Egypt Profile Detail

Basic Country Information

Country NameArab Republic of Egypt
Capital CityCairo (Al-Qahira)
BRICS StatusExtended Member – Joined January 2024
Total Population107.3 million (2024, CAPMAS); 116.5 million (2024 UN estimate)
Population Growth Rate1.3% per annum (2024, World Bank)
Rural Population (%)57.2% of total population (2024, CAPMAS – 61.4 million people in rural areas)
Urban Population (%)42.8% of total population (2024, CAPMAS – 45.9 million people in urban areas)
GDP (Nominal)USD 383–389 Billion (2024 estimate, IMF/World Bank)
GDP per CapitaUSD 3,698 (2024 estimate, IMF)
Agriculture’s Share of GDP11.1% (2023, World Bank); revised estimate of 13.71% (2024, World Bank)
Agriculture’s Share of Employment18.7% of total workforce – approximately 5.594 million workers (2024, CAPMAS Labour Force Survey)
HDI Rank105th globally; HDI Score: 0.731 (2024 UNDP Human Development Report)
Official Language(s)Arabic (official); English and French widely used in business and education
CurrencyEgyptian Pound (EGP); floating exchange rate (~EGP 50.5 per USD as of early 2025)

Geographic Coordinates & Physical Extent

Total Geographic Area1,001,450 km² – Ranked 30th largest country in the world
Northernmost Latitude31°36′ N (Mediterranean coast near Rafah)
Southernmost Latitude22°00′ N (Sudan border at Wadi Halfa salient)
Easternmost Longitude36°54′ E (Ras Hadarba, Red Sea coast)
Westernmost Longitude24°42′ E (Libya border)
Geographic Centre (Approx.)26°49′ N, 30°48′ E (Western Desert, south of Faiyum)
Total Coastline Length2,450 km (Mediterranean Sea: ~995 km; Red Sea: ~1,455 km)
Land Border Length2,612 km (Libya: 1,115 km; Sudan: 1,276 km; Israel/Palestine: 221 km)
Number of Bordering Countries3 – Libya (west), Sudan (south), and Israel/Palestine (east/northeast)
Highest Elevation PointMount Catherine (Jabal Katrina), 2,629 m – Sinai Peninsula
Lowest Elevation PointQattara Depression, 133 m below sea level (Western Desert)
Major River SystemsNile River – approximately 1,550 km within Egypt; part of the world's longest river system (~6,650 km total). Egypt has no other permanent rivers.
Major LakesLake Nasser (5,250 km², largest artificial lake in Africa), Lake Manzala (~700 km²), Lake Burullus (~420 km²), Lake Mariut, and Lake Qarun (~230 km²).

Administrative Divisions Relevant to Agriculture

Administrative OverviewEgypt is divided into 27 governorates. Agriculture is primarily concentrated in the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) serves as the principal authority for agricultural policy, supported by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) for statistical data and analysis.
Primary Division (Governorates)

27 Governorates comprising:

  • 9 Upper Egypt Governorates
  • 9 Lower Egypt (Delta) Governorates
  • 5 Frontier Governorates
  • 4 Urban Governorates
Secondary Division (Markaz/Districts)Approximately 353 Markaz (rural districts) and around 235 urban districts.
Tertiary Division (Villages)Approximately 4,741 main villages (CAPMAS) along with around 30,888 satellite villages (ezab/kafr).
Lowest Agricultural Planning UnitVillage level (Qarya), registered with the MALR district agricultural directorate.
Special Agricultural Zones
  • Nile Delta – 4.8 million feddans (63.8% of cultivated area)
  • Upper Egypt – 2.3 million feddans (approximately 30% of cultivated area)
  • 1.5 Million Feddan Project – Major desert reclamation initiative
  • Toshka / New Valley Region
  • East Oweinat Agricultural Zone
  • Sinai Peninsula Development Projects
Agricultural Development Regions
  • El-Delta Sugar Company agricultural zone
  • East Oweinat agri-industrial hub
  • New Administrative Capital food-processing zone
  • 100,000 Greenhouse Project
  • Mostakbal Masr ("Future of Egypt") mega-farm project covering approximately 500,000 feddans