Egypt
Africa · Northern Africa
Ancient wonders and ultra cheap, with political constraints and rapid tourism growth.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Egypt's Human Development Index
0.728
High human development#104 of 191 countries worldwide, #6 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 46% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- 95% of the population lives within a few kilometres of the Nile — one of the world's most extreme concentrations.
- Cairo is the largest city in Africa and the Arab world.
- Has more ancient obelisks outside its own borders (moved by colonisers) than inside Egypt.
Quick Facts
Capital
Cairo
Language
Arabic
Currency
£ EGP
Area
995,450 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
92Mbps
Mobile
46Mbps
GDP / Capita
$3K
PPP / Capita
$20K
Inflation
14.1%
Unemployment
6.8%
Innovation (GII)
24.7
GNI / Capita
$3K
FDI Inflows
4.2%
Cost of Living
21.6
Price Level Index
100th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.567 → 0.728 (+0.161)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Egypt's Human Development Index?
Egypt's Human Development Index is 0.728 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #104 of 191 countries.
Is Egypt safe?
Egypt scores 2.19 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #112 of 160 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.