Egypt has a long tradition of ethnic and religious tolerance. Most Egyptians speak Arabic, although many also have French or English as a second language. There are Berber-speaking communities in the western oases. Small colonies of Greeks and Armenians live in the larger towns. Islam is the dominant religion, followed by Coptic Christianity. Although many Jews left Egypt after the creation of Israel in 1948, a small Jewish community remains in Cairo.
Cairo is Africa's most populous city, and Egypt's high birth rate is a key social concern. Aware of the demands this puts on the country's resources, economy and social services, in 1985 the government set up the National Population Council, which made birth control readily available. Since then, the birth rate has dropped by 10%, but Egypt's population is still growing at a rate that will see it double in 30 years. The growing influence of Islamic fundamentalists, who are opposed to contraception, could cause the rate to accelerate.
Egyptian women have traditionally been among the most liberated in the Arab world, playing a full part in the education system, politics and the economy. The steady rise of Islamic fundamentalism, however, threatens their position, particularly in rural areas.
