The population of Egypt stands at around 58,519,000, with projections placing the population at 65 million by the end of 1997. Egypt is bounded to the north by the Mediterranean, to the south by the Sudan, to the west by Libya, and to the east by the Red Sea and Israel. The River Nile divides the country unevenly in two, while the Suez Canal provides a third division with the Sinai Peninsula. Hot, dry summers with mild, dry winters and cold nights.
Rainfall is negligible except on the coast.
In April the hot, dusty Khamsin wind blows from the Sahara. Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken. Islam is the predominant religion. All types of Christianity are also represented, especially the Coptic Christian Church.