Egypt Overview

Abstract

Country Context The Arab Republic of Egypt spans the northeast corner of Africa the southwest corner of Asia, thereby linking Africa with the Middle East. About 97% of the Egyptian population lives on 4% of Egypt’s total land area in the Nile Valley and Delta. The Egyptian terrain consists of a vast desert plateau that is interrupted by the Nile Valley and Delta. With no natural forest systems and most of the agriculture concentrated near the banks of the River Nile, agriculture remains the biggest employer (over 31.2% of the total population). Agriculture contributed 14% to GDP in 2009, and consumes about 80% of all freshwater resources. Egypt has developed an industrial plan aimed at achieving a gradual shift from resource based, low technology industries to medium and high technology industries. Most of Egypt’s population and infrastructure are concentrated in the Nile Delta and along the Mediterranean coast, which makes the country vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise, particularly inundation and salt intrusion.