EGYPT

 POPULATION

What is the population of Egypt in 2020?

102,334,404 people

Egypt 2020 population is estimated at 102,334,404 people at mid year according to UN data. Egypt
population is equivalent to 1.31% of the total world population.

 ETHNICITIES

Egypt is largely dominated by one ethnic group, the Egyptians. But there are also two smaller groups, the
Bedouins and the Berbers. Let's look at all three of these cultures now.

Egyptians: By far the largest ethnic group in Egypt are the Egyptians, which refers to both an ethnic group
and a nationality. About 99% of the country's population are Egyptian citizens, as opposed to, for instance,
those who are in the country to work but are not citizens. Around 99% of Egyptian citizens also identify
ethnically as Egyptian. Almost all Egyptians are Muslim. There are some Christians in Egypt, though, known
as the Copts. The Copts are the largest Christian group in Egypt, and have historically been persecuted for
their beliefs.
Egypt was home to one of the world's earliest civilizations, and has a rich history of language and culture.
Today most Egyptians speak Egyptian Arabic, which is one of the most widely understood varieties of
Arabic in the Muslim world, though throughout history Greek dialects were also spoken. Egyptian was one of
the first written languages, in the form of hieroglyphics.

Bedouins: Refer to a group of tribes who live across Northern Africa. The Bedouin are a very ancient people.
We can trace the origins of the Bedouin to the people who came to North Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.
The Bedouin people are made up of a number of different tribes in many different regions of Egypt. Some
Bedouin tribes are nomadic, meaning they travel from place to place in search of necessities like food, water,
and shelter. In traditional nomadic tribes, homes consisted of tents that could be moved from place to place.
Women were responsible for taking them down and then reassembling them. However, not all Bedouins are
nomadic. Some live more sedentary lives, not moving from place to place.

Berbers: Are another small minority who live in Egypt as well as across North Africa. The number of
Berbers is very small in Egypt, though Morocco and Algeria have much larger populations of Berbers. The
term Berber was actually given by conquerors, and today Berbers generally use their own term, Amazighen.
Berbers are largely Muslim, like most of the population in Egypt. Many speak the Berber language, which is
actually a family of a number of different closely related languages and dialects, though many have adopted
other languages. The Berbers were not originally Islamic, but converted after much time settling in North
Africa.

 LANGUAGES

The official language of Egypt is Arabic, and most Egyptians speak one of
several vernacular dialects of that language. As is the case in other Arab countries, the spoken
vernacular differs greatly from the literary language. Modern literary Arabic (often called Modern
Standard Arabic or al-fuṣḥā, “clear” Arabic), which developed out of Classical, or medieval, Arabic,
is learned only in school and is the lingua franca of educated persons throughout the Arab world. The
 grammar and syntax of the literary form of the language have remained substantially unchanged
since the 7th century, but in other ways it has transformed in recent centuries. The modern forms of
style, word sequence, and phraseology are simpler and more flexible than in Classical Arabic and are
often directly derivative of English or French.

Alongside the written language, there exist various regional vernaculars and dialects of Arabic (these
are termed collectively al-ʿammiyyah, “common” Arabic), which differ widely from the literary
variant as well as from one another. Within the amorphous grouping referred to as
Egyptian colloquial, a number of separate vernacular groups can be discerned, each
fairly homogeneous but with further strata of variation within the group. (Variations from one locale
to another are often subtle but at other times are quite profound.) One of these is the dialect of
the Bedouin of the Eastern Desert and of the Sinai Peninsula; the Bedouin of the Western
Desert constitute a separate dialect group. Upper Egypt has its own vernacular, markedly different
from that of Cairo. The Cairo dialect is used, with variations, throughout the towns of the delta, but
rural people have their own vernacular. Direct contact with foreigners over a long period has led to
the incorporation of many loanwords into Cairene colloquial Arabic. (Cairo’s prominence as a centre
of the Arab film industry has also ensured that its dialect is widely understood throughout the Arab
world.) The long contact with foreigners and the existence of foreign-language schools also explain
the polyglot character of Egyptian society. Most educated Egyptians are fluent in English or French
or both, in addition to Arabic.
There are also other minor linguistic groups. The Beja of the southern section of the Eastern Desert
use an Afro-Asiatic language of the Cushitic branch known as to Bedawi (though some speak Tigre
and many use Arabic). At Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert there are groups whose language is
related (but not too closely) to the Berber languages of the Afro-Asiatic family. Nubians
speak Eastern Sudanic languages that, although technically of the Nilo-Saharan language family,
contain some Cushitic features. There are other minority linguistic groups, notably Greek, Italian,
and Armenian, although they are much smaller than they once were.

 WHAT ARE THEY KNOWN FOR?

Egypt is famous for their mummies, Pyramids and all its history, but Egypt is way more than just that. We
visited more than just one city in the country and although Egypt´s history is impressive, there are many more
things to see and do than just going to temples and ruins.
Although it´s true that the Pyramids are the main reason why Egypt is famous, as we said at the
beginning you can’t just visit Giza and go back home without seeing other places. Egypt is full of wonders,
from big cities where you can enjoy the markets and the atmosphere of the city, to temples and ruins to learn
all about Egypt. There are million activities and places to go in Egypt.

The cities in Egypt are in general very chaotic, but there is none like Cairo. Cairo is probably the most
disorganized city we have ever seen: people cross the highways while cars don´t respect their rails on the
road, the markets are full of people and they scream and try to sell you stuff all the time, and these are just
some examples, but you will feel the chaos on the atmosphere everywhere you go! It can be annoying but is
something different to see and it´s definitely impressive.
Other cities you should visit are Alexandria, Luxor or Aswan, all of them are chaotic too but still not as much
as in Cairo. You will love their architecture, their monuments and historical places.
On another hand, we can talk about the different monuments, famous photogenic spots, museums, ruins,
temples…There are a lot of type of landmarks in Egypt, many of them are related with their history.
These are some of the most famous landmarks that you can not miss when visiting Egypt:
- Luxor Temple
- White Desert
- Nile River (Cruise)
- Egyptian Museum

 BIODIVERSITY

Egypt lies at the northeast corner of Africa at the junction of four biogeographical regions, Irano-
Turanian, Mediterranean, Saharo-Sindian and Afrotropical. At the same time it is at the center of the
great Saharo-sindian desert belt that runs from Maorocco on the northwest corner of Africa to the
high, cold deserts of central Asia. This unique position is enhanced by the circumstance that it is
divided by the Nile, the longest river in the world. Most of Egypt is either arid or hyper arid,
however, due to its very varied eco-zones, the country is home to a diversity of terrestrial habitats
and a fauna and flora, which although low in species numbers and with few endemic species, is
extremely varied in composition.
Egypt is bounded on its north and east by two largely enclosed seas, the Mediterranean Sea and Red
Sea. The Red Sea is species rich and nurtures reef systems that are among the richest in the world as
will as stands of mangroves that play vital role in the health of the sea. The reefs and the mangroves
of the red sea are arguably among the most important vehicles of biodiversity in the world. However,
the fauna and flora of the Red Sea is essentially a modified version of threat of the Indo-Pacific and
it also has relatively few endemic species. Ecosystems and habitats must be maintained to safeguard
species.
 FLORA & FAUNA

Plants are those common in dry subtropical and tropical lands, such as papyrus. Egypt has no forests
but does have date palm and citrus groves; eucalyptus and cypress have been introduced. Sheep,
goats, and donkeys are found throughout the country, and camels are found in all the deserts. Egypt
has some 300 types of birds, with about half of them being breeding species within the country. Wild
animals are few, except for the hyena, jackal, lynx, mongoose, and wild boar, the last-named
inhabiting the Nile Delta. The ibex may be found in the Sinai, and gazelles in the deserts. The Nile is
adequately stocked with fish, but crocodiles have been reduced to a few along the shores of Lake
Nasser. Reptiles include the horned viper and the hooded snake.

 TOURISM

The country is truly a mélange of civilizations encompassing the Pharaohs, Nubians, Persians,
Greeks, Romans, Copts, Arabs, Maluks, and Ottomans. These ancient civilizations have the
distinction of having lasted longer than most other known older civilizations. Their remnants and
relics still dot the country. The famous pre-dynastic civilization of the Nile valley has its roots in
Egypt. Also, the ancient Pharaonic dynasty, known for their pyramids was based here. The country,
thus, is rich in history and culture since time immemorial.

Egypt boasts of one of the most iconic landmarks in the world - the Great Pyramid at Giza - one of
the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, that still survives intact. Its other attractions include the
Great Sphinx of Giza, other Egyptian pyramids, the Luxor temple, Egyptian Museums among others.
Sharm-el-sheikh is a world famous beach resort, known for its coral reefs. No visit to Cairo can be
deemed complete without visiting the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, a paradise for shopping lovers. The
quiet town of Aswan is also a recommended visit to soak in the peace of the Nile, juxtaposed with
the dunes. Valley of the Kings and famous cities like Hurghada, Alexandria, Luxor boast a rich
heritage and are interesting places to visit.
 Egyptian cuisine is a popular world cuisine - an eclectic fusion of the various civilizations that have
made Egypt their home over the years. Kebabs and rice are the staple diet, flavored with spices. Baba
ghannoug, a paste made from eggplants, and a variety of koftas are served with different courses.

You don’t need to browse through hundreds of holiday destinations across the globe for your perfect
vacation. From its sun, sea, and sand interspersed with a touch of exotic culture and heritage, ancient
monuments, vast deserts, world famous coral reefs to cosmopolitan cities -the mesmerizing land of
Egypt has it all.

 NATIONAL PARKS

Egypt is always associated with warm climatic conditions and arid landscapes but very little light is thrown on
the National Parks and nature preserves that cover almost 12% of the country’s land area. There are about
thirty national parks in Egypt with diversified species of flora and fauna, some of which are native to Egypt
and can only be seen in the country. The locals of the capital city of Cairo also often flock to the National
Parks as it gives them a breath of fresh air, away from the chaos of main city life. One of the main tourist
attractions in Egypt are the national parks and nature reserves that pull in crowds from all over the world.

1. Gebel Elba National Park

Located in the South-eastern side of Egypt, the Gebel Elba National Park is one of the top 5 National
Parks in Egypt and has some of the best views of mountains, valleys and hills that line the National Park.
On one end of the park, you will see the Elba Mountain peaking high which is neighbored by a chain of
valleys and, the Red Sea hills on the other side which separate the Red Sea coast from main Elba
Mountains. Moving on to the Gebel Elba National Park that is spread over fifty square kilometers
towards the north of Shalateen and at an approximate distance of 250 kilometers from the Southern side
of Marsa Alam, a very well-known area in Egypt. The Elba park is known to have varied ecosystems
ranging from coastal plains, marshes, mangroves and coral reefs to mountain high lands, valleys and
sand dunes. This versatile ecosystem is also the residence of about 458 plant species, 86 different corals,
a 104 fish species, 26 mammals and 60 bird species. You will get to see an array of wild creatures such
as ibexes, Barbary sheep, gazelles, the Aardwolf, the Striped Polecat, the Egyptian leopard, eagles,
falcons, the Egyptian vulture as well as the Bearded Vulture.

2. Wadi El Gemal National Park

The Wadi el Gemal National Park is located in the Red Sea region of Egypt, approximately forty
kilometers away from Marsa Alam. Spread over a sprawling area of 7000 square kilometers which
consists of land and sea, the park gives you a chance to have a look at its coral reefs that border the
beaches in the region while the rugged mountains make for a contrasting sight to the beaches. The Wadi
el Gemal National Park has lots of things to do, right from bird watching to hiking to guided tours on
bicycles. Surrounded with mangroves and acacia trees on all sides, Wadi el Gemal has a large variety of
wild animals including the Nubian Ibex, wild foxes, gazelles and birds that take repose at Wadi while
they migrate to other places. Another very interesting thing to do at Wadi is to explore the world’s oldest
emerald mine while you learn about the survival techniques of the local Bedouin. If you are looking for a
place that offers snorkeling experiences, visit the Wadi El Gemal Island where you get to snorkel with
turtles and dugongs.

3. Ras Mohammed National Park

Declared as a protected area in Egypt in the year of 1983, the Ras Mohammed National Park lies in the
southernmost region of the Sinai Peninsula, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba.
The Ras Mohammed National Park is located at a distance of only twenty kilometres from Sharm but is
a little far off from Cairo, at an approximate distance of 446 kilometres. The National Park is known for
housing over 1500 marine creatures, one of the reasons why the park is the most sought-after
destinations for snorkeling and diving. The coral reefs at the park are famous internationally but make
for only half a part of the park’s beauty while the other half lies in the mountains, plains, valleys and
sand dunes.

https://thetravelertwins.com/what-is-egypt-famous-for/#:~:text=Egypt%20is%20famous
%20for%20their,%C2%B4s%20still%20a%20must).

https://study.com/academy/lesson/ethnic-groups-in-egypt.html#:~:text=Egypt%20is
%20largely%20dominated%20by,the%20Bedouins%20and%20the%20Berbers.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt/Languages

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/egypt/ten-facts-about-ancient-egypt/

http://www.eeaa.gov.eg/en-us/topics/nature/biodiversity/significanceofbiodiversity.aspx

https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Egypt-FLORA-AND-FAUNA.html

https://traveltriangle.com/blog/national-parks-in-egypt/

https://www.yatra.com/international-tourism/egypt