Major cities (Population)
Cairo 6,900,000 (1995)
Alexandria 3,577,000 (1995 estimate)
Giza 2,144,000 (1992 estimate)
Port Said 460,000 (1992)
Suez 388,000 (1992 estimate)
Population 62,931,000 (1995 estimate)
Population growth rate 2.2 per cent (1990-1995 average)
Population density 63 persons per square kilometre - 163.2 persons per square mile (1995 estimate)
Urbanization:
Per cent urban 44.8 per cent (1995 estimate)
Per cent rural 55.2 per cent (1995 estimate)
Life Expectancy
Total 64 years (1995 estimate)
Female 65 years (1995 estimate)
Male 62 years (1995 estimate)
Literacy rate
Total 51 per cent (1995 estimate)
Female 39 per cent (1995 estimate)
Male 64 per cent (1995 estimate)
Ethnic Divisions
Eastern Hamitic (Egyptians, Bedouin, and Berbers) 99 per cent
Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European 1 per cent
Languages
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Religions
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94 per cent (official estimate)
Coptic Christian and other 6 per cent (official estimate)
Independence 28 February 1922 (from the United Kingdom)
Constitution 11 September 1971
Voting Rights Universal and compulsory at age 18
Unit of currency
1 Egyptian pound (�E), consisting of 100 piastres
Exports
Crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Imports
Machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods
Industries
Textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Agriculture
Cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats.
Natural resources
Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc.