Egypt Flag

The flag of Egypt consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black, all of which are equal in size. The flag of Egypt also contains the national emblem in the centre which is known as the Eagle of Saladin. This flag has evolved from the Arab Liberation and Egyptian Revolution flags of 1952. This banner was officially adopted on 4 October 1984 after the country had declared itself the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The colors and symbols of this flag have significant meaning within Egyptian and other Arab countries in the region. These colors were given specific purpose by the Free Officers who overthrew King Farouk in the revolution of 1952. The red is a symbol of struggle against British occupation and the monarchy. White is symbolic of the peaceful and bloodless nature of the revolution itself, and the black band symbolises an end to the oppression and foreign dominance of the people of Egypt.

The designers of the flag were the Free Officers, a group of military officers who instigated the 1952 revolution. Their flag is a visible source of inspiration for the current version which was implemented in 1984. The design has inspired several other flags in the region including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, each with their own (or even left plain) national symbol in the central white band.

Previous Egyptian flags include the flag of the United Kingdom as well a flag very similar to that of the Ottoman Empire. From the period of 1922-1953, the Egyptian national flag resembled the modern flag of Pakistan with a green field incorporating an Islamic crescent moon and stars. The 1953 flag of the Republic of Egypt is very similar to the current version except the eagle symbol is much more significant and contains the same Islamic symbols as the flag of 1922.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Cairo
Languages	Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Ethnic Groups	Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)
Religion	Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10% (2015 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically
Area	1,001,450.00 km²
Water Area	6,000.00 km²
Land Area	995,450.00 km²
Population	94,666,993.00 Approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited
Location	Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Gaza Strip 13 km, Israel 208 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,276 km
GDP(PPP)	$1,110,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$12,100.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Turkey.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are crude oil and petroleum products, as well as fruits and vegetables.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Germany, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and chemicals.
Climate	Desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain	Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Learn More	Egypt

Egypt Flag

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