Demographics

Egypt is the most populous country in the Middle East and the second-most populous on the African continent, with an estimated 78 million people. Almost all the population is concentrated along the banks of the Nile (notably Cairo and Alexandria), in the Delta and near the Suez Canal.

Approximately 90% of the population adheres to Islam and most of the remainder to Christianity (primarily the Coptic Orthodox denomination).[54] Apart from religious affiliation, Egyptians can be divided demographically into those who live in the major urban centers and the fellahin or farmers of rural villages.

Egyptian farm

Egyptians are by far the largest ethnic group in Egypt at 97-98% (about 76.4 million) of the total population.[54] Ethnic minorities include the Bedouin Arab tribes living in the eastern deserts and the Sinai Peninsula, the Berber-speaking Siwis (Amazigh) of the Siwa Oasis, the ancient Nubian communities clustered along the Nile in the southernmost part of Egypt, with interspersed communities of Beja concentrated in the south-eastern-most corner of the country, and a number of Domclans mostly in the Nile Delta and Faiyum who are progressively becoming assimilated as urbanization increases.

Egypt also hosts an unknown number of refugees and asylum seekers. According to the UNDP's 2004 Human Development Report, there were 89,000 refugees in the country,[55] though this number may be an underestimate. There are some 70,000 Palestinian refugees[55], but the number of the largest group, the Sudanese, is contested.[56] The once-vibrant Jewish community in Egypt has virttually disappeared, with only a small number remaining in the country, but many Egyptian Jews visit on religious occasions and for tourism. Several important Jewish archaeological and historical sites are found in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities.

Source: Wikipedia