Egypt lies primarily between latitudes 22° and 32°N, and longitudes 25° and 35°E.

At 1,001,450 square
kilometres (386,660 sq mi),[107] it is the world's 30th-largest country. Due to the extreme aridity of
Egypt's climate, population centres are concentrated along the narrow Nile Valley and Delta, meaning
that about 99% of the population uses about 5.5% of the total land area.[108] 98% of Egyptians live on
3% of the territory.[109]

Egypt is bordered by Libya to the west, the Sudan to the south, and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east.
Egypt's important role in geopolitics stems from its strategic position: a transcontinental nation, it
possesses a land bridge (the Isthmus of Suez) between Africa and Asia, traversed by a navigable
waterway (the Suez Canal) that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean by way of the
Red Sea.

Apart from the Nile Valley, the majority of Egypt's landscape is desert, with a few oases scattered about.
Winds create prolific sand dunes that peak at more than 100 feet (30 m) high. Egypt includes parts of the
Sahara desert and of the Libyan Desert. These deserts protected the Kingdom of the Pharaohs from
western threats and were referred to as the "red land" in ancient Egypt.

Towns and cities include Alexandria, the second largest city; Aswan; Asyut; Cairo, the modern Egyptian
capital and largest city; El Mahalla El Kubra; Giza, the site of the Pyramid of Khufu; Hurghada; Luxor; Kom
Ombo; Port Safaga; Port Said; Sharm El Sheikh; Suez, where the south end of the Suez Canal is located;
Zagazig; and Minya. Oases include Bahariya, Dakhla, Farafra, Kharga and Siwa. Protectorates include Ras
Mohamed National Park, Zaranik Protectorate and Siwa.

On 13 March 2015, plans for a proposed new capital of Egypt were announced.[110

Population

Egypt has a population of 92 million (2016).[5][6] According to the OECD/World Bank statistics
population growth in Egypt from 1990 to 2008 was 23.7 million and 41%.[7] In 2020 the population is
expected to grow by 20%.

According to the International Organization for Migration, an estimated 2.7 million Egyptians live abroad
and contribute actively to the development of their country through remittances (US$7.8 billion in
2009), circulation of human and social capital, as well as investment. Approximately 70% of Egyptian
migrants live in Arab countries (923,600 in Saudi Arabia, 332,600 in Libya, 226,850 in Jordan, 190,550 in
Kuwait with the rest elsewhere in the region) and the remaining 30% are living mostly North America
(318,000 in the United States, 110,000 in Canada) and Europe (90,000 in Italy).[11]

The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) had released high/medium/low
population projections for 2011-2031 based on Final Results of 2006 Population Census.[12] The 2020
high variant was 92.6 million, the medium - 91.0 million, the low - 90.0 million. The 2030 high variant is
104.4 million, the medium - 101.7 million, the low - 99.8 million. However the information could be
misleading as the 2013 population figure of 84.6 million is higher than the projected high of 83 million.
In fact, due to an unexpected rise in the fertility rate (from 3.0 to 3.5), the population already surpassed
91 million on 5 June 2016 while reaching 92 million on 30 November, average population age remaining
stable despite a rising life expectancy.

Education

The literacy rate in modern Egyptian society is highly debated. Education is free through university and
compulsory from ages six through 15, though enforcement may be lax. Rates for primary and secondary
education have strengthened in recent years. The vast majority of children enter primary school though
a significant number drop out. There are approx. 200,000 primary and secondary schools with some 10
million students, 13 major universities with more than 500,000 students, and 67 teacher colleges. Major
universities include Cairo University (100,000 students), Ain Shams University, Alexandria University, the
1,000-year-old Al-Azhar University, one of the world's major centers of Islamic learning and the AUC
(American University in Cairo), . The former first lady has created many project towards the
advancement of Egyptian education and the efforts to force education to the remaining 7-9% of students
who drop out illegally. Child labor is a contributing factor to these dropouts but it is considered a serious
crime to work children under the legal age and charges are taken very seriously at this time.

Tourist destination

Home of the ancient Pharaohs, Egypt is a dazzling destination of temples and tombs that wow all who
visit. It's not all historic treasures though. With vast tracts of desert, superb scuba diving, and the famed
Nile River there's something for everyone here. Beach lovers head to the Sinai to soak up the sun, while
archaeology fans will have a field day in Luxor. Cairo is the megalopolis that can't be beaten for city
slickers, while Siwa oasis and the southern town of Aswan offer a slice of the slow pace of the
countryside. Egypt has so much for travelers to see and do; it's the perfect country for a mix of activities
combining culture, adventure, and relaxation.

1 Pyramids of Giza

The last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza are one of the
world's most recognisable landmarks. Built as tombs for the mighty Pharaohs and guarded by the
enigmatic Sphinx, Giza's pyramid complex has awed travelers down through the ages and had
archaeologists (and a fair few conspiracy theorists) scratching their heads over how they were built for
centuries. Today, these megalithic memorials to dead kings are still as wondrous a sight as they ever
were. An undeniable highlight of any Egypt trip, Giza's pyramids should not be missed.

2. Luxor's Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings

Famed for the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut, the Nile-side
town of Luxor in Upper Egypt has a glut of tourist attractions. This is ancient Thebes, powerbase of the
New Kingdom pharaohs, and home to more sights than most can see on one visit. While the East Bank
brims with vibrant souk action, the quieter West Bank is home to a bundle of tombs and temples that
has been called the biggest open air museum in the world. Spend a few days here exploring the colorful
wall art of the tombs and gazing in awe at the colossal columns in the temples, and you'll see why Luxor
continues to fascinate historians and archaeologists.

Islamic Cairo

The atmospheric, narrow lanes of the capital's Islamic Cairo district are crammed full of mosques,
madrassas (Islamic schools of learning), and monuments dating from the Fatimid through to the
Mameluke eras. This is where you'll find the labyrinth shopping souk of Khan el-Khalili where
coppersmiths and artisans still have their tiny workshops, and stalls are laden with ceramics, textiles,
spice, and perfume. Surrounding the market is a muddle of roads, home to some of the most beautiful
preserved architecture of the old Islamic empires. There is a wealth of history here to explore. Visit Al-
Azhar Mosque and the dazzling Sultan Hassan Mosque, and make sure you climb to the roof of the
ancient medieval gate of Bab Zuweila for the best minaret-speckled panoramas across the district.

Aswan