Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Egypt: Cairo — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Egypt sits in Africa, has a population of 110,990,103, and uses the EGP. Official languages include Arabic.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Cairo
  • Continent: Africa
  • Population: ~110,990,103
  • Area: 1,001,450 km²
  • Population density: 111 people per km²
  • Official language: Arabic
  • Currency: EGP
  • ISO code: EG

How big is Egypt?

By population, Egypt ranks 14th in the world, holding roughly 1.40% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 29th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Egypt has 111 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.

Within Africa, Egypt is the 3rd most populous country of 54.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Egypt in population are Philippines (115,559,009) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (99,010,212).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Mauritania (1,030,700 km²) and Tanzania (945,087 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros and Djibouti, and 19 others.

Egypt uses the EGP, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Egypt

Cairo sits on the Nile and is nicknamed the 'City of a Thousand Minarets'. For the flag, it's the same red-white-black as Yemen's, but Egypt adds a golden eagle in the middle.

The flag of Egypt: red, white and black, with a gold eagle

🇪🇬 The flag is three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, with the gold Eagle of Saladin in the centre. The colours come from the Arab Liberation flag. They stand for hard times (black) overcome through struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white).

Region and neighbours

Egypt is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and the southwest corner of Asia through the Sinai Peninsula, with coasts on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. It shares land borders with 4 countries: Libya, Sudan, Israel and Palestine. The border with Palestine is the Gaza Strip, on the Mediterranean coast.

Three facts about Egypt

  1. The pyramids of the Giza Necropolis are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing.
  2. The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean by way of the Red Sea.
  3. Mount Catherine in the Sinai, 2,642 m high, is the highest mountain in Egypt.

Sources: Wikipedia: Egypt, Wikipedia: Flag of Egypt, Wikipedia: Cairo, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Egypt

Egypt capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Egypt 🇪🇬?

    • Luanda
    • Cairo
    • Bamako
    • Port Louis
    Show answer

    Cairo

  2. What is the capital of Ethiopia 🇪🇹?

    • Maseru
    • São Tomé
    • Addis Ababa
    • Djibouti
    Show answer

    Addis Ababa

  3. What is the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩?

    • Abuja
    • Moroni
    • Kinshasa
    • São Tomé
    Show answer

    Kinshasa

  4. What is the capital of Tanzania 🇹🇿?

    • Dodoma
    • Gitega
    • Asmara
    • Kinshasa
    Show answer

    Dodoma

  5. What is the capital of South Africa 🇿🇦?

    • Abuja
    • Nouakchott
    • Pretoria
    • Kampala
    Show answer

    Pretoria

Egypt is also in the Middle East capitals quiz.

Egypt in Africa

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Egypt belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Egypt.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Egypt?

The capital of Egypt is Cairo.

What is the population of Egypt?

About 110,990,103, making it the 14th most populous country in the world.

How big is Egypt?

1,001,450 square kilometres, ranking 29th by land area, at a density of 111 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Egypt use?

The EGP, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Egypt flag?

The flag of Egypt is three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, with the gold Eagle of Saladin in the centre. The colours come from the Arab Liberation flag. They stand for hard times (black) overcome through struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white).

Which countries border Egypt?

Egypt shares land borders with Libya, Sudan, Israel and Palestine. The border with Palestine is the Gaza Strip, on the Mediterranean coast.

How can I remember the capital of Egypt?

Cairo sits on the Nile and is nicknamed the 'City of a Thousand Minarets'. For the flag, it's the same red-white-black as Yemen's, but Egypt adds a golden eagle in the middle.

More capitals to learn

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