Area
11,001,440 square kilometers
An immense desert bisected by the Nile, whose valley and delta make up 5% of Egypt's territory

Status
Arab republic since June 1953

Government
Republic, Islamic state; semi-presidential system made up of a president, prime minister and people's assembly consisting of 437 members elected for three year terms by direct universal suffrage

Capital
Cairo

Currency
Egyptian pound

Languages spoken
Arabic

Principal industries
petroleum, natural gas, phosphate, tourism

Agriculture
cotton, corn, sugar cane, oranges