Egypt
This Page was last updated on the 21st. December, 2006.
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Recent Church News.
Agenzia Fides, the missionary news service of the Catholic Church reports that on 15th December in the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI received the new Patriarch of Alexandria of Copt Catholics: “In today’s world your mission is of great importance for your faithful and for all men and women, to whom the love of Christ urges us to announce the Good News”
“In today’s world your mission is of great importance for your faithful and for all men and women, to whom the love of
Christ urges us to announce the Good News”: Pope Benedict XVI said when he received in audience His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, new
Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt, on 15 December. “After your election to the patriarchal See of Alexandria of Copt
Catholics - the Pope said - your first official visit to the Successor of Peter is a moment of grace for the Church.”
“It is in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy that the communion in Christ which renders us brothers, is best manifest. The liturgy
expresses the fullness of communion among all Catholics around the Successor of Peter” said Pope Benedict XVI recalling that the See
of Alexandria in the first five centuries of Christianity was the first Patriarchate after Rome. “Your patriarchal community is the
bearer of a rich spiritual, liturgical and theological tradition - the Alexandrian tradition- the treasures of which are part of the
Church’s heritage” the Holy Father quoting the preaching of Saint Mark the evangelist and assuring the Patriarch of his
prayers and support "for the 'special task ' entrusted to the Eastern Catholic Churches by the Second Vatican Council: to foster
unity of all Christians, particularly among those of the east.”
The Pope then mentioned the great wave of monasticism born in Egypt which tradition attributes to Saint Anthony and Saint Pacome. With the
contribution of Saint Benedict, “monasticism became an immense tree which has born abundant and magnificent fruits all over the
world ”. The Copt Church has writers, exegetes and philosophers like Clement of Alexandria and Origen, and patriarchs, confessors
and doctors of the Church, such as Athanasius and Cyril. Pope Benedict XVI then praised the recognised importance of "human,
spiritual, moral and intellectual education of youth by means of a school and catechetical system which constitutes a service for the
whole of society".
The Pope concluded by stressing the importance of formation to the priesthood and the religious life. “The vitality of Christian
communities in the world today - the Pope said - calls for shepherds according to the heart of God, authentic witnesses of the Word of
God and guide to help the faithful to found their life and their mission in Christ!”. Recalling the role of consecrated life in
the Copt Catholic Church, the Pope said “may poverty, chastity and obedience lived according to the evangelical counsels be for
our world a witness and call to holiness", and he encouraged members of institutes of consecrated life to continue their mission,
“above all among young people and persons most neglected by society”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/12/2006 - Righe 35,
parole 493)
|
Country |
Egypt |
|
Official Name |
Arab Republic of Egypt (Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah, short local form Misr) |
| Former Name | United Arab Republic (with Syria)(Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah), (long independent history; Ottoman Turks controlled Egypt 1517-1882; in between was brief period of French rule; British forces crushed revolt against the Ottoman rulers, beginning of British occupation and inclusion in the British Empire in 1882; British influence and occupation finished in the 1950s.) |
|
Capital |
Cairo |
|
Main Towns |
Alexandria (pop. 6 million), Aswan, Asyut, Cairo (pop. estimated at 16 million), Damanhur, El-Fayoum, El-Giza, El-Mahalla, El-Mansoura, Ismailia, Kafr, Port Said, Shoubra El-Kheima, Suez, Tanta, Zagazig |
|
Subdivisions |
26 governorates: Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj. |
|
Independence |
22 February 1922 (nominal independence from Britain when the U.K. unilaterally declared Egyptian independence, full sovereignty after Egypt declared a republic on the 19 June 1953.) |
| Constitution | 11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980 |
| National Holiday | Revolution Day, 23 July (1952) |
|
UN Membership |
24 October 1945 |
|
OAU Membership |
25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU) |
|
Commonwealth |
n/a |
|
Other Organisations |
In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA), Arab Cooperation Council (ACC), Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), Arab League (AL or League of Arab States), Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC - observer), Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 15 (G-15), Group of 19 (G-19), Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G-24), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Organisation of American States (OAS - observer), Organisation of American States and the Community of Andean Nations (OAS - observer), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE - partner), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO). |
|
Population |
World Bank Figures: 62,770,000 (1999), 63,976,000 (2000), 65,176,940 (2001), 66,371,672 (2002), 67,559,040 (2003) |
|
Area |
386,662 sq. mls. (1,001,449 sq. kms.) |
|
Density |
53 per sq.km. (1995) |
|
Highest Point |
Mt. Katrina 8,668 ft. (2,642 m.) |
|
Lowest Point |
Qattara Depression -436 ft. (-133 m.) |
|
Neighbours |
Libya (W), Sudan (S) |
|
Life Expectancy |
63 years (1995), total population:
63.69 years, male: 61.62 years, female: 65.85 years (2001
est.) |
| Infant Mortality Rate |
total: 35.26 deaths/1,000
live births, female: 34.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male:
36.02 deaths/1,000 live births |
| HIV/AIDS |
adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2001 est.) deaths: 700 (2003 est.) |
|
Adult Literacy Rate |
total population: 51.4%,
male: 63.6%, female: 38.8% (1995 est.) |
|
Ethnic Groups |
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European 1% |
|
Languages |
Arabic (official), English & French |
|
Religions |
Sunni Muslim 94% Coptic Christian and other 6% |
|
Type of Government |
Republic |
|
President |
Muhammad Hosni Mubarak (since 14 October 1981 [20/10/2005]) national referendum (7 September 2005) validated President Mubarak's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term |
|
Prime Minister |
Ahmed Nazif (since 9 July 2004) |
|
Political Parties |
Nasserist Arab Democratic Party; Democratic Peoples' Party (Nasserists); National Democratic Party (NDP); National Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG or Tagammu); New Wafd Party (NWP); Social Justice Party (LSP). The Muslim Brotherhood is technically illegal as the constitution bans religious-based parties, but is the President’s strongest political opposition. |
|
Ruling Party |
National Democratic Party (NDP) |
|
Currency |
Egyptian Pound (EGP)(100 piastres) |
|
GDP |
US$606 (1992) US$47,349m (1995)
US$910 (January 1996) |
|
GNP |
US$660 (1992) US$680 (1994) US$790 (1995) |
| Per Capita Income | Per capita GDP: US$1,470 (2002) GDP per head: US$1,220 (2003) |
| Population Below Poverty Line | 22.9% (FY95 est.) 16.7% (2000 est.) |
| Land Use | arable land: 2.87% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 96.65% (2001) Irrigated land: 33,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural Resources | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc |
| Oil and Natural Gas | production:
816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.) 740,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) consumption: 562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) 562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports:NA (2001) proved oilreserves: 3.308 billion bbl (January 2002 est.) 2.7 billion bbl (2004 est.) Natural gas - production: 21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.) consumption: 21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.) proved reserves: 1.264 trillion cu m (January 2002 est.) 1.264 trillion cu m (2004) Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquid petroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined products 246 km (2004) |
| Military | Military
branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 19,895,370 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 18,347,560 (2005 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$4.04 billion, 4.1% of GDP (FY99) US$2.44 billion (2003) 3.4% of GDP (2004) |
| Economic Aid Received |
US$2.25 billion (ODA, 1999)
ODA, US$1.12 billion (2002) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$25 (1999), US$21 (2000), US$19 (2001), US$19 (2002), US$13 (2003) |
|
Debt |
Less indebted |
|
Major Imports |
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels |
|
Imports from |
US
17.8%, Germany 7.9%, Italy 6.5%, France 6.2% (2002) |
|
Major Exports |
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals |
|
Exports to |
US
20.1%, Italy 13.5%, UK 9.2%, France 4.0% (2002) |
We
try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added,
please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com
|
The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 21 December, 2006 |
Page 15 of 61 |