Population
Approximately 100,778,915 inhabitants as of 2019.
Official Language
Arabic is the official language.
Language Spoken
English is generally understood, while French is less common, primarily spoken among the educated classes.
People
About 99% of the population are native Egyptians. The remaining 1% includes a mix of Armenian, Italian and French communities.
Religion
Islam is the official religion, predominantly practiced in the form of Sunni Islam. While there is a minority presence of fundamentalists, Egypt remains relatively tolerant. Coptic Christians account for approximately 8% of the population.
National Holidays
Note: holidays follow the Gregorian calendar, but religious ones go by the lunar calendar, and although they are not always public holidays, most people take a day off work.
January 1: New Year's Day
April 25: Sinai Liberation Day
May 1: Labour Day
June 18: Commemoration of the British withdrawal
June 30: Revolution Day
July 23: Revolution Day
October 6: Armed Forces Day
October 24: Day of Suez
December 23: Victory Day
Holiday Schedule
Religious holidays follow the lunar calendar, and the dates vary:
Al-Hijra: Islamic New Year
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr: Marking the end of Ramadan
Eid al-Adha: Commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham
Eid al-Mouloud: Celebrating the birth of the Prophet
Ashura: Commemorating the assassination of Hussein and the deceased in general
Coptic Christianity Religious Holidays
Christmas (January 7)
Easter (date varies)
Coptic Easter is celebrated throughout Egypt as part of the spring festival, Cham el-Nessim, which follows the day after Easter. This ancient ceremony, dating back to the Pharaonic era, welcomes the new season.
History
Around 4000 BC, Egypt was divided into the kingdoms of Upper (in the south) and Lower Egypt (in the north). King Narmer united them in 3200 BC, establishing the first dynasty in Egypt; the Old Kingdom (2575-2150 BC). This period was one of the most signification times in Egypt's history and saw the construction of iconic pyramids in Saqqara and Cairo, at the time solidifying Egypt's status as one of the greatest civilisations.
The Middle Kingdom (2050 BC) witnessed cultural development in art and literature alongside more pyramids being built. The capital was moved to Thebes (now Luxor) and the cities of Faiyum and the Nile Delta were developed. Amon, a prominent Egyptian deity often symbolised with a ram's head, played a central role during these dynasties as the God of the Kings, commanding reverence. Despite the watchful gaze of Amon, Hyksos (a distinct population) posed a threat to the empire and conquered the northern territories, but the Theban princes managed to maintain their authority in the southern region.
In 1500 BC, Theban king Ahmose expelled Hyksos, creating the prosperous New Empire (1500-1075 BC) which saw Egypt rise to its height of wealth and prosperity. The 18th dynasty was led by the powerful Tutankhamun and Nefertiti whilst the 19th dynasty saw the rise of arguably the most celebrated Egyptian, Pharaoh Ramesses II.
In this era, Pharaoh Akhenaten, who was Tutankhamun's father, tried to replace the worship of Amun with the sole sun god Aton. The failure of this religious revolution contributed to internal imbalances that weakened the New Kingdom, leading to its collapse.
The Persians gained and held power for around one hundred years in 525 BC until it was defeated by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, who conquered the country and founded the new capital, Alexandria. After his death, Egypt came under the control of Ptolemy, a Greek general, who ruled Egypt for the next 300 years establishing the Ptolemy's dynasty (305-30 BC) and implementing Greek as the national language. Cleopatra was the last Ptolemaic ruler before Rome's colonisation (30 BC-639 AD), which saw the rise of Christianity. The Arab conquest in 639 AD integrated Egypt into the Muslim Arab dynasties.
Saladin restored Sunni orthodoxy in the 13th century against the Crusaders. In 1250, the Mamlukes took control. Operating under an authoritative and centralised system, they transformed Egypt into a thriving centre of global trade with strong relationships between the East and West. This was then thwarted in 1516 when the Turks took over.
Napoleon's expedition in 1798, landing in Alexandria with a fleet, was short lived and led to British and Ottoman control by 1801. Mohammed Ali modernised Egypt (1805-1848), committing to economic, transport, education and production developments. After his death his successors continued his projects with the development of the Suez Canal in 1869. British control ensued after Egypt's failure to repay debts in 1882 and while the heirs of Mohammed Ali sat on the throne, Britian controlled the power and imposed protectorate in 1917.
Egypt's independence negotiations in 1922 maintained British influence and during WWII Egypt supported the Allies. The creation of Israel changed things in the region. Egypt got involved in the Arab-Israeli conflicts, and in 1952, there was a revolution forcing King Farouk to step down. Egypt became a republic in 1953, and Nasser became president in 1956. Nasser formed a close bond with the USSR and nationalised the Suez Canal. After him, Anwar Sadat came in and shifted policies, focusing on more foreign investment and trying to stop conflicts with Israel. These policies paved the way for the Camp David Accords in 1978, resulting in the return of Sinai. The world was shocked by Sadat's assassination in 1981. His successor, Hosni Mubarak, inherited a nation that had earned a significant standing globally, which continued until his resignation in 2011 amid public calls for change. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi now serves as the current president.
Famous Egyptians
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970): Second President, laid foundations of contemporary Egypt.
Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006): Nobel Prize-winning writer capturing Egypt's dual civilisations.
Umm Kulthum (died 1975): Renowned singer and activist for the Arab cause.
Dalida (1933-1987): Singer, model and actress, Miss Egypt 1954.
Omar Sharif (1932-2015): Award-winning actor in Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago.
Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1922-2016): Former UN Secretary General, advocate for peace and humanism.
Etiquette
Tipping is customary and carrying small notes on you is advised for tipping those who give you a service. Don't let them bargain with you for a bigger tip and don't be offended if they do so - bargaining is commonplace in Egypt.
Respect Muslim culture by dressing modestly, removing shoes indoors and covering hair in mosques. If you are invited to share a meal with a local family wait for the host to say 'bismillah' ('in the name of God') before meals. And when you do tuck in, eat with your right hand and try everything offered.
Shopping
Egypt is full of small trinkets and treasures. In most places, you'll find high-quality and beautiful jewellery, baskets, brassware and carpets (and much more), but be careful of forgeries. Enjoy the smell of the fresh spices all around you and remember to haggle with humour and to enjoy the bustling and colourful experience of shopping here.
Food
Egyptian cuisine, though not claiming the Mediterranean's best, is classic and delicious. Chickpeas, cracked wheat and beans form staples. Hummus, tahini, stews, kofta, kebabs and soups are common. Desserts include syrup-soaked pastries and rice pudding.
Drink
Avoid tap water and instead opt for bottled water. Tea, coffee and fresh fruit juices are popular among the locals. For tea lovers, be sure to try Karkadé, a hibiscus-infused tea, and Egypt's flagship drink. Alcohol is restricted to approved hotels and tourist facilities.
