egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental nation in northeast Africa and the Sinai Peninsula. It borders the Mediterranean and Red Seas, Gaza and Israel, Sudan, and Libya. The Nile River defines much of its geography and history. The capital and largest city is Cairo; Arabic is the official language. Islam is the predominant religion, with a sizable Coptic Christian minority. The population is over 100 million.

Ancient Egypt developed along the Nile and gave rise to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, marked by the pyramid-builders of the Old Kingdom, the cultural achievements of the Middle and New Kingdoms, and extensive temple complexes. After Greek and Roman rule, Arab Muslim conquest in the 7th century brought Islamic governance and a flourishing medieval culture. Ottoman suzerainty persisted into the 19th century, followed by modernization and, in 1953, the establishment of a republic after a 1952 revolution. In 1979 Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel, and the 2011 uprising led to political reforms and a new constitutional framework.

Today Egypt has a diversified economy anchored in tourism, petroleum and natural gas, agriculture, and manufacturing. The Suez Canal remains a crucial global shipping route and revenue source. Investment in energy, infrastructure, and services continues, though challenges include unemployment, regional disparities, and water management pressures amid climate change.

Culturally, Egypt blends ancient heritage with modern Arab and Mediterranean influences. World-famous sites include the pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, with museums and ongoing excavations contributing to global knowledge. The government operates as a semi-presidential republic with a president, a prime minister, and a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and, since 2020, the Senate).