Om Egypten
Egypten er sandsynligvis verdens ældste civilisation, der historisk opstod fra Nildalen omkring 3100 f.Kr. Egypten er formentlig et af de ældste feriesteder. De tidlige grækere og romere tog derhen for underholdning og for at se de vidundere som menneskeheden havde skabt i de tidlige triumfer. Men Egypten er meget mere end blot pyramider og monumenter. Det er også scuba-dykning i det Røde Hav, hot night spots, luksus hoteller og 5 stjernede hoteller. Det er romantiske krydstogter ned ad Nilen i festlige flodbåde, en aften på grand opera og det er en kulturel oplevelse som intet andet du har oplevet før. Egypten er et land fyldt med liv, lyd, visuel skønhed og spænding. Vi vil have du skal se Egypten som et sted du kan have det sjovt. I tusinder af år har det været et sted for kejsere og konger og vi håber, du vil tage dig til at finde ud af hvorfor.
Egyptens flag
Det første Egyptiske moderne nationale flag blev etableret af et kongeligt dekret i 1923, dengang Egypten opnåede betinget uafhængighed fra Storbritannien i 1922. Farven var grøn med en hvid halvmåne og tre stjerner i midten. I 1958 etablerede et præsidentielt dekret et nyt flag for den Forenede Arabiske Republik, der bestod af en fusion af Syrien og Egypten. Det nye flag havde tre farver: rød, hvid med 2 grønne og sorte stjerner. Flaget var rektangulært og bredden var en tredjedel af dens længde. I 1972 besluttede loven at ændre flaget. Stjernerne blev fjernet fra flaget og erstattet med en kongeørn, som Saladdin ørnen, Ayubbid Sultan som regerede Egypten og Syrien i det 12. århundrede, den samme Saladdin fra korstogene.
Farvesymbolik
Den røde farve refererer til perioden før revolutionen i 1952, hvor en gruppe af officerer i hæren kom til magten efter afsættelsen kong Farouk, kongen over Egypten. Dette var en periode præget af kampen mod den britiske besættelse af landet. Den hvide farve symboliserer fremkomsten af revolutionen i 1952, der endte monarkiet uden blodbad. Den sorte farve symboliserer enden af undertrykkelse af befolkningen i Egypten på hænderne af monarkiet og britisk kolonialisme.
Regulativ hejsning af flaget
Det nationale flag hejses på alle statslige bygninger om fredage, officielle helligdage, ved indvielsen af folkeforsamlinger og ved andre lejligheder, hvor indenrigsministeren beder dem hejse flaget. Flaget hejses dagligt på grænseposter og toldvæsenets bygninger. Det hejses også på egyptiske konsulater og ambassader i udlandet på den nationale dag og andre nationale lejligheder samt i forbindelse med formandens besøg til det land, der hejser den diplomatiske mission.
Strafferetlige bestemmelser om foragt for flaget
Misbruger man flaget på nogen måde opfattes det som en strafbar handling og er strafbart efter loven, da det indebærer foragt for statsmagten. Strafferetlige bestemmelser er også gældende for misbrug af udenlandsk flag eller andre landes nationale emblemer.
Nationalsangen (Hør den)
Mit land, mit land, mit hellige land,
Kun til dig, har min kærlighed en kommando,
Mit land, mit land, mit hellige land,
Kun til dig, har min kærlighed en kommando,
Mor til det store gamle land,
Mit hellige ønske og hellige begæring,
Alle burde elske, beundre og værdsætte dig,
Nådig er din Nil til menneskeheden,
Ingen ond hånd kan skade dig eller gør dig ondt,
Så længe dine frie sønner er stærke,
Mit land, mit land, mit hellige land
Kun til dig, har min kærlighed en kommando,
Ord og musik af Sayeb Darwish. Denne nationalsang blev ændret efter 1979. Før dette plejede sangen at sige ”Walla Zaman Ya Selahy” (Oh, my våben) med ord af Salah Shahyrn og musik af Kamal Atawyl.
Overblik over Egypten
Den årlige Nilflods regelmæssighed og rigdom, kombineret med dens halvisolation fra ørkener fra øst og vest, gav en af verdens største civilisationer mulighed for at udvikle sig. Et forenet kongerige opstod circa 3200 f.Kr. og en række dynastier regerede i Egypten for de næste tre årtusinder. Det sidste indfødte dynasti faldt til perserne i 341 f.Kr., som blev erstattet af grækere, romere og byzantinerne. Det var araberne, der introducerede Islam og det arabiske sprog i det 7. århundrede og som regerede i de næste seks århundreder. En lokal militær kaste, mamlukkerne overtog kontrollen omkring 1250 og forsatte med at regere efter erobringen af Egypten af de osmanniske tyrkere i 1517. Efter færdiggørelsen af Suezkanalen i 1869, blev Egypten en vigtig transport hub, men faldt også kraftigt i gæld. Storbritannien overtog kontrollen af Egyptens regering i 1882 for at beskytte deres investeringer, men den nominelle troskab til det Osmanniske Rige fortsatte indtil 1914. Delvist uafhængig fra Storbritannien i 1922, erhvervede Egypten fuld suverænitet efter anden verdenskrig. Færdiggørelsen af Aswan-dæmningen i 1971, og den deraf følgende Nassersøen, har ændret Egyptens hævdvundne sted af Nilen i landbrug og økologi. En hurtig voksende befolkning (den største i den arabiske verden), en begrænset agerjord og afhængigheden af Nilen, fortsætter med at overbelaste landets ressourcer og stresser samfundet. Regeringen har kæmpet for at gøre økonomien klar til det nye årtusind gennem økonomiske reformer og massive investeringer i kommunikation og fysisk infrastruktur.
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| Egyptian Geography |
| Location: |
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula
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| Geographic coordinates: |
27 00 N, 30 00 E
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| Map references: |
Africa
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| Area: |
total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
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| Area - comparative: |
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
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| Land boundaries: |
total: 2,665 km
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| Coastline: |
2,450 km
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| Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions): |
territorial sea: 12 NM
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| Climate: |
desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
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| Terrain: |
vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
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| Natural resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
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| Land use: |
arable land: 2.85%
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| Irrigated land: |
33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
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| Environment - current issues: |
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
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| Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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| Geography - note: |
controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees
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| Egypt's People |
| Population: |
76,117,421 (July 2004 est.)
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| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 33.4% (male 13,038,369; female 12,418,254)
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| Median age: |
total: 23.4 years
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| Population growth rate: |
1.83% (2004 est.)
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| Birth rate: |
23.84 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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| Death rate: |
5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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| Net migration rate: |
-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births
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| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 70.71 years
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| Total fertility rate: |
2.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
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| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
8,000 (2001 est.)
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| HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun: Egyptian(s)
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| Ethnic groups: |
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1% |
| Religions: |
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
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| Languages: |
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
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| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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| Egyptian Government |
| Country name: |
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
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| Government type: |
republic
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| Capital: |
Cairo
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| Administrative divisions: |
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayoum, 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
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| Independence: |
28 February 1922 (from UK)
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| National holiday: |
Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
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| Constitution: |
11 September 1971
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| Legal system: |
based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state: Currently there is no Chief of State, as elections will be held in September 2011. Until February 11, 2011 it was President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981).
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| Legislative branch: |
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2001 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP 7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA
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| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Constitutional Court
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA]; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [RIfaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or Al-Ahrar [Hilmi SALIM]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
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| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACC, 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, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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| 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
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCH
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| Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band
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| Egypt Economy |
| 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.
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| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $294.3 billion (2003 est.)
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| GDP - real growth rate: |
2.8% (2003 est.)
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| GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2003 est.)
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| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 17%
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| Population below poverty line: | 16.7% (2000 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 29.5% (1999)
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| Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
34.4 (1999)
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| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
4.5% (2003 est.) |
| Labor force: |
20.1 million (2003 est.)
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| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)
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| Unemployment rate: |
9.9% (2003 est.)
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| Budget: |
revenues: $14 billion
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| Industries: |
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals
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| Industrial production growth rate: | 1.5% (2003 est.) |
| Electricity - production: |
75.23 billion kWh (2001)
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| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 81%
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| Electricity - consumption: |
69.96 billion kWh (2001)
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| Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2001)
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| Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2001)
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| Oil - production: |
816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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| Oil - consumption: | 562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
| Oil - exports: |
NA
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| Oil - imports: |
NA
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| Oil - proved reserves: |
3.308 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
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| Natural gas - production: |
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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| Natural gas - consumption: |
21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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| Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.)
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| Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.)
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| Natural gas - proved reserves: |
1.264 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
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| Agriculture - products: | cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats |
| Exports: |
$8.759 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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| Exports - commodities: |
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
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| Exports - partners: |
US 18.5%, Italy 13.8%, UK 8.5%, France 4% (2002)
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| Imports: |
$14.75 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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| Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
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| Imports - partners: |
US 16.1%, Germany 7.5%, Italy 6.4%, France 6.2%, China 4.8% (2002)
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| Debt - external: |
$30 billion (2003 est.)
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| Economic aid - recipient: |
ODA, $1.2 billion (2001) |
| Currency: |
Egyptian pound (EGP)
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| Currency code: |
EGP
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| Exchange rates: |
Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.85 (2003), 4.5 (2002), 3.97 (2001), 3.47 (2000), 3.4 (1999)
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| Fiscal year: |
1 July - 30 June
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| Communications |
| Telephones - main lines in use: |
7.43 million (2002)
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| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
4,494,700 (2002)
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| Telephone system: |
general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available
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| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
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| Television broadcast stations: |
98 (September 1995)
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| Internet country code: |
.eg
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| Internet hosts: |
3,061 (2002)
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| Internet users: |
1.9 million (2002)
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| Transportation |
| Railways: |
total: 5,105 km
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| Highways: |
total: 64,000 km
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| Waterways: |
3,500 km
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| Pipelines: |
condensate 327 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,145 km; liquid petroleum gas 382 km; oil 5,726 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; water 62 km (2003)
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| Ports and harbors: |
Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
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| Merchant marine: |
total: 159 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWT
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| Airports: |
89 (2003 est.)
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| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 72
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| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 17
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| Heliports: |
2 (2003 est.)
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| Egypt Military |
| Military branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
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| Military manpower - military age: |
20 years of age (2004 est.)
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| Military manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 20,340,716 (2004 est.)
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| Military manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 13,148,944 (2004 est.)
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| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 756,233 (2004 est.)
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| Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$2,443.2 million (2003)
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| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.6% (2003)
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| Transnational Issues |
| Disputes - international: |
Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence - Egypt is economically developing and effectively administers the "Hala'ib triangle" north of the Treaty line
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| Illicit drugs: |
transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax financial regulations and enforcement
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See also:
Last Updated: July 20th, 2011