The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are
officially sanctioned
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD,
FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OIC, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 244–4319
telephone: [1] (202) 895–5400
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839–4900
telephone: [20] (2) 797–3300
FAX: [20] (2) 797–3200
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with
a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name
of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is
based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus
an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white
band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:
Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990s
has limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual GDP
growth in the range of 2–3 percent in 2001–03. Egyptian officials in
late 2003 and early 2004 proposed new privatization and customs
reform measures, but the government is likely to pursue these
initiatives cautiously and gradually to avoid a public backlash over
potential inflation or layoffs associated with the reforms. Monetary
pressures on an overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to
float the currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in its
value and consequent inflationary pressure. The existence of a black
market for hard currency is evidence that the government continues
to influence the official exchange rate offered in banks. In
September 2003, Egyptian officials increased subsidies on basic
foodstuffs, helping to calm a frustrated public but widening an
already deep budget deficit. Egypt's balance-of-payments position
was not hurt by the war in Iraq in 2003, as tourism and Suez Canal
revenues fared well. The development of an export market for natural
gas is a bright spot for future growth prospects, but improvement in
the capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does little to reduce
Egypt's persistent unemployment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $295.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 33% services: 50% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
16.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
16.7% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 29.5% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.4 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
20.19 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.9% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $14.69 billion
expenditures: $19.03 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7
billion (2003)
Public debt:
101.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water
buffalo, sheep, goats
Industries:
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons,
construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.308 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.264 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$3.874 billion (2003)
Exports: