| Economy - overview: | Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990s has limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual GDP growth in the range of 2%-3% in 2001-03. However, in 2004 Egypt implemented several measures to boost foreign direct investment. In September 2004, Egypt pushed through custom reforms, proposed income and corporate tax reforms, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The budget deficit rose to an estimated 8% of GDP in 2004 compared to 6.1% of GDP the previous year, in part as a result of these reforms. Monetary pressures on an overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to float the currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in its value and consequent inflationary pressure. The development of an export market for natural gas is a bright spot for future growth prospects, but improvement in the capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does little to reduce Egypt's persistent unemployment. |
| GDP - per capita | $4,400 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate (%) | 4.5% (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats |
| GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 15%, industry: 36.7%, services: 48.4% (2005 est.) |
| Industries | textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals |
| Economic aid - recipient | ODA, $1.12 billion (2002) |
| Debt - external | $28.95 billion (30 June 2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line (%) | 16.7% (2000 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.) |
Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
