• Population in Canada: 54, 875
• Canadian export to Egypt: $619.4 million (2009)
• Canadian imports from Egypt: $114.2 million (2009)
• GDP, per capita: $6,200 (2010, estimated)
• Unemployment: 9.7 per cent (2010, estimated)

The government maintains bilateral relations with Egypt that started when the two established embassies in their respective capitals in 1954.

Canada maintains strong trade ties with the country valued at more than $600 million, the third highest total for exports to the Middle East and North Africa. Exports are primarily composed of railway equipment, iron and steel, and machinery reactors and boilers.

Almost one third of all imports from Egypt are fertilizers, while textile floor coverings account for another 15 per cent.

There is a large Egyptian community in Canada and most live in the Toronto area, but there are also substantial populations in Montreal and Vancouver.

In January 2011, many Copts in Canada voiced safety concerns following a church bombing in Egypt that killed 21 people. The previous week, an al-Qaeda affiliated website published the names and personal information of more than 100 Canadian Copts, leading to fears of terrorist attacks.

In response, five Coptic Churches in Montreal decided not to hold Christmas celebrations scheduled for Jan. 7.

(Sources: Statistics Canada and CIA World Factbook)

With files from Jonathan Hembry