DOMINATING NORTHEAST AFRICA, the Republic of Egypt has a land area of 386,660 sq. mi. (1,001,449 sq. km.), with a population of 80,335,036 (2007 est.), and a population density of 192 people per sq. mi. (74 people per sq. km.). Some 7,933,000 people live in Cairo, the capital, the 14th largest city in the world population, with a population density of 91,900 per sq. mi. (35,420 per sq. km.). Alexandria, the second largest city, has a population of 3,917,000 and a population density of 3,575 per sq. mi. (1,378 per sq. km.). Egypt is heavily reliant on the Nile River, and droughts over many centuries have caused severe food shortages in the country. However, there have not been enduring shortages, and the population of has ...