Egypt

Egypt is a country in Africa with its capital in Cairo and about 118.4 million people. Egypt is known for the Pyramids of Giza, built about 4,500 years ago, and for the Sphinx beside them.

Egypt in purple, with Cairo marked. Outline from the same detailed coastlines the games use.

Capital: Cairo
Continent: Africa
Population (2025): 118.4 million
Land area: 995,450 km² (384,345 sq mi)

Find it among 54 Africa countries →Explore Egypt on the map

The story of Egypt

Where the name comes from

Egypt comes through Greek Aigyptos from Egyptian Hwt-ka-Ptah, “house of Ptah’s ka”, the god’s spirit, meaning his temple at Memphis.

First people

Nile kingdoms formed over 5,000 years ago, and most Egyptians still live along the Nile Valley and delta, a small part of the country’s land.^1,2

Known for

Egypt is known for the Pyramids of Giza, built about 4,500 years ago, and for the Sphinx beside them.³

Outside contact

Arabic spread after the Arab conquest of 639–642, and Ottoman conquest followed in 1517; Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 and made it a protectorate in 1914.¹