_#_Nationality: noun—Egyptian(s); adjective—Egyptian

_#_Ethnic divisions: Eastern Hamitic stock 90%; Greek, Italian, Syro-Lebanese 10%

_#_Religion: (official estimate) Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%; Coptic Christian and other 6%

_#_Language: Arabic (official); English and French widely understood by educated classes

_#_Literacy: 48% (male 63%, female 34%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 15,000,000 (1989 est.); government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces 36%; agriculture 34%; privately owned service and manufacturing enterprises 20% (1984); shortage of skilled labor; 2,500,000 Egyptians work abroad, mostly in Iraq and the Gulf Arab states (1988 est.)

_#_Organized labor: 2,500,000 (est.)

_*Government #_Long-form name: Arab Republic of Egypt

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Cairo