Egypt has approximately seven million acres of land that can be cultivated. With the construction of the Aswan High Dam, more land is being farmed. The dam also has increased the production of hydroelectric power. One-third of the Egyptian population are farmers. Most others are employed in the public sector, industry, the oil fields or tourism.

In rural areas, people live in close-knit communities. Their lives revolve around tending the crops and livestock. The fellahin (fellah in Arabic means to labour or till the earth) are farmers. They live in small villages in brick houses and raise goats, chickens, sheep and buffaloes.

The standard of living in the countryside has improved tremendously. Villagers have access to health care and schools. Clean water is available in all communities and radios and televisions are common in villages. New and improved methods of agriculture are being used everywhere. Modernization has also reached remote areas of the desert. Young Bedouin men migrate to the cities in search of work.

Did you know? The Suez Canal has long been a source of foreign currency. In the last few years, however, revenues from tourism have come close to those of the Canal.

Life in Egyptian cities differs greatly from that in villages. Egyptians are an enterprising people, and most city dwellers have two or three jobs. Highly skilled workers are employed in the oil, pharmaceutical, textile and tourism industries. A large number of women hold responsible positions in government. There is a well-established social support network attached to mosques and churches that complements the government's social policies.

Child labour is a problem in Egypt. Poverty forces children to work to supplement family income.