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Compare Belgium (2002) - Egypt (2001)

Compare Belgium (2002) z Egypt (2001)

 Belgium (2002)Egypt (2001)
 BelgiumEgypt
Administrative divisions 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincien, singular - provincie) and 1 region* (French: region; Dutch: gewest); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, West-Vlaanderen 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Age structure 0-14 years: 17.3% (male 911,729; female 871,470)


15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,395,885; female 3,341,536)


65 years and over: 17.1% (male 716,673; female 1,037,302) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
34.59% (male 12,313,585; female 11,739,072)

15-64 years:
61.6% (male 21,614,284; female 21,217,978)

65 years and over:
3.81% (male 1,160,967; female 1,490,758) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
Airports 42 (2001) 90 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 25


over 3,047 m: 6


2,438 to 3,047 m: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 7 (2002)
total:
69

over 3,047 m:
12

2,438 to 3,047 m:
35

1,524 to 2,437 m:
17

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 17


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 15 (2002)
total:
21

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
7

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
Area total: 30,510 sq km


land: 30,230 sq km


water: 280 sq km
total:
1,001,450 sq km

land:
995,450 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Maryland slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Background Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Nominally independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile river in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.
Birth rate 10.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $113.4 billion


expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17 billion (2000)
revenues:
$22.6 billion

expenditures:
$26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99)
Capital Brussels Cairo
Climate temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Coastline 66 km 2,450 km
Constitution 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state 11 September 1971
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium


conventional short form: Belgium


local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie


local short form: Belgique/Belgie
conventional long form:
Arab Republic of Egypt

conventional short form:
Egypt

local long form:
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

local short form:
Misr

former:
United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Currency euro (EUR); Belgian franc (BEF)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Egyptian pound (EGP)
Death rate 10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $28.3 billion (1999 est.) $31 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER


embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels


mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710


telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111


FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
chief of mission:
Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER

embassy:
5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairo

mailing address:
Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900

telephone:
[20] (2) 795-7371

FAX:
[20] (2) 797-2000
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE


chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900


FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nabil FAHMY

chancery:
3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 895-5400

FAX:
[1] (202) 244-4319, 5131

consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Disputes - international none Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899
Economic aid - donor ODA, $764 million (1997) (1997) -
Economic aid - recipient - ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)
Economy - overview This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-02 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2003 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US. A series of IMF arrangements - along with massive external debt relief resulting from Egypt's participation in the Gulf war coalition - helped Egypt improve its macroeconomic performance during the 1990s. Sound fiscal and monetary policies through the mid-1990s helped to tame inflation, slash budget deficits, and build up foreign reserves, while structural reforms such as privatization and new business legislation prompted increased foreign investment. By mid-1998, however, the pace of structural reform slackened, and lower combined hard currency earnings resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and sporadic US dollar shortages. External payments were not in crisis, but Cairo's attempts to curb demand for foreign exchange convinced some investors and currency traders that government financial operations lacked transparency and coordination. Monetary pressures have since eased, however, with the 1999-2000 higher oil prices, a rebound in tourism, and a series of mini-devaluations of the pound. The development of a gas export market is a major plus factor in future growth.
Electricity - consumption 78.13 billion kWh (2000) 60.157 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 7.309 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 11.645 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 79.348 billion kWh (2000) 64.685 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 40%


hydro: 1%


nuclear: 58%


other: 1% (2000)
fossil fuel:
76.59%

hydro:
23.41%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: North Sea 0 m


highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
lowest point:
Qattara Depression -133 m

highest point:
Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Environment - current issues the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997) Egyptian pounds per US dollar - market rate - 3.8400 (January 2001), 3.6900 (2000), 3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch


head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by Parliament


note: government coalition - VLD, PRL-FDF, PS, MCC, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
chief of state:
President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)

head of government:
Prime Minister Atef OBEID (since 5 October 1999)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president

elections:
president nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999 (next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term
Exports $162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) $7.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Exports - partners EU 75.3% (Germany 18.1%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 12.1%, UK 9.6%), US 5.6% (2001) EU 35%, Middle East 17%, Afro-Asian countries 14%, US 12% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $297.6 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $247 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 24%


services: 74% (2001)
agriculture:
17%

industry:
32%

services:
51% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.6% (2002 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 50 50 N, 4 00 E 27 00 N, 30 00 E
Geography - note crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees
Heliports 1 (2002) 2 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 145,774 km


paved: 116,182 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)


unpaved: 29,592 km (1999)
total:
64,000 km

paved:
50,000 km

unpaved:
14,000 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 23% (1992) (1996)
lowest 10%:
4.4%

highest 10%:
25% (1995)
Illicit drugs growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related to trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers
Imports $152 billion f.o.b. (2001) $17 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products, foodstuffs machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners EU 68.7% (Netherlands 17.5%, Germany 16.8%, France 13.8%, UK 8.0%), US 7.2% (2001) EU 36%, US 14%, Afro-Asian countries 14%, Middle East 6% (1999)
Independence 4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne 28 February 1922 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 4.5% (2000 est.) 2.1% (2000 est.)
Industries engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals
Infant mortality rate 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 60.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.7% (2002 est.) 3% (2000)
International organization participation ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 61 (2000) 50 (2000)
Irrigated land 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.) 32,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch, although selected by the Government) Supreme Constitutional Court
Labor force 4.44 million (2001) 19.9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.) agriculture 29%, services 49%, industry 22% (FY99)
Land boundaries total: 1,385 km


border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
total:
2,689 km

border countries:
Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km
Land use arable land: 25%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 75%


note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
98% (1993 est.)
Languages Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Legal system civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1


note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leaders entry
bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms)

elections:
People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)

election results:
People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP 7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.13 years


male: 74.8 years


female: 81.62 years (2002 est.)
total population:
63.69 years

male:
61.62 years

female:
65.85 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
51.4%

male:
63.6%

female:
38.8% (1995 est.)
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims continental shelf: median line with neighbors


exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)


territorial sea: 12 NM
contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,362 GRT/54,058 DWT


ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 5, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
total:
181 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336,678 GRT/1,982,220 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 23, cargo 61, container 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 61, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 15, short-sea passenger 3 (2000 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military expenditures - dollar figure $3,076.5 million (FY01/02) $4.04 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.4% (FY01/02) 4.1% (FY99/00)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 2,508,557 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
18,562,994 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 2,070,016 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
12,020,059 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age (2002 est.) 20 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 63,247 (2002 est.) males:
712,983 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 21 July (1831) Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Nationality noun: Belgian(s)


adjective: Belgian
noun:
Egyptian(s)

adjective:
Egyptian
Natural hazards flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
Natural resources coal, natural gas petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Net migration rate 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
Political parties and leaders AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Jos GEYSELS]; Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president]; note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president; led by three person federal secretariat]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET, president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME, president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO, president]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Patrick JANSSENS, president]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Annemie VAN DE CASTEELE]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA]

note:
formation of political parties must be approved by government
Political pressure groups and leaders Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
Population 10,274,595 (July 2002 est.) 69,536,644 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 4% 22.9% (FY95/96 est.)
Population growth rate 0.15% (2002 est.) 1.69% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Radio broadcast stations FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios 8.075 million (1997) 20.5 million (1997)
Railways total: 3,422 km


standard gauge: 3,422 km 1.435-m gauge (2,517 km electrified; 2,563 km double-tracked) (2001)
total:
4,955 km

standard gauge:
4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double track) (2000)
Religions Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25% Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.78 male(s)/female

total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities


domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network


international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
general assessment:
large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available

domestic:
principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel and a signatory to Project Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system)
Telephones - main lines in use 4.769 million (1997) 3,971,500 (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 974,494 (1997) 380,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) 98 (September 1995)
Terrain flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Total fertility rate 1.61 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.2% (2002 est.) 11.5% (2000 est.)
Waterways 1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001) 3,500 km

note:
including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
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