Population & Population Characteristics

Population:

Most Egyptians are descended from the indigenous pre-Muslim population (the ancient Egyptians) and the Arabs, who conquered the area in the 7th century AD. Elements of other conquering peoples (Greeks, Romans, Turks) are also present, especially in Lower Egypt. The mixture has given the inhabitants of the Nile Valley physical characteristics that set them apart from the other Mediterranean peoples of the region. The Nubians, an indigenous people, are an important minority group in Egypt. The Nubians lived in villages along the Nile in southern Egypt and northern Sudan for thousands of years. However, the formation of Lake Nasser inundated many of these villages. The proportion of the population living in rural areas is decreasing as people move to the cities seeking employment and a higher standard of living.

About 45 percent of the Egyptian population lives in urban areas. Some nomadic and semi nomadic herders, mostly Bedouins, continue to live in the desert regions.

Population Characteristics:

The population of Egypt (2000 estimate) is about 64,519,000. Almost 99 percent of the population lives within the Nile Valley and delta, which constitutes less than 4 percent of Egypt's total area. While the overall population density for the country is 58 persons per sq km (151 per sq mi), the Nile Valley and delta are among the most densely populated regions in the world, with about 1663 persons per sq km (about 4307 per sq mi). Egypt's population is growing rapidly; the annual growth rate during the mid-1990s is estimated at 2.2 percent, although projections show the rate decreasing steadily.

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