Egypt
Africa Β· Capital: Cairo
How it is run: Egypt is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Egypt is home to 118.4 million people in Northern Africa, where people speak Arabic.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
118.4 million people
That is 1.5% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
1,002,450 kmΒ²
One of the world's large countries: flying across it takes hours.
ποΈ How crowded
About 118 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
3rd most people in Africa
12th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
Arabic
π° Money
Egyptian pound (Β£)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
71.8 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$3,086
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
42.9% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
31.6% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+20
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.eg
π§ People here are called
Egyptian
π·οΈ Name at home
Ω Ψ΅Ψ±
Also written: Arab Republic of Egypt.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Egypt touches 4 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Egipto
French
Γgypte
Arabic
Ω Ψ΅Ψ±
Chinese
εε
Japanese
γ¨γΈγγ
Russian
ΠΠ³ΠΈΠΏΠ΅Ρ
Portuguese
Egito
German
Γgypten
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 2.0Γ as many people as Egypt.
- Egypt covers roughly 9,547 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Egypt lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 59,183 km.
Flags through time π
A flag is a country telling you what it believes. Scroll the timeline and watch Egypt change.
Kingdom of Egypt
Green with a crescent and three stars, for the kingdom.
Revolution flag
After the monarchy fell, the Eagle of Saladin appeared.
Modern Egypt
Red for struggle, white for peace, black for the end of oppression.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Egypt sits in the temperate zone, the belt where most of the world's farms and big cities are.
π·οΈ Official name
Arab Republic of Egypt
ποΈ Capital
Cairo
π Region
Africa Β· Northern Africa
π€ Country code
EG
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Egypt π
Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramid was the tallest building on Earth for about 3,800 years, built from more than 2 million limestone blocks.
See it in Street Viewπ§ Where on the map
27.0Β° N, 30.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Cairo.
- Egypt is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Egypt sits in Northern Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
- Egypt sits in the temperate zone, the belt where most of the world's farms and big cities are.
- Egypt is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Egypt is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Egypt has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Egypt can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Egypt spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Egypt?
Cairo
Which money do people spend in Egypt?
Egyptian pound (Β£)
How many countries share a land border with Egypt?
4 β Israel, Libya, Palestine, Sudan.
Roughly how many people live in Egypt?
118.4 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.