abstract Expressionism]] and [[Assemblage (art)|assemblage]].][ In the latter half of the century, artists responded to political and cultural shifts with Islamic-inspired calligraphy and geometric abstraction, exemplified by the Calligraphic School of Art.][ Other notable artists from this era include [[Inji Efflatoun]] and [[Kamal Amin]].
The launch of institutions such as the [[Townhouse Gallery]] in 1998 democratised art access and introduced new media forms like video and installation art,][{{cite web|last=Rocha|first=Sean|title=Vision of Cairo|work=Travel + Leisure |url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/visions-of-cairo/1|publisher=Travel and Leisure|access-date=18 April 2013}}] providing a platform for younger artists such as [[Fathi Hassan]], [[Ghada Amer]], Medhat Shafik, [[Moataz Nasr]], and Mona Marzouk to experiment with installation, video, and photography.[ The [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] ushered in a new era of politically and socially engaged art. [[Graffiti]] emerged as a prominent medium to document protests and communicate revolutionary messages,][{{cite journal |last1=Naguib |first1=Saphinaz Amal |title=Engaged Ephemeral Art: Street Art and the Egyptian Arab Spring |journal=Transcultural Studies |date=7 April 2017 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=53–88 |doi=10.17885/HEIUP.TS.2016.2.23590 }}] with artists like [[Bahia Shehab]], [[Alaa Awad]], [[Aya Tarek]], and [[Ganzeer]] creating works that memorialised martyrs, critiqued political figures, and reclaimed public spaces.[{{cite web|last=Morayef|first=Soraya|title=Street Art and The City|url=http://www.thearabreview.org/cairo-street-art-revolution/|access-date=16 April 2013}}]
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[[Khayamiya]] is a traditional Egyptian appliqué textile art primarily made in Cairo's historic ''ShareʿEl Khayamiya'' ({{langx|ar|شارع الخيامية|lit=Street of the Tentmakers|translit=Shāriʿ al-Khayāmiyya}}), also known as the Tentmakers Market. The craft, thought to date back to [[ancient Egypt]], involves a labour-intensive hand-stitching process that can take weeks to complete, with designs ranging from geometric motifs to scenes drawn from Egyptian history and folklore. It was originally associated with decorated tents, but today it is also used for quilts, cushion covers, and wall hangings.[{{cite web |last=Vermillion |first=Stephanie |title=This Ancient Egyptian Textile Is Hanging By a Thread |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/egyptian-traditional-textile-artisan-cairo |website=Atlas Obscura |date=26 September 2019 |access-date=3 October 2025}}]
The [[Cairo Opera House]] is Egypt's main performing arts venue, with the [[Alexandria Opera House|Sayed Darwish Theatre]] in [[Alexandria]] and the [[Port Said Opera House]] in [[Port Said]] serving their respective cities. In 2012 the [[Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival]] (D-CAF) was launched to revitalise Cairo's cultural scene and to provide an inclusive platform for contemporary arts. It is an annual arts festival held in Cairo, Egypt, presenting a range of performances, exhibitions, and workshops in theatre, dance, and visual arts.[{{Cite web |title=Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival: How Cairo's arts scene has become more inclusive than ever before |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/downtown-contemporary-arts-festival-how-cairo-s-arts-scene-has-become-more-inclusive-than-ever-before-1.849437 |website=The National |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=30 September 2025}}]
=== Literature ===
{{Main|Egyptian literature}}
The literary tradition of Egypt began in [[ancient Egypt]], making it among the earliest in human history. Writing was first used by Egyptians to record texts on materials such as papyrus and carved inscriptions.[{{Citation |last=Edwards |first=Amelia |title=The literature and religion of ancient egypt. |url=http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/edwards/pharaohs/pharaohs-6.html
|access-date=30 September 2007 |archive-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020082547/http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/edwards/pharaohs/pharaohs-6.html
|url-status=dead }}] The ''[[Story of Sinuhe]]'' is perhaps its best-known work;[{{Citation |last= Lichtheim |first=Miriam|author-link=Miriam Lichtheim |title=Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol 1|publisher=University of California Press|year=1975|location=London, England|isbn=0-520-02899-6|page=11}}] and the autobiography has been called the earliest form of Egyptian literature.[{{Citation|title=Ancient Egyptian Stories, Biographies, and Myths|url=http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet?ee_website_action_key=action.display.module&module_id=254&language_id=1&story_id=38|access-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726042715/http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet?ee_website_action_key=action.display.module&module_id=254&language_id=1&story_id=38|archive-date=26 July 2011}}
] By the eighth century Egypt became part of the Muslim Arab world. Literature and libraries thrived under the new order, papyrus was replaced by paper, and calligraphy became central.[{{Citation |title=Groups of books and book production in Islamic Egypt |url=http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/writing/library/islamic.html
|access-date=30 September 2007}}] In the 13th century, [[Ibn al-Nafis]] wrote ''[[Theologus Autodidactus]]'', a theological novel with proto-science fiction elements.[Dr. Abu Shadi Al-Roubi (1982), "Ibn al-Nafis as a philosopher", ''Symposium on Ibn al-Nafis'', Second International Conference on Islamic Medicine: Islamic Medical Organization, Kuwait ([[cf.]] [http://www.islamset.com/isc/nafis/drroubi.html Ibnul-Nafees As a Philosopher] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206072116/http://www.islamset.com/isc/nafis/drroubi.html
|date=6 February 2008 }}, ''Encyclopedia of Islamic World'').] Literary practices such as the ''taqriz'' (commendatory blurbs) appeared in 14th-century Egypt,[{{cite journal |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Franz |title='Blurbs' (taqrîẓ) from Fourteenth-Century Egypt |journal=Oriens |date=1981 |volume=27/28 |pages=177–196 |doi=10.2307/1580566 |jstor=1580566 }}] and Egyptian folklore contributed to ''[[One Thousand and One Nights]]''.[Zipes, Jack David; [[Richard Francis Burton|Burton, Richard Francis]] (1991). ''The Arabian Nights: The Marvels and Wonders of the Thousand and One Nights '' pg 585. Signet Classic]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Egypt was central to the ''[[Nahda]]'', the Arab cultural renaissance.[{{Citation|title=MSN Encarta entry on Egypt |url=http://encarta.msn.com/text_761557408___17/Egypt.html|access-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031113050122/http://encarta.msn.com/text_761557408___17/Egypt.html|archive-date=13 November 2003 |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Encarta]] }}] [[Muhammad Abduh]], a leading figure of Islamic modernism,[{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sx1bqgibKhQC&pg=PA305|title=Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature|last1=Meisami|first1=Julie Scott|last2=Starkey|first2=Paul|date=1998|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-18571-4|language=en}}] co-founded the revolutionary journal ''[[Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa]]'' with [[Jamal al-Din al-Afghani]] in 1884; though quickly banned by the British, it circulated widely across the Arab world.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2440|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426215503/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2440|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 April 2014|title=Urwat al-Wuthqa, al- - Oxford Islamic Studies Online|website=www.oxfordislamicstudies.com|access-date=12 November 2019
}}][{{Cite web|url=http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/page/3f1e120f-f5db-417f-b9ab-3b798a609b1c|title="العروة الوثقى" عبر الهند|website=www.alkhaleej.ae|access-date=7 December 2019}}][{{Cite web|url=https://archive.islamonline.net/?p=9729|website=archive.islamonline.net|access-date=12 November 2019 |title=الرياضة في تاريخ المسلمين }}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/urwa-al-wuthqa-al|title=Urwa al-Wuthqa, al- {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=7 December 2019
}}] [[Ahmad Shawqi]] pioneered the expansion of the classical [[qasida]] form, though his work remained firmly rooted in neo-classical style. Following him, poets such as [[Hafez Ibrahim]] began addressing themes of [[anti-imperialism|anticolonialism]] alongside traditional poetic subjects.[{{Cite book |title=Thoughts and Ideologies of Mikhail Nu'aima, the Mahjar Poet in the development of Modern Arabic Poetry; A critical study |last=Ansari |first=Abdul Latif |publisher=Shodhganja |year=2010 |hdl=10603/116505 |at=Chapter 1}}] [[Muhammad Husayn Haykal]]'s ''[[Zaynab (novel)|Zaynab]]'' is considered the first modern Egyptian novel.[{{cite book|last=Vatikiotis|first=P.J.|title=The history of modern Egypt: from Muhammad Ali to Mubarak|year=1991|publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson|location=London|isbn=978-0-297-82034-5|page=486|edition=4}}] This novel started a movement of modernising Arabic fiction.[ Poetry remained vibrant, with figures such as [[Aziz Pasha Abaza]] contributing classical-style verse with [[Pan-Arabism]] themes. The Abaza family produced several notable literary figures, including [[Fekry Pasha Abaza]], [[Tharwat Abaza]], and Desouky Pasha Abaza.][{{Cite web |title=مكتبة البوابة: أهم 10 كتب للأديب المصري ثروت أباظة {{!}} البوابة |url=https://article.albawaba.net/ar/%D8%A3%D8%AF%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9/%D9%85%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%87%D9%85-10-%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%AB%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B8%D8%A9-1462416
|access-date=14 May 2024 |website=article.albawaba.net |language=ar}}][{{Cite web |last=سمير |first=رانيا |date=3 January 2024 |title=عائلة أباظة: تاريخ طويل وأثر عميق في مصر |url=https://sqawoa.com/archives/47555
|access-date=14 May 2024 |website=صوت القبائل العربية والعائلات المصرية |language=ar}}]
[[File:Naguib Mahfouz HR.jpg|thumb|[[Naguib Mahfouz]], the first Arabic-language writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature|180px]]
In the 20th century, modernist movements shaped Egyptian literature. ''[[Al-Madrasa al-Ḥadītha]]'' focused on the short story,[{{Cite web |title=مجلة الكلمة - المدرسة الحديثة.. جيل ما بعد الريادة |url=http://www.alkalimah.net/Articles/Read/5532
|access-date=29 September 2022 |website=www.alkalimah.net}}] while two of the most prominent figures were [[Taha Hussein]] and [[Naguib Mahfouz]], the latter the first Egyptian and Arabic-language writer to receive the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]. Avant-garde literary activity emerged through magazines like ''[[Galerie 68]]'', founded by [[Edwar al-Kharrat]], giving voice to Egypt's 1960s generation.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/icons/2015/12/1/الخراط-رحيل-صاحب-الزمن-الآخر|title=الخراط.. رحيل صاحب "الزمن الآخر"|website=www.aljazeera.net|access-date=3 December 2019}}]
In the 1990s, Egyptian literature responded to socio-economic changes such as urbanisation and rising living costs, focusing on isolated individuals in a changing society, exemplified by Mustafa Zikri, [[Nura Amin]], and [[May Telmissany]].[{{cite journal|last=Safez|first=Sabry|title=The New Egyptian Novel|journal=New Left Review |date=August 2010 |issue=64|pages=46–62 |url=http://newleftreview.org/II/64/sabry-hafez-the-new-egyptian-novel}}] This era also saw the rise of women writers, often called ''kitabat al-banat'' ("girls' writing"), with shorter, first-person narratives.[{{cite book|last=Elsadda|first=Hoda|title=Gender, Nation, and the Arabic Novel|date=2012|pages=146, 147, 151}}][{{cite book|last=Mehrez|first=Samia|title=Egypt's Culture Wars: Politics and Practice|url=https://archive.org/details/egyptsculturewar00mehr|url-access=limited|date=2008|publisher=Routledge|pages=https://archive.org/details/egyptsculturewar00mehr/page/n142 126]}}]
Egyptians constitute the largest share of shortlisted authors for the [[International Prize for Arabic Fiction]], with [[Bahaa Taher]]'s ''Sunset Oasis'' winning the inaugural edition in 2008, followed the next year by [[Youssef Ziedan]]'s ''Azazeel''.[{{cite web|title=Will Tarek Emam become the youngest Egyptian writer to receive the International Prize for Arabic Fiction?|url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/116080/Will-Tarek-Emam-become-the-youngest-Egyptian-writer-to-receive|website=Egypt Today|date=22 May 2022|access-date=3 October 2025}}] Other notable contemporary authors include [[Radwa Ashour]], acclaimed for the ''[[Granada (Trilogy)|Granada]]'' trilogy; [[Ahdaf Soueif]], whose English-language novel ''The Map of Love'' was shortlisted for the [[Booker Prize]] in 1999; [[Ahmed Khaled Tawfik]], who introduced horror and science fiction to Egyptian literature with his ''Ma Waraa al-Tabiaa'' series; and [[Ahmed Mourad]], known for bestselling novels such as ''Vertigo'' and ''[[The Blue Elephant (novel)|The Blue Elephant]]''.[{{cite web |last=Aravanis |first=Mary |date=19 February 2020 |title=Seven Contemporary Egyptian Writers Shedding Light on Egyptian Culture & Beyond |website=Egyptian Streets |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2020/02/19/seven-contemporary-egyptian-writers-shedding-light-on-egyptian-culture-beyond/ |access-date=3 October 2025}}] Feminist themes are explored by [[Nawal El Saadawi]] and [[Alifa Rifaat]], while vernacular poetry is represented by [[Ahmed Fouad Negm]], [[Salah Jaheen]], and [[Abdel Rahman el-Abnudi]].[{{Cite web |title=Culture of Egypt |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hellochina/egyptambassador09/2009-08/24/content_8607968.htm |access-date=9 May 2022|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}]
=== Media ===
{{Main|Media of Egypt}}
{{See also|List of radio stations in Egypt}}
[[File:الصادرة الاولى الوقائع المصرية.jpg|thumb|left|230px|The first issue of [[Al-Waqa'i' al-Misriyya]], printed in 1828 by the [[Bulaq Press|Amiriya Press]]. It and its predecessor [[Jurnal al-Khidiw]] are the oldest Arabic-language newspapers.]]
Egypt is a major regional media hub, with its press among the most influential in the Arab world. The [[printing press]] was first introduced to Egypt by [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]] during his [[French Campaign in Egypt and Syria]].[{{cite book|last=Cole|first=Juan|title=Napoleon's Egypt: Invading the Middle East|url=https://archive.org/details/napoleonsegyptin00cole_945|url-access=limited|year=2007|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/napoleonsegyptin00cole_945/page/n162 148]}}] [[Alexandria]] was the centre of Egyptian journalism for much of the 1800s,[Kendall, p. 339] with many literary journals starting there before moving to [[Cairo]].[Kendall, p. 338] By the 1890s, Cairo had become dominant, hosting 65% of publications, while Alexandria accounted for 28%.[{{cite report |title=Freedom of the Press 2007: A Global Survey of Media Independence |editor1=Karin Deutsch Karlekar |editor2=Eleanor Marchant |publisher=Freedom House / Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |location=New York / Lanham |year=2007 |url=https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FOTP%202007%20Full%20Report.pdf |access-date=30 September 2025 |language=en}}] The three leading state-owned press institutions are ''[[Al-Ahram]]'', [[Al-Akhbar (Egypt)|''Al-Akhbar'']] and ''Dar Al-Tahrir,[{{cite web |last=El Shaer |first=Gamal |date=15 February 2015 |title=Mapping Egypt's Media: State Influence in a Transforming Landscape |url=https://www.arabmediasociety.com/mapping-egypts-media-state-influence-in-a-transforming-landscape/ |access-date=3 October 2025 |website=Arab Media & Society}}]'' the latter being a major publishing house that issues a wide range of newspapers and magazines in different languages, including ''[[Al Gomhuria|Al-Gomhuria]]'', ''[[The Egyptian Gazette]]'', ''[[Le Progrès Egyptien]],'' among others.[{{cite web |date=25 January 2019 |title=Dar El Tahrir for Printing and Publishing |url=https://egypt.mom-rsf.org/en/owners/companies/detail/company/company/show/dar-el-tahrir-for-printing-and-publishing/ |access-date=3 October 2025 |website=Media Ownership Monitor Egypt |publisher=Reporters Without Borders (RSF) & Global Media Registry}}]
Egypt was the first country in the region to introduce radio broadcasts to a wide population in 1926, initially through private short-wave stations with limited range, primarily located between [[Cairo]] and [[Alexandria]].[{{cite web |date=31 May 2024 |title=Here is Cairo: Egyptian Radio celebrates 90th anniversary |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/524570.aspx |access-date=3 October 2025 |publisher=Ahram Online}}] The official Egyptian radio service launched on 31 May 1934, with the first broadcast featuring [[Muhammad Rifat]], a Quran reciter.[ Following the [[1952 Egyptian Revolution]], radio became a central tool of state communication and regional influence. Under President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], Egypt developed the [[Voice of the Arabs]] ({{langx|ar|صوت العرب|translit=Sawt El Arab}}) service, launched in the 1950s as one of the most prominent Arabic-language broadcasts of its time.][{{cite journal |last=Boyd |first=Douglas A. |title=Development of Egypt's Radio: 'Voice of the Arabs' under Nasser |journal=Journalism Quarterly |volume=52 |issue=4 |year=1975 |pages=645–653 |doi=10.1177/107769907505200406 }}] Initially modest in size, Egypt's radio system was rapidly expanded by the revolutionary government. It was used to promote Arab unity, strengthen Egypt's leadership role in the region, often calling for solidarity and revolutionary action, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.[
[[File:Maspiro building (cropped).jpg|thumb|The [[Maspero television building|Maspero building]] in [[Cairo]], headquarters of the [[Egyptian Radio and Television Union]]|230x230px]]
Egyptian television began in 1960 when Channel 1 launched with [[Quran]] readings and a speech by President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]], followed by Channel 2 in 1961 offering cultural, informational, and instructional programmes. Over the following decades, additional channels were launched regionally.][ In the 21st century, Egypt's television and film industry continue to supply much of the region through Cairo's [[Egyptian Media Production City|Media Production City]]. Television remains the most popular medium in the country, with [[Egyptian Radio and Television Union|ERTU]] operating two national terrestrial channels, six local terrestrial channels covering all 27 governorates, three satellite channels, and over ten specialised channels, including news, sport, culture, education, and entertainment.][ In addition, numerous private satellite television channels operate alongside the state networks.][ Egypt is a major force in satellite broadcasting, being the first Arab country to launch its own satellite, [[Nilesat]].
=== Cinema ===
{{Main|Cinema of Egypt}}
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[[Egyptian cinema]], the oldest in Africa and the Arab world, began in 1896 with film screenings in [[Alexandria]], [[Cairo]], and [[Port Said]]. Early production started in 1907 with short documentaries, and the first feature films appeared in 1917, directed by [[Mohammed Karim]]. By the 1920s and 1930s, the country's film scene expanded with productions such as [[Laila (1927 film)|Layla]] and [[Sons of Aristocrats]], the first Egyptian talkie.][{{Cite web |title=History of Egyptian Cinema |website=Chamber of Cinema Industry |date=17 March 2024 |url=https://cci.org.eg/en/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9/ |access-date=5 October 2025 |archive-date=13 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260113004730/https://cci.org.eg/en/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9/ |url-status=dead }}] In 1936, [[Studio Misr]], financed by industrialist [[Talaat Pasha Harb|Talaat Harb]], emerged as the leading Egyptian studio, a role the company retained for three decades.[{{cite book|last=Darwish|first=Mustafa|title=Dream Makers on the Nile: A Portrait of Egyptian Cinema|publisher=American University in Cairo Press|location=Cairo|pages=12–13|year=1998}}] For over 100 years, more than 4,000 films have been produced in Egypt, three quarters of the total Arab production.[{{Cite web|last=Houissa|first=Ali|title=LibGuides: Middle Eastern & North African Cinema & Film: Egyptian Cinema & Film|url=https://guides.library.cornell.edu/MidEastCinema/Egypt|access-date=4 October 2021|website=guides.library.cornell.edu|language=en}}][{{cite journal |last1=Dajani |first1=Karen Finlon |title=Cairo: the Hollywood of the Arab World |journal=Gazette |date=May 1980 |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=89–98 |doi=10.1177/001654928002600202 }}]
The industry has been a dominant cultural force in the Arab world since its inception, earning the nickname "Arab Hollywood" and "Hollywood of the East".[{{Cite web |last=El Abbassi |first=Mariem |date=14 June 2023 |title=The influence of Egyptian cinema in the Arab World |website=Meer |url=https://www.meer.com/en/73865-the-influence-of-egyptian-cinema-in-the-arab-world |access-date=5 October 2025}}][{{Cite web|title=The golden age of Egyptian cinema - Focus|url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1209/366778/AlAhram-Weekly/Focus/The-golden-age-of--Egyptian-cinema-.aspx|access-date=4 February 2022|website=Ahram Online}}][ Its golden age, spanning the 1940s to the 1960s, saw Egypt become the world's third-largest film producer, with hundreds of films across genres achieving widespread regional popularity.][ Iconic filmmakers such as [[Youssef Chahine]] and [[Henry Barakat]], and celebrated actors including [[Faten Hamama]], helped establish Egyptian cinema as a major influence on Arab cultural identity. Today, Egyptian films continue to reach audiences across the Arab world and beyond, maintaining the country's historic role as a central hub for Arabic-language cinema.][
Egypt hosts several film festivals, which have become important platforms for both local and international filmmakers. The [[Cairo International Film Festival]], established in 1976, showcases a range of films from dramas to experimental works and attracts filmmakers and audiences from around the world.][{{cite web |last=Nawar |first=Belal |title=Lights, Camera, Egypt! Unveiling the Glamour of Egypt's Most Celebrated Film Festivals |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2023/12/07/lights-camera-egypt-unveiling-the-glamour-of-egypts-most-celebrated-film-festivals/ |website=Egyptian Streets |date=7 December 2023 |access-date=30 September 2025}}] It is listed by the [[FIAPF|International Federation of Film Producers' Associations]] as one of the 11 competitive film festivals in the world.[{{cite web |url=http://azam.net/ukhotmovies/film-festivals/cairo-film-festival/ |title=Cairo International Film Festival information |work=UKHotMovies |date=1 December 2005 |access-date=17 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105193710/http://azam.net/ukhotmovies/film-festivals/cairo-film-festival/ |archive-date=5 January 2020 |url-status=live }}] The [[Luxor African Film Festival]] highlights African cinema, while the [[El Gouna Film Festival]] presents Arabic and international films. Other notable events include the Ismailia International Film Festival, which focuses on social and environmental themes, and the Alexandria Short Film Festival, which features narrative, documentary, and animated short films.[
The number of cinemas increased with the emergence of [[talking film]]s, and reached 395 in 1958. This number began to decline after the establishment of television in 1960 and the establishment of the public sector in cinemas in 1962. The cinema count fell to 297 in 1965, then to 141 in 1995, due to the circulation of films through video equipment though the boom of the film industry in this period. Due to laws and procedures that encouraged investment in the establishment of private cinemas, they increased again, especially in commercial centres. Their number reached 200 in 2001 and 400 in 2009.][{{Cite book|last=سعد|first=عبدالمنعم|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PJaOQgAACAAJ&q=%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7+%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9|title=موجز تاريخ السينما المصرية|date=1976|publisher=مطابع الأهرام التجارية|language=ar}}][{{Cite book|last=Shafik|first=Viola|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QusdDAAAQBAJ&q=egyptian+cinema+history|title=Popular Egyptian Cinema: Gender, Class, and Nation|date=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-977-416-053-0|language=en}}{{pn|date=January 2026}}]
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Egypt}}
[[File:Ancient Egyptians playing music.png|alt=Ancient Egyptians playing music|thumb|An ancient Egyptian mural of people playing music.|left]]
[[Music of Egypt|Egyptian music]] is a rich mixture of indigenous, Mediterranean, African and Western elements. It has been an integral part of [[culture of Egypt|Egyptian culture]] since antiquity. The ancient [[Egyptians]] credited one of their gods [[Hathor]] with the invention of music, which [[Osiris]] in turn used as part of his effort to civilise the world. Egyptians used music instruments since then.[[http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/MIRE/Introduction/AncientEgypt/AncientEgypt.html Music of Ancient Egypt] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013114158/http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/MIRE/Introduction/AncientEgypt/AncientEgypt.html |date=13 October 2015}}, [[Kelsey Museum of Archaeology]], [[University of Michigan]].]
Contemporary Egyptian music has its roots in the work of early artists such as [[Abdu al-Hamuli]], Almaz, and Mahmoud Osman, whose contributions shaped and inspired later generations. It was recorded as early as the 1910s, with a thriving classical tradition developing in Cairo by the 1930s, blending indigenous folk influences with Western elements and producing iconic 20th-century stars such as [[Sayed Darwish]], [[Umm Kulthum]], [[Mohammed Abdel Wahab]], [[Abdel Halim Hafez]], and [[Baligh Hamdi]], many of whom became central to both popular culture and national identity.
[[File:Umm Kulthum 1969.jpg|thumb|[[Umm Kulthum]], an icon of Egyptian music, often referred to as "Egypt's [[Giza pyramid complex|Fourth Pyramid]]".[{{cite news |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/Archive/2008/903/special.htm |title=Umm Kulthoum, the fourth pyramid |year=2008}}] In 2023, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Umm Kulthum at number 61 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[{{citation|title=Rolling Stone Magazine named iconic singer Umm Kulthum among the greatest 200 singers of all time.|date=8 January 2023 |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/121771/Rolling-Stone-Magazine-named-iconic-singer-Umm-Kulthum-among-the}}][{{Cite magazine|date=1 January 2023|title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/umm-kulthum-1234643089/|access-date=15 August 2023|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}]|230x230px]]
The music scene evolved from the golden age of mid-20th century [[Music of Egypt#Modern Egyptian classical and pop music|modern Egyptian classical]] heavyweights, to the rise of [[Arabic pop|Egyptian pop]] in the 1980s–90s with artists such as [[Amr Diab]], [[Hisham Abbas]], and [[Mostafa Amar]].[{{cite web |last=Aravanis |first=Mary |title=A Closer Look at Contemporary Egyptian Music Trends |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2020/01/18/a-closer-look-at-contemporary-egyptian-music-trends/ |website=Egyptian Streets |date=18 January 2020 |access-date=30 September 2025 |language=en}}] At the same time, [[Omar Khairat]] emerged as a leading composer and pianist, blending [[Western classical music]] with distinctive Egyptian influences. He has written numerous acclaimed film scores and symphonic works which has made him one of Egypt's most internationally respected contemporary musicians.[{{cite web |last=Al-Haggar |first=Kadry |title=I am proud of my success in Egypt more than any other place in world: Composer Omar Khairat |website=Daily News Egypt |date=8 March 2022 |url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2022/03/08/i-am-proud-of-my-success-in-egypt-more-than-any-other-place-in-world-composer-omar-khairat/ |access-date=4 October 2025}}]
In the 21st century, globalisation and the [[2011 Egyptian revolution|2011 revolution]] spurred diverse underground movements, with musicians and bands like [[Ramy Essam]] and [[Cairokee]] addressing identity and political themes.[{{cite web |last=K. |first=Mirna |title=2024: The Rise of Gen Z and Egyptian Local Talent on Spotify |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2024/12/08/2024-the-rise-of-gen-z-and-egyptian-local-talent-on-spotify/ |website=Egyptian Streets |date=8 December 2024 |access-date=30 September 2025 |language=en}}] Egypt's music industry has seen rapid international growth through streaming platforms, with [[Spotify]] reporting a fivefold rise in royalties since 2022, over 90 percent of earnings going to independent artists, and more than 80 percent of revenue coming from listeners outside Egypt.[{{cite web |title=Egypt's Music Scene Goes Global — Thanks To Streaming Powerhouses |url=https://news.broadcastmediaafrica.com/2025/06/23/egypts-music-scene-goes-global-thanks-to-streaming-powerhouses/ |website=Broadcast Media Africa |date=23 June 2025 |access-date=30 September 2025 |language=en}}]
=== Dances ===
Egypt has a rich tradition of folk dances that reflect the country's regional and cultural diversity. In [[Lower Egypt]], dances such as ''[[Ghawazi|ghawazi el sonbat]]'' ({{lang|arz|غوازي سنباط}}), ''raqs el hagala'' ({{lang|arz|رقص الحجلة}}), and ''welad el sayala'' ({{lang|arz|أولاد السيالة}}) incorporate colourful costumes and props to tell a story. For example, ''welad el sayala'', performed in [[Alexandria]], uses pocket knives and chairs to represent the lives and celebrations of fishermen and their communities.[{{cite web |last=Khaled |first=Nadine |title=5 Iconic Dances that Capture Egypt's Passion for Folk |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/10/06/5-iconic-dances-that-capture-egypts-passion-for-folk/ |website=Egyptian Streets |date=6 October 2021 |access-date=30 September 2025}}] In [[Upper Egypt]], dances include stick dances such as ''raqs el assaya'' ({{lang|arz|رقص العصا}}) and ''[[tahtib]]'' ({{lang|arz|تحطيب}}), which are traditionally performed by men at weddings and festive occasions. These dances often symbolise strength and skill, with tahtib in particular originating from ancient martial arts traditions.[ Nubian dance, originating in [[Nubians|Nubian communities]] in Egypt's south, are characterised by rhythmic arm movements and upbeat tempos, often accompanied by the tambourine duff.][
[[File:Tanoura Dancing.jpg|thumb|A [[Tanoura (dance)|tanoura]] dancer performing|230x230px]]
Egypt is often considered the home of [[belly dance]]. Egyptian [[belly dance]] has two main styles: ''[[raqs baladi]]'' ({{lang|arz|رقص بلدي}}) and ''[[raqs sharqi]]'' ({{lang|arz|رقص شرقي}}). There are also numerous folkloric and character dances that may be part of an Egyptian-style belly dancer's repertoire, as well as the modern ''shaabi'' dance ({{lang|arz|رقص شعبي }}), which shares some elements with [[raqs baladi]]. Belly dancing emphasises fluid movements of the hips, belly, and arms, often performed to the rhythm of the tabla drum, and is closely associated with femininity and performance in cinema and theatre.][
Other prominent forms of Egyptian dance include Sufi ''[[Tanoura (dance)|tanoura]]'' ({{lang|arz|رقص التنورة}}) dancing, which involves multilayered skirts and is performed both as a spiritual practice to achieve trance-like states and as a cultural performance at festivals and tourist sites.][
=== Museums ===
{{Main|List of museums in Egypt}}[[File:Egyptian Museum in Cairo in May 2015.JPG|thumb|229x229px|The [[Egyptian Museum]] in Cairo]]
Egypt is home to one of the world's oldest civilisations. It has engaged with numerous cultures and nations throughout its history and has experienced a vast array of eras, from the prehistoric age to modern times, encompassing periods such as [[ancient Egypt]], [[Ptolemaic Kingdom|Ptolemaic]], [[Roman Egypt|Roman]], [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|the Middle Ages]], [[Ottoman Egypt|Ottoman]], and the [[History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty|Alawiyya dynasty]].
[[File:CairoEgMuseumTaaMaskMostlyPhotographed.jpg|thumb|212x212px|Tutankhamun's burial mask is one of the major attractions of the [[Egyptian Museum]].|left]]
Notable museums in Egypt include the [[Egyptian Museum]] in Cairo, which houses over 120,000 items and is one of the world's largest museums as well as the first national museum in the Middle East, opened in 1902;][{{Cite web |title=History of the Egyptian Museum – The Egyptian Museum in Cairo |url=https://www.egyptianmuseumcairo.com/egyptian-museum-cairo/history-of-the-egyptian-museum/ |access-date=15 February 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127183044/https://www.egyptianmuseumcairo.com/egyptian-museum-cairo/history-of-the-egyptian-museum/ |url-status=dead }}] the [[National Museum of Egyptian Civilization]], home to 50,000 artefacts from various eras and the resting place of 22 ancient Egyptian kings and queens relocated there in 2021 during the [[Pharaohs' Golden Parade]]; and the [[Abdeen Palace Museum]], one of Egypt's most famous royal palaces, which contains five museums showcasing arms, royal belongings, silverware, historical documents, and presidential gifts.[{{cite web |title=Abdeen Palace Museum |url=https://cairo.gov.eg/en/Culture/Pages/Cairo-Museums-details.aspx?ID=13 |website=Cairo Governorate |publisher=Official Portal of Cairo Governorate |access-date=27 September 2025}}]
The [[Grand Egyptian Museum]] is a museum housing the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world.[{{cite web|url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/07/25/AM200607251.html |title=Marketplace: Egypt's next big thing |author=Nancy Farghalli |work=Marketplace |publisher=American Public Media |date=25 July 2006 |access-date=31 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515221138/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/07/25/AM200607251.html |archive-date=15 May 2008 }}] It is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation.[{{Cite web |date=5 August 2025 |title=Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Grand-Egyptian-Museum |access-date=7 August 2025 |website=Britannica |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Gaskins |first=Ty |date=24 April 2025 |title=Inside the Grand Egyptian Museum: A First Look at the World's Largest Museum Dedicated to a Single Civilisation |url=https://www.voguearabia.com/article/grand-egyptian-museum-worlds-largest-museum-dedicated-to-a-single-civilisation |access-date=7 August 2025 |website=Vogue Arabia |language=en}}] The museum is sited on {{convert|50|ha|acre}} of land approximately {{convert|2|km|mi|spell=in|abbr=off}} from the Giza Necropolis and is part of a new master plan for the plateau.[{{cite web |url=https://ftnnews.com/travel-news/tours/the-grand-egyptian-museum-finally-opens-in-2025/ |title=The Grand Egyptian Museum Finally Opens in 2025 |publisher=FTN News |access-date=3 March 2025}}] It features a six-storey atrium with the 82-ton [[Statue of Ramesses II]] and a grand staircase, while its galleries display artefacts spanning ancient Egypt's history.[{{cite web |title=Tutankhamun has a new stage in Egypt. Meet the architect behind its creation |url=https://monocle.com/magazine/issues/187/tutankhamun-has-a-new-stage-in-egypt/
|website=Monocle |date=20 September 2025 |access-date=30 September 2025|url-status=deviated|url-access=subscription}}] The Tutankhamun exhibition showcases 5,600 objects from his tomb, including his gold mask and royal regalia. It is arranged around three central themes, life, death, and the afterlife, and features two opposing pathways: a chronological journey through his life and reign, and a forensic exploration of his tomb and excavation.[{{cite web |last=Carver |first=Zoe |date=November 3, 2025 |title=A New Era in Egyptology: The Grand Egyptian Museum Opens its Doors |url=https://www.aucegypt.edu/news/new-era-egyptology-grand-egyptian-museum-opens-its-doors |publisher=The American University in Cairo |access-date=July 12, 2026}}]
=== Festivals ===
[[File:مولد شارع المعز.jpg|thumb|200px|Moulid celebrations in [[Muizz Street]], Cairo]]
Egypt observes several religious Muslim and Christian festivals as public holidays. These include [[Christmas|Coptic Christmas]], [[Eid al-Fitr]], [[Eid al-Adha]], [[Islamic New Year]], the [[Day of Arafah]], and [[Mawlid|Moulid al-Nabawi]].[{{cite web |title=National Holidays |url=https://www.presidency.eg/en/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9/|website=Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt |access-date=30 September 2025}}]
''[[Sham Ennessim]]'' ({{lang|ar|شم النسيم}}) is an annual [[festival]] in Egypt marking the beginning of spring, celebrated by Egyptians of all religions and recognised as an official [[public holiday]].[Asante, Molefi Kete (2002). ''[[iarchive:culturecustomsof00mole/page/75/mode/2up|Culture and Customs of Egypt]]''. Greenwood Press. p. 75. {{ISBN|0-313-31740-2}}.] It is observed on [[Easter Monday]], the day after [[Easter]],[Celebrations of the Feast of Shamm Al-Nassim in Egypt: The Past and the Present], Annals of Ain Shams Literature 42, 323-350, 2014 [French]] typically between the [[Egyptian calendar|Egyptian months]] of [[Paremoude]] (April) and [[Pashons]] (May). The festival is traditionally celebrated outdoors, with picnics in public gardens, along the [[Nile]], or at the zoo. Typical foods include ''[[fesikh]]'', lettuce, [[scallion|green onions]], and [[lupin bean]]s. Boiled eggs are often coloured and eaten or exchanged as gifts.[{{Cite web |title=Celebrating Saints: Egyptian Moulids |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/celebrating-saints-egyptian-moulids-american-research-center-in-egypt/wQXRQhO-lFCL1g?hl=en |website=Google Arts & Culture |publisher=American Research Center in Egypt |access-date=30 September 2025}}] Christian moulids follow comparable festive patterns. These events blend religious devotion with communal celebration, often centring on a shrine or mosque where pilgrims seek blessings through prayer, recitation of religious texts, circumambulation, and other acts of veneration.[ They are also social and cultural occasions, with food, games, rides, and temporary stalls set up in the surrounding streets.][ Major festivals, such as the ''[[Abu Haggag Mosque#Mawlid celebration|Moulid Abu El Haggag]]'' ({{lang|ar| مولد أبو الحجاج}}) in [[Luxor]], attract thousands of participants. It features boats and shrines paraded through the city in his honour, a tradition with origins dating back to [[ancient Egypt]].][ The procession closely resembles the rituals of the [[Opet Festival]].][{{Cite web |title= Sufis celebrate birthday of Sheikh Abu El-Haggag at Luxor mosque|url= https://www.arabnews.com/node/2266696/middle-east|website=Arab News|date= 11 March 2023|language=en}}]
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Egyptian cuisine}}[[File:Egyptian food Koshary.jpg|thumb|[[Koshary]], one of Egypt's national dishes]]
[[Egyptian cuisine]] draws on the agricultural traditions of the [[Nile Valley]] and [[Nile Delta|Delta]], and makes heavy use of poultry, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Staple dishes include ''[[Dolma|mahshi]]'', rice-stuffed vegetables and grape leaves, ''[[falafel]]'', mainly known locally as ''ta'ameya'', ''[[shawarma]]'', ''[[Kebab#Egypt|kabab]]'', and ''[[koftet el hati|kofta]]''. Traditional Egyptian specialities include ''[[ful medames]]'', mashed fava beans; ''[[feteer]]'', a flaky, layered pie with various fillings;[{{cite news |last=Marzouk |first=Sarah |title=A Brief History of Fiteer, Egypt's Pizza-Like Pastry |url=https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/a-brief-history-of-fiteer-egypts-pizza-like-pastry/ |access-date=26 June 2018 |work=The Culture Trip |date=12 February 2017 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330083849/https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/a-brief-history-of-fiteer-egypts-pizza-like-pastry/ |url-status=dead }}] ''[[hawawshi]]'', spiced minced meat baked inside bread;[{{Cite web |last=Bassel |first=Mona |title=Exploring the History of the Egyptian Burger: Hawawshi |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/10/01/exploring-the-history-of-the-egyptian-burger-hawawshi/|website=Egyptian Streets |date=1 October 2021 |access-date=5 October 2025}}] ''[[molokhiya]]'', a jute leaf stew; and ''[[koshary]]'', a mix of lentils, rice, and pasta, which is recognised as [[intangible cultural heritage]] by [[UNESCO]].[{{Cite news |last=Fahmy |first=Ahmed |date=2025-12-10 |title=Koshary, a spicy Egyptian staple, wins UNESCO recognition |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/koshary-spicy-egyptian-staple-wins-unesco-recognition-2025-12-10/ |work=Reuters}}] Many Egyptian dishes are traditionally prepared hands-on at home, often slow-cooked, based on the culinary practices of rural kitchens passed down through generations,[{{Cite web |last=K. |first=Mirna |date=23 May 2024 |title=How Egyptian Cuisine Can Follow Lebanese Footsteps on the Global Stage |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2024/05/23/how-egyptian-cuisine-can-follow-lebanese-footsteps-on-the-global-stage/ |website=Egyptian Streets |access-date=5 October 2025}}] including stews such as ''[[bamia]]'', okra stew; ''[[qolqas]]'', taro root stew; and baked dishes, such as ''[[rozz me'ammar]]'', a baked rice dish made with milk, butter, and [[qeshta|eshta]]; as well as ''[[macarona bil-bechamel]]'', a pasta bake with [[penne]], spiced meat sauce, and [[bechamel sauce|béchamel]].
Bread holds a central place in Egyptian cuisine and dining traditions, with more than 60 different types found across the country.[{{cite journal |last1=Barakat |first1=Hala |title=Giving Life: Bread in Egypt |journal=Rawi |issue=10 |url=https://rawi-publishing.com/articles/giving-life
|access-date=21 March 2025}}] ''[[Eish baladi]]'', a round, whole-wheat flatbread, is a staple of nearly every meal and is commonly used as an edible utensil for dipping and scooping rather than simply accompanying dishes.[{{cite web |last=Bassel |first=Mona |title=Soaking Up the Flavor: Dipping Culture in Egyptian Cuisine |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/10/16/soaking-up-the-flavor-dipping-culture-in-egyptian-cuisine/|website=Egyptian Streets |date=16 October 2021 |access-date=5 October 2025}}][{{cite book |author=Ghillie Basan |title=Middle Eastern Kitchen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7wnpIi3VRwC&pg=PA33 |year=2007 |publisher=Hippocrene Books |isbn=978-0-7818-1190-3 |pages=33–}}] Cheesemaking in Egypt dates back to the [[First Dynasty of Egypt|First Dynasty]],[{{cite book|author1=A. Lucas|author2=J. Harris|title=Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wWHvAgAAQBAJ|date=30 April 2012|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=978-0-486-14494-8}}{{pn|date=January 2026}}] with ''[[Domiati cheese]]'' being the most widely consumed today.[{{cite book|title=The Oxford Companion to Cheese|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fRnGDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA248|date=25 October 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-933089-8|pages=248–}}][{{cite book |author1=Robinson, R. K. |author2=Tamime, A. Y. |title=Feta & Related Cheeses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1zs4NzrRWhQC |date=12 May 1996|publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-7476-0077-0|pages=160, 183}}] Meat plays an important role in Egyptian cuisine, with poultry such as [[squab]],[{{cite web |last1=Perreault |first1=Abbey |title=Exploring a 'Treasure Trove' of Medieval Egyptian Recipes |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/egyptian-recipes |website=Atlas Obscura |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018}}] chicken, duck, [[quail]], and goose being common, alongside lamb and beef for grilling and stews.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypt/in-location/eating/a/nar/16eb6f4b-d335-4778-889e-23ce4647576d/355224|title=Eating in Egypt|first=Lonely|last=Planet|website=Lonely Planet}}] Cured meats such as ''[[bastirma]]'' and ''[[sogoq]]'' are traditionally consumed. Egyptian ''bastirma'' is made from salted, spiced, and air-dried beef or water buffalo,[{{cite journal |last1=Gagaoua |first1=Mohammed |last2=Boudechicha |first2=Hiba-Ryma |title=Ethnic meat products of the North African and Mediterranean countries: An overview |journal=Journal of Ethnic Foods |date=June 2018 |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=83–98 |doi=10.1016/j.jef.2018.02.004 }}][{{cite web |title=Basturma (Pastirma or Just Bastirma?) |url=https://amiraspantry.com/basturma-pastirma-or-just-bastirma/
|website=Amira's Pantry |date=12 June 2020
|access-date=17 March 2025}}] and ''sogoq'', a spicy sausage of ground beef stuffed into thin casings and left to dry and ferment.[{{cite web |title=طريقة عمل السجق الشرقي في المنزل.. اعرف سر المطاعم والجزارة|url=https://www.elwatannews.com/news/details/7562559
|website=El Watan News |date=18 September 2024
|language=ar |access-date=17 March 2025}}][{{cite web |title=Egyptian Sausage |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/egyptian-sausage/NwEZcjTHbojDNg?hl=en
|website=Google Arts & Culture |access-date=17 March 2025}}] Fish, especially [[tilapia]] and [[Mullet (fish)|mullet]], are widely consumed, with seafood in general being particularly prevalent in coastal cities like [[Alexandria]], [[Suez]], and [[Port Said]]. A large portion of Egyptian cuisine is vegetarian due to limited grazing land, historical agricultural practices, and the religious customs of [[Coptic Christians]], who periodically observe a [[Lent|vegan diet]].[{{cite journal |last1=El Dorry |first1=Mennat-Allah |title=Fasting and Feasting: The Diet of the Desert Fathers |journal=Rawi |issue=10 |url=https://rawi-publishing.com/articles/fasting-and-feasting |access-date=21 March 2025}}]
The cuisine commonly features an assortment of spices and aromatics such as [[cumin]], [[coriander]], [[cardamom]], [[chili pepper|chilli]], [[aniseed]], [[bay leaves]], [[dill]], [[parsley]], [[garlic]], [[ginger]], [[cinnamon]], [[Lamiaceae|mint]], and [[cloves]], with [[cumin]] being the most commonly used.[{{cite web|title=Spices of the Egyptian Cuisine|url=http://www.nilevalley.nl/spices-of-the-egyptian-cuisine/|website=Nile Valley Hotel|access-date=5 June 2017|archive-date=16 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716134505/http://www.nilevalley.nl/spices-of-the-egyptian-cuisine/|url-status=dead}}
] Popular desserts include [[baqlawa]], [[basbousa]], [[kunafa]], and [[qatayef]], often featuring dates, honey, syrup, nuts and [[semolina]]. Tea is the national drink, while coffee is also common and is traditionally prepared in the [[Turkish coffee|Turkish style]]. Other popular beverages in Egypt include ''[[karkadeh]]'', hibiscus tea; ''[[Sugarcane juice|'asir asab]]'', sugarcane juice; ''{{'}}[[erq sous]]'', liquorice juice; ''[[kharob]]'', carob juice; ''[[qamar al-din|amar eddin]]'', apricot drink; and ''[[sobia]]'', sweet coconut milk drink. [[Beer in Egypt|Beer]] is the most popular alcoholic beverage,[{{cite news|last1=Rios|first1=Lorena|title=Drinking Alcohol Is Always an Open Secret in Egypt|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/drinking-alcohol-is-always-an-open-secret-in-egypt/|access-date=13 December 2016|agency=Munchies}}] including traditional types like ''[[Bouza (beer)|bouza]]'', made from [[barley]] and bread and consumed since the [[Prehistoric Egypt|Predynastic era]].[{{cite book|last1=Caballero|first1=Benjamin|last2=Finglas|first2=Paul|last3=Toldrá|first3=Fidel|title=Encyclopedia of Food and Health|publisher=Academic Press|page=348}}]
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Egypt}}[[File:Crowd in Cairo Stadium.jpg|thumb|A crowd at Cairo Stadium watching the [[Egypt national football team]]]]
[[Association football|Football]] is the most popular [[national sport]] of Egypt. The [[Cairo Derby]] is one of the fiercest derbies in Africa, and the BBC picked it as one of the 7 toughest derbies in the world.[{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_2299000/2299305.stm |title=BBC Sport Academy | Al-Ahly v Zamalek |publisher=BBC News |date=5 August 2002 |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511124932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_2299000/2299305.stm |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live }}] [[Al Ahly SC|Al Ahly]] is the most successful club of the 20th century in the African continent according to CAF, closely followed by their rivals [[Zamalek SC]]. They are known as the "[[CAF Clubs of the 20th Century|African Club of the Century]]". With twenty titles, Al Ahly is currently the world's most successful club in terms of international trophies, surpassing Italy's [[A.C. Milan]] and Argentina's [[Boca Juniors]], both having eighteen.[{{cite news |url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/12/11/al-ahly-master-world/ |title=Al-Ahly – master of the world |newspaper=Daily News Egypt |date=11 December 2014 |access-date=22 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211115406/http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/12/11/al-ahly-master-world/ |archive-date=11 December 2014 |url-status=live }}]
The [[Egypt national football team|Egyptian national football team]], known as the Pharaohs, won the [[African Cup of Nations]] seven times, including three times in a row in 2006, 2008, and 2010. Considered the most successful African national team and one which has reached the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings,[{{Cite web |first=Eslam |last=Omar |date=15 December 2010 |title=Pharaohs finish 2010 with a 'historic' ninth place in FIFA ranking |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/52/1972/Sports/National-Teams/Pharaohs-finish--with-a-historic-ninth-place-in-FI.aspx |access-date=2026-07-15 |website=[[Ahram Online]]}}] Egypt has qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup]] four times.[{{Cite web |date=11 July 2026 |title=Al-Sisi honours Egypt’s national team following historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign |website=[[Daily News Egypt]] |url=https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2026/07/11/al-sisi-honours-egypts-national-team-following-historic-fifa-world-cup-2026-campaign/ |access-date=2026-07-15 |language=en-US}}] Two goals from star player [[Mohamed Salah]] in their last qualifying game took Egypt through to the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]].[{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/08/world-cup-round-up-egypt-poland-qualify|title=Mo Salah's late penalty gives Egypt first World Cup qualification since 1990|date=8 October 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206052043/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/08/world-cup-round-up-egypt-poland-qualify|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=live}}] The Egyptian youth national team Young Pharaohs won the bronze medal of the [[2001 FIFA World Youth Championship|2001 FIFA youth world cup]] in Argentina. Egypt was 4th place in the football tournament in the [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928]] and the [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964]] Olympics.{{Citation needed|date=July 2026}}
[[Squash (sport)|Squash]] and tennis are other popular sports in Egypt. The Egyptian squash team has been competitive in international championships since the 1930s. [[Amr Shabana]], [[Ali Farag]] and [[Ramy Ashour]] are Egypt's best players{{Editorialising|date=July 2026}} and all were ranked the world's number one squash player.{{By whom|date=July 2026}} Egypt has won the Squash World Championships five times, with the last title being in [[2019 Men's World Team Squash Championships|2019]].{{Update inline|date=July 2026|reason=looking at the wikipedia pages for this competition in 2023 and 2024, it appears Egypt won in those years as well? This paragraph could use a citation as well|?=y}}
Egypt [[1999 World Men's Handball Championship|hosted]] the [[IHF World Men's Handball Championship]] in 1999 and hosted it again in [[2021 World Men's Handball Championship|2021]]. In 2001, the [[Egypt men's national handball team|national handball team]] achieved its best result in the tournament by reaching fourth place. Egypt has won the [[African Men's Handball Championship]] five times, being the best team in Africa.{{According to whom|date=July 2026}} Egypt won the [[Egypt at the 2013 Mediterranean Games|Mediterranean Games]] in [[Handball at the 2013 Mediterranean Games|2013]], the [[Beach Handball World Championships]] in [[2004 Beach Handball World Championships|2004]] and the [[Egypt at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics|Summer Youth Olympics]] in [[Handball at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics – Boys' tournament|2010]]. Among all African nations, the [[Egyptian national basketball team]] holds the record for best performance at the [[FIBA Basketball World Cup|Basketball World Cup]] and at the [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]].[{{cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/cid//sid/2902/_/1950_FIBA_World_Championship_for_Men/index.html |title=1950 World Championship for Men |publisher=FIBA |date=9 June 2012 |access-date=9 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113212042/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/cid//sid/2902/_/1950_FIBA_World_Championship_for_Men/index.html |archive-date=13 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}][{{cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/2933/tid/276/_/1952_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/index.html |title=Egypt – 1952 Olympic Games; Tournament for Men |publisher=FIBA |date=9 June 2012 |access-date=9 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811212844/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/2933/tid/276/_/1952_Olympic_Games_Tournament_for_Men/index.html |archive-date=11 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}] Further, the team has won a record number of 16 medals at the [[FIBA Africa Championship|African Championship]].
[[Egypt at the Olympics|Egypt has taken part]] in the [[Summer Olympic Games]] since 1912 and has hosted [[:Category:International sports competitions hosted by Egypt|several other international competitions]], including [[1951 Mediterranean Games|the first Mediterranean Games]] in 1951, the [[1991 All-Africa Games]], the [[2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup]] and the [[1953 Pan Arab Games|1953]], [[1965 Pan Arab Games|1965]] and [[2007 Pan Arab Games|2007]] editions of the [[Pan Arab Games]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2026|reason=lack of inline citation.}}
== See also ==
* [[Outline of Egypt]]
** [[Outline of ancient Egypt]]
{{Clear}}
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Duplicated citations|reason=DuplicateReferences script detected:
* https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/egypt/ (refs: 75, 277)
|date=August 2026}}
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Library resources box}}
* [https://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=EG Key Development Forecasts for Egypt] from [[International Futures]]
=== Government ===
* [https://www.eip.gov.eg/ Information Portal] – Official Egypt Information Portal
* [http://www.idsc.gov.eg/ Information and Decision] – Egypt Information and Decision Support Center
* [https://www.sis.gov.eg/ Information Services] – official website of Egypt State Information Services
* [https://www.presidency.eg/en/ Presidency] – official website of the president of Egypt
* [https://www.cabinet.gov.eg/ Prime Minister] – official website of the prime minister of Egypt
* [http://www.parliament.gov.eg House of Representatives] – official website of Egypt House of Representatives
* [https://senate.eg Senate] – official website of the Senate of Egypt
* [https://sccourt.gov.eg Supreme Constitutional Court] – official website of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt
* [https://www.capmas.gov.eg Mobilization and Statistics] – official website of Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics
=== History ===
* [https://sis.gov.eg/en/egypt/history/egypts-history/ "History"] – Egyptian history at Egypt Information Portal
* [https://descegy.bibalex.org/en "Description de l'Egypte"] – Ancient, modern and natural history of Egypt at The [[Bibliotheca Alexandrina]]
* [https://modernegypt.bibalex.org/ "Modern Egypt"] – website from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
=== Tourism ===
* [https://www.experienceegypt.eg/ Experience Egypt] – Egypt's official tourism portal
=== Maps ===
* {{Wikiatlas}}
* {{OSM relation|1473947}}
{{Egypt topics}}
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