Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic
Christian and other 6% (official estimate)
Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by
educated classes
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 48%
male: 63%
female: 34%
Labor force: 16 million (1994 est.)
by occupation: government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces
36%, agriculture 34%, privately owned service and manufacturing
enterprises 20% (1984)
note: shortage of skilled labor; 2,500,000 Egyptians work abroad,
mostly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states (1993 est.)
@Egypt:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: none
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Digraph: EG
Type: republic
Capital: Cairo
Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); 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, Asyu't, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina,
Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina, Suhaj