GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Panoramic view of Cairo featuring historic mosque architecture against the city skyline.Serene view of Cairo's skyline silhouetted in mist, highlighting ancient Islamic architecture.

Egypt

Africa · Northern Africa

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

The air is polluted.

BackpackerVery affordable cost of living.
vs Moroccovs Turkeyvs Jordan
Safety

112th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.186lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#112 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
53.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$3,260national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
4.0New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
20.4years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 138% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 54% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$20,204 PPP$3,086Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $1,299 a person, $7,079 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2007, $1,548 a person, $7,641 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2008, $1,896 a person, $8,191 at PPP, inflation 18.3%2009, $2,162 a person, $8,465 at PPP, inflation 11.8%2010, $2,455 a person, $8,838 at PPP, inflation 11.3%2011, $2,591 a person, $8,988 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2012, $2,996 a person, $10,342 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2013, $3,026 a person, $10,511 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2014, $3,133 a person, $10,256 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2015, $3,307 a person, $10,903 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2016, $3,271 a person, $10,666 at PPP, inflation 13.8%2017, $2,395 a person, $11,125 at PPP, inflation 29.5%2018, $2,485 a person, $12,329 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2019, $2,963 a person, $13,364 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2020, $3,511 a person, $15,232 at PPP, inflation 5%2021, $3,827 a person, $15,579 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2022, $4,233 a person, $17,524 at PPP, inflation 13.9%2023, $3,457 a person, $18,540 at PPP, inflation 33.9%2024, $3,338 a person, $19,122 at PPP, inflation 28.3%2025, $3,086 a person, $20,204 at PPP, inflation 14.1%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $1,299 a person, $7,079 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2007, $1,548 a person, $7,641 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2008, $1,896 a person, $8,191 at PPP, inflation 18.3%2009, $2,162 a person, $8,465 at PPP, inflation 11.8%2010, $2,455 a person, $8,838 at PPP, inflation 11.3%2011, $2,591 a person, $8,988 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2012, $2,996 a person, $10,342 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2013, $3,026 a person, $10,511 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2014, $3,133 a person, $10,256 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2015, $3,307 a person, $10,903 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2016, $3,271 a person, $10,666 at PPP, inflation 13.8%2017, $2,395 a person, $11,125 at PPP, inflation 29.5%2018, $2,485 a person, $12,329 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2019, $2,963 a person, $13,364 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2020, $3,511 a person, $15,232 at PPP, inflation 5%2021, $3,827 a person, $15,579 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2022, $4,233 a person, $17,524 at PPP, inflation 13.9%2023, $3,457 a person, $18,540 at PPP, inflation 33.9%2024, $3,338 a person, $19,122 at PPP, inflation 28.3%2025, $3,086 a person, $20,204 at PPP, inflation 14.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
71.8years, at birthModerate
#119 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
71WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
53.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
6.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
92 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
458EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet92 MbpsFast
Mobile46 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Serene view of Cairo's skyline silhouetted in mist, highlighting ancient Islamic architecture.
How it changed

Egypt's Human Development Index

0.754High human development

100th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 4th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #98Dominica0.761
  2. #99Paraguay0.756
  3. #100Egypt0.754
  4. #100Jordan0.754
  5. #102Lebanon0.752
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.572 in 1990 to 0.754 in 2023.

0.550.680.800.75419902000201020231990: 0.5721991: 0.5781992: 0.5861993: 0.5931994: 0.6011995: 0.6091996: 0.6171997: 0.6231998: 0.6291999: 0.6342000: 0.6392001: 0.6422002: 0.6432003: 0.6432004: 0.6452005: 0.6482006: 0.6512007: 0.6582008: 0.6652009: 0.6712010: 0.6772011: 0.6802012: 0.6892013: 0.6952014: 0.6992015: 0.7062016: 0.7132017: 0.7202018: 0.7282019: 0.7362020: 0.7362021: 0.7382022: 0.7512023: 0.7540.550.680.8019902000201020231990: 0.5721991: 0.5781992: 0.5861993: 0.5931994: 0.6011995: 0.6091996: 0.6171997: 0.6231998: 0.6291999: 0.6342000: 0.6392001: 0.6422002: 0.6432003: 0.6432004: 0.6452005: 0.6482006: 0.6512007: 0.6582008: 0.6652009: 0.6712010: 0.6772011: 0.6802012: 0.6892013: 0.6952014: 0.6992015: 0.7062016: 0.7132017: 0.7202018: 0.7282019: 0.7362020: 0.7362021: 0.7382022: 0.7512023: 0.754

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
71.8 years2024at birthUp 3.5 years from 68.4 years in 2005
Internet users
75%2024of people onlineUp 61 points from 14% in 2006
Urban population
43%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
2.742024births per womanDown 0.51 from 3.25 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
6%2021of energy usedDown 2 points from 8% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
212024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 11 from 32 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 2.2 t in 2005
Forest area
0%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Ancient wonders and ultra cheap, with political constraints and rapid tourism growth. The case against is polluted air, low incomes and little English among locals.

About Egypt

Egypt is one of the great civilisations of human history, where the pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor, and the treasures of the Egyptian Museum represent only the most famous layer of a culture stretching back five thousand years. The Nile Valley, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Red Sea coast each offer very different experiences. The country can be overwhelming and intense for first-time visitors, but those who lean into the chaos and curiosity find it deeply rewarding.

Practical facts

  • CapitalCairo
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencyEgyptian pound (EGP)
  • Area995,450 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Compare Egypt

Borders

IsraelLibyaSudan

Side by side

vs Moroccovs Turkeyvs Jordanvs Tunisiavs South AfricaCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Egypt's Human Development Index?

Egypt's Human Development Index is 0.754 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #100 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Egypt safe?

Egypt scores 2.19 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #112 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Egypt?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Egypt at 21.6 (New York = 100); that is #5 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Egypt?

Life expectancy at birth in Egypt is 71.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #119 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Egypt?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Egypt at 81.9, ranked #83 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.