POPULATION 70,712,345
MUSLIM 90.0 percent
COPT 9.0 percent
OTHER (ANGLICAN, ARMENIAN CATHOLIC, ARMENIAN ORTHODOX, GREEK CATHOLIC, GREEK ORTHODOX, JEWISH, MARONITE, PROTESTANT, ROMAN CATHOLIC, AND SYRIAN CATHOLIC) 1.0 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

The Arab Republic of Egypt is the most populous Arab-Muslim country in the world. Located in the heart of the Middle East, on the crossroads between Africa and Asia, it is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the northeast by Israel, to the east by the Red Sea, to the south by The Sudan, and to the west by Libya.

Egypt's unique strategic location has made it of great economic, political, and cultural importance. Fertile land around the Nile River allowed the development of one of the world's great civilizations (from 3000 B.C.E.). Saint Mark is believed to have brought Christianity to Egypt in the first century. By the time the Muslims arrived in 639 C.E., most...