Egypt and the Nile

Egypt is a microcosm of the world, with limited natural resources but unlimited population and economic growth. However, analyzing the ecology of Egypt is simpler since only one natural resource, water, limits future growth. Here, we develop a water balance of Egypt, reconstruct past uses, and project conditions into the future. In order to face future trends, we recommend a set of innovative water policies that will be discussed in this presentation. Our methodology is applicable to arid countries in general, and we prescribe that an improved understanding of water consumption in Egypt should inform any analysis of the regional dynamics shaping the recent water conflict in the Nile basin.