EGYPT: COUNTRY PROFILE
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
• Population: 104.3 Million (42.7 % urban, 57.3
Rural).
• Median age 24.6 years.
• Currency: Egyptian pound (E£) (EGP).
• % living on less than $1.90 a day: 3.2%.
• National language: Egyptian Arabic (68%).
• Other languages: Sa'idi Arabic, Eastern Egyptian,
Westerns Egyptian, Bedawi Arabic, Sudanese
Arabic, Domari, Nobiin, Beja, Siwi, Greek.
• Religion: About 90% of population are Muslim.
• Life expectancy: 70 years for men and 75 for
women.
HISTORY AND POLITICS
• Circa 7000 BCE - Settlement of Nile Valley
begins.
• Circa 2500 BCE - Construction of the pyramids.
• 332 BCE - Alexander the Great conquers Egypt
and founds Alexandria.
• 31 BCE - Egypt comes under Roman rule; Queen
Cleopatra commits suicide.
• 642 - Arab conquest of Egypt.
• 1517 - Egypt absorbed into the Turkish Ottoman
empire.
• 1914 - Egypt formally becomes a British
protectorate.
• 1922 - Fuad I becomes king and Egypt gains
independence.
• 1952 Coup by the Free Officers' Movement.
King abdicates
• 1967 Six-Day War.
• 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
• 1992-97- Gama'a al-Islamiyya Islamic Group
begins five-year campaign of attacks on
government and tourist targets.
• 2014 - New constitution bans parties based on
religion. Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi
wins presidential election.
• 2019 and 2020 - Terrorist attacks in the Greater
Cairo area, carried out by Harakat Sawa’d Misr
(HASM) and al-Qaeda allied groups.
• 2021 - Suez Canal obstruction.
 VISA TYPES AND COST
• Visa on arrival: US$25 (30 days).  A multiple
entry visa is also obtainable for 60 USD.
• Consulate Visa cost varies according to
nationality.
• E-visas: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/FAQ.
• Single- and multiple-entry visas are valid for six
months from the date of issue for a maximum
stay of 60 days and 90days respectively.
• Extensions are available from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Egypt.
TRAVEL WARNINGS
• Do not travel to the Sinai Peninsula (with the
exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air)
and the Western Desert due to terrorism, and
Egyptian border areas due to military zones.
RECOMMENDED VACCINES
• Chikenpox (varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-
Pertussis, Flu (influenza), Measles-Mumps-
Rubella (MMR), Polio, Shingles, Hepatitis A,
Hepatitis B, Rabies, Thyphoid, Yellow Fever (if
traveling from a country with risk of YF).
• Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and
developing severe symptoms may be lower if
you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized
vaccine.
HEALTHCARE
• Check your health insurance coverage.
• For emergency services in Egypt, dial 123.
• Doctors and hospitals often expect cash
payment for health services.
• Emergency and intensive care facilities are
limited.
PREVENTION TIPS
• Swim only in designated swimming areas.
• Always check if bottled water is sealed.
• Eat food that is cooked and served hot.
• Choose official taxis or public transportation,
such as trains and buses.
• Prevent bug bites.
• Keep away from animals.
CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Shaking hands is the normal greeting, but male
visitors should wait for a woman to offer her
hand first.
• Dress should always be conservative.
• Women should cover upper arms and legs.
• Ask permission when taking pictures of
someone, especially women.
LGBTQI+ TRAVELERS
• LGBTI individuals face significant social stigma
and discrimination in Egypt.
• Homosexuality is not officially outlawed, but gay
men and transgender individuals have been
prosecuted using debauchery and public morals
laws and given long prison sentences.
• It is recommended that you be cautious and
discreet while in Egypt.
References:
https://www.unfpa.org/data/EG
https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/poverty/33EF03BB-9722-4AE2-
ABC7-AA2972D68AFE/Global_POVEQ_EGY.pdf
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13315719
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-
Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/egypt?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-
travel-single-001
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/egypt/history-language-culture/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt/Settlement-patterns