Egypt, officially Arab Republic of Egypt (from 1958 to 1971, United Arab Republic), republic located in north-eastern Africa and the Sinai Peninsula, in the Middle East. It is bordered on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Israel and the Red Sea, on the south by Sudan, and on the west by Libya. The country has a maximum length from north to south of about 1,085 km (675 mi) and a maximum width, near the southern border, of about 1,255 km (780 mi). It has a total area of about 997,738 sq km (385,229 sq mi). Cairo is the capital and largest city.

Population
        63,575,100
        (1996 estimate)
Population Density
        64 people/sq km
        (165 people/sq mi)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
        49% Urban
        51% Rural
Largest Cities
        Cairo6,955,000
        (1995 estimate)
        Alexandria3,380,000
        Giza2,144,000
        (1992 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
        99.8% Egyptian
        0.2%  Other
Languages
Official Language
        Arabic
Other Languages
        Berber, English, French
Religions
        90% Sunni Islam
        10% Christianity
        including Coptic Christianity and other denominations