Country Profile

Egypt was seen as a global centre of knowledge, science, and development throughout antiquity. Today, it stands in an economically advantageous location, straddling the Mediterranean and the Red seas, and at the confluence of Europe, Africa and Asia. The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Moreover, Egypt’s population is large and rapidly expanding, at a rate around 2.5% a year. It is seen as one of the country’s greatest economic assets if it can be harnessed by effective public policy. Moreover, the country is also characterised by a bottom-heavy population pyramid. The large youth cohort helps to limit the overall burden on the health care system, as evidenced by the relatively successful navigation of the Covid-19 pandemic. This chapter contains a viewpoint with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt.