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Egyptian Americans

February 15, 2024

Egyptian Americans (Arabic: الأمريكيون المصريون) are Americans of partial or full Egyptian ancestry. The 2016 US Census estimated the number of people with Egyptian ancestry at 256,000,[8] most of whom are from Egypt's Christian Orthodox Coptic minority.[7] Egyptian Americans may also include the Egyptian foreign-born population in the United States.[9] The US Census Bureau estimated in 2016 that there were 181,677 foreign-born Egyptians in the United States. They represented around 0.4% of the total US foreign-born population as 42,194,354 first-generation immigrants in 2016.[10] Egyptians are concentrated in New York City and Los Angeles. California has the largest Egyptian population by state.[11]

Egyptian Americans
الأمريكيون المصريون
Total population
279,672 (2019 U.S. Census Bureau)[1]1,000,000 (other estimates)
Regions with significant populations
Northern New Jersey and the New York City Metropolitan Area;[2][3][4] as well as California (especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco), Illinois, Michigan, Washington, D.C.,[5] Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia[6]
Languages
Egyptian Arabic, American English
Religion
Majority: Christianity (Coptic Orthodoxy, Coptic Catholicism, Coptic Evangelical)[7]
Minority: Islam (Sunni)
Related ethnic groups
Arab Americans

History edit

Egyptians began to migrate to the U.S. in significant numbers in the second half of the twentieth century. The majority of Egyptians left their country for economic or educational reasons. However, many emigrated because they were concerned about the political developments that were occurring in Egypt after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. Thousands of Egyptians, mainly Copts, left Egypt in 1967 after its defeat in the Six-Day War of 1967. From 1967 to 1977, more than 15,000 Egyptians immigrated to the United States alone. Since the 1981 assassination of Anwar Sadat and consequential inauguration of Hosni Mubarak as the President, the Egyptian economy has endured three decades of economic stagnation that has prompted a significant number of Egyptians to emigrate to more prosperous countries, such as the United States. Attracted by the higher standards of living and greater civil liberties, Egyptian expatriates have traditionally favoured permanent residence in countries such as the United States, and Canada, but sizeable numbers are also present in Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The first wave of Egyptian immigrants to the United States were mostly educated professionals and skilled workers. Egyptian immigration to the United States was further eased by the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allowed selective entry of certain professionals, especially scientists, from countries such as Egypt, which was up until then subjected to stringent emigration restrictions. As a result, most Egyptian Americans, especially first and second generation Egyptians, have in comparison, become generally very well educated relative to the American population as a whole.[12]

Demographics edit

 
The New York City Metropolitan Area, including Northern New Jersey and New York City, is home to by far the largest Egyptian population in the United States.[2][3][4]

As of 2012, there were 143,085 Egyptian-born residents in the United States.[13] In 2016, there were 181,677 foreign-born Egyptians in the United States according to the US Census Bureau's 2016 estimates.[9]

The Arab American Institute indicates that Egyptians are among the larger Arab American populations in the country.[14] Considering the foreign-born population in 2016, Egyptian immigrants represented the second largest group of the Arab foreign-born population in the United States. They followed the Iraqis who accounted for 221,587 foreign-born individuals. After the Iraqi and Egyptian foreign-born populations, the Lebanese foreign-born population in the United States represented 128,608 first-generation immigrants in 2016. Although the Lebanese foreign-born population was the leading Arab immigrant population in the US from 1960 till the 1990s, the Egyptian foreign-born population took the lead at the start of the millennium increasing in more than ten times its size of 1960.[9]

According to US Census Bureau data, around 123,489 people self-reported Egyptian ancestry alone and a further 19,343 people self-reported Egyptian ancestry in combination with another ancestry.[15] Following consultations with MENA organizations, the Census Bureau also announced in 2014 that it would offer a new MENA ethnic option for populations from the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab world.[16]

Most Egyptians in the United States live in the New York City–Northern New Jersey–Long Island area (39,020). The next largest concentrations of Egyptians are in Los Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana (19,170), Washington, D.C.–Arlington–Alexandria (5,770), Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin (3,865), Chicago–Joliet–Naperville (3,705), Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario (3,630), Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach (3,625), Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington (3,280), Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown (2,820), San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont (2,745), and other areas (55,455). There is also a significant Egyptian community in the Detroit metropolitan area especially around Dearborn.[13]

Predominant means of entry edit

In the total foreign-born Egyptian population of 2016, 67% were naturalized US citizens. A majority of 32% of foreign-born Egyptians in 2016 gained legal permanent resident (LPR) status as immediate relatives of US citizens, the primary means of entry for most US foreign-born populations. Therefore, social networks through familial ties remain the primary means of entry for Egyptians obtaining LPR status, nonetheless, almost as many, precisely 29%, enter through Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990.[17]

In 2016, the third major channel of obtaining LPR status in the US for Egyptian first-generation immigrants were as refugees and asylees. The share of the Egyptian foreign-born population obtaining LPR status as refugees or asylees was at 23% in 2016. These figures were particularly high following the 2011 uprisings and post-revolutionary period in Egypt. Specifically, 2,571 foreign-born Egyptians were affirmatively granted asylum status in 2012 compared to 751 in 2011. Nevertheless, these numbers decreased to 690 affirmative asylum status in 2016.[17]

Religion edit

In contrast to the population of Egypt, where Muslims constitute approximately 90% of the population, a larger percentage of Egyptian Americans are Coptic Christians.[7]

Socioeconomic status edit

The first immigrants of Egypt that arrived in United States were mainly university graduates, and some Egyptians who had come seeking further education. Among these immigrants were doctors, accountants, engineers, lawyers and even teachers from major universities. The second wave had university degrees, but had to accept menial jobs (many of them drove taxicabs, or waited on tables in restaurants). Some citizens even became entrepreneurs.[12]

The Egyptian foreign-born population in the US is characterized by a relatively high educational status and professional attainment in comparison to the total US population.

In 2016, Egyptian first-generation immigrants were more than twice as likely to have a bachelor's degree in comparison to the total US population and 20% received a graduate or professional degree versus 12.3% of the US population.[18] This high level of educational attainment may be part of a wider phenomenon of skilled Egyptian migration to the US. In other words, the high rates of unemployment for educated young people in Egypt versus the educational and professional opportunities in the US make immigration an appealing alternative. This is especially true in periods of political uncertainty like the 1970s or following the 2011 uprisings in Egypt. Furthermore, since many Egyptian immigrants enter the US through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program which requires a certain educational level, it is understandable that immigration policies have also pushed the more educated Egyptians to migrate to the US.[19]

Concerning occupational differences, the Egyptian foreign-born population and the American populace do not showcase startling divergences. Yet in 2016 estimates by the US Census Bureau, both groups tended to contrast at the more extreme ends of the professional market. Indeed, Egyptian first-generation immigrants in 2016 outnumbered the US population in the management, business, science and arts occupations. Nearly 50% of the Egyptian foreign-born population was employed in these occupations whereas 37% of the US population was represented in these sectors. On the other hand, the share of Egyptian immigrants in the natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations represented under 4% of the Egyptian foreign-born population while almost 9% of the American population appeared in this sector.[18]

Relations with Egypt edit

In 2001, Universal Union of Egyptian Expatriates was created in order to help Egyptian Expatriates. Today, more than 6 million Egyptians live, work and study abroad are connected. A fair percentage of Egyptian Expatriates settled in the US. Almost 70–75% of Egyptian Expatriates holding the membership of the UUEE are Muslims and 25–30% are Coptic.

On February 11, 2012, a coalition of American Egyptians from around the United States launched a new advocacy organization, the American Egyptian Strategic Alliance.[12]

Notable people edit

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Egyptian Americans.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2012 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2011 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2010 Supplemental Table 2". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "Ten Largest African-Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolmericansitan Statistical Areas: 2008–2012" (PDF).
  6. ^ Keck, Lois T. (1989). "Egyptian Americans in the Washington DC Area". Arab Studies Quarterly. 11 (2/3): 103–126. JSTOR 41859060.
  7. ^ a b c Estimates for the number of Coptic Orthodox Christians in the US range from 700,000 to more than one million out of a total 800,000 to 2,000,000 Egyptians in America NY Times[1]
    . Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
    Hiel, Betsy (February 2, 2007). . University of Houston. Archived from the original (DOC) on March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  8. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  10. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  11. ^ "The Egyptian Diaspora in the United States" (PDF).
  12. ^ a b c "Egyptian Americans - History, Significant immigration waves, Acculturation and Assimilation, Cuisine, Traditional clothing". everyculture.com. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Ten Largest African-Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2008–2012" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  14. ^ Awad, Germine H. (2010). "The impact of acculturation and religious identification on perceived discrimination for Arab/Middle Eastern Americans". Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology. PsycNET. 16 (1): 59–67. doi:10.1037/a0016675. PMID 20099965. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "We the People of Arab Ancestry in the United States" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  16. ^ "Public Comments to NCT Federal Register Notice" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Yearbook 2016". Department of Homeland Security. May 16, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  19. ^ "Select Diaspora Populations in the United States". migrationpolicy.org. July 21, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2018.

Further reading edit

  • Mikhail, Mona. "Egyptian Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2014, pp. 61–71). online

External links edit

  • Society of Egyptian Americans
  • Alliance of Egyptian Americans
  • Egyptian American Community Foundation
  • Egyptian American Organization of California
  • Challenges of Egyptian American Marriage

February 15, 2024
egyptian, americans, arabic, الأمريكيون, المصريون, americans, partial, full, egyptian, ancestry, 2016, census, estimated, number, people, with, egyptian, ancestry, most, whom, from, egypt, christian, orthodox, coptic, minority, also, include, egyptian, foreign. Egyptian Americans Arabic الأمريكيون المصريون are Americans of partial or full Egyptian ancestry The 2016 US Census estimated the number of people with Egyptian ancestry at 256 000 8 most of whom are from Egypt s Christian Orthodox Coptic minority 7 Egyptian Americans may also include the Egyptian foreign born population in the United States 9 The US Census Bureau estimated in 2016 that there were 181 677 foreign born Egyptians in the United States They represented around 0 4 of the total US foreign born population as 42 194 354 first generation immigrants in 2016 10 Egyptians are concentrated in New York City and Los Angeles California has the largest Egyptian population by state 11 Egyptian Americansالأمريكيون المصريونTotal population279 672 2019 U S Census Bureau 1 1 000 000 other estimates Regions with significant populationsNorthern New Jersey and the New York City Metropolitan Area 2 3 4 as well as California especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco Illinois Michigan Washington D C 5 Florida Texas Tennessee and Virginia 6 LanguagesEgyptian Arabic American EnglishReligionMajority Christianity Coptic Orthodoxy Coptic Catholicism Coptic Evangelical 7 Minority Islam Sunni Related ethnic groupsArab Americans Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 3 Predominant means of entry 4 Religion 5 Socioeconomic status 6 Relations with Egypt 7 Notable people 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External linksHistory editEgyptians began to migrate to the U S in significant numbers in the second half of the twentieth century The majority of Egyptians left their country for economic or educational reasons However many emigrated because they were concerned about the political developments that were occurring in Egypt after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 Thousands of Egyptians mainly Copts left Egypt in 1967 after its defeat in the Six Day War of 1967 From 1967 to 1977 more than 15 000 Egyptians immigrated to the United States alone Since the 1981 assassination of Anwar Sadat and consequential inauguration of Hosni Mubarak as the President the Egyptian economy has endured three decades of economic stagnation that has prompted a significant number of Egyptians to emigrate to more prosperous countries such as the United States Attracted by the higher standards of living and greater civil liberties Egyptian expatriates have traditionally favoured permanent residence in countries such as the United States and Canada but sizeable numbers are also present in Australia Italy the United Kingdom France and Arab states of the Persian Gulf The first wave of Egyptian immigrants to the United States were mostly educated professionals and skilled workers Egyptian immigration to the United States was further eased by the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act which allowed selective entry of certain professionals especially scientists from countries such as Egypt which was up until then subjected to stringent emigration restrictions As a result most Egyptian Americans especially first and second generation Egyptians have in comparison become generally very well educated relative to the American population as a whole 12 Demographics edit nbsp The New York City Metropolitan Area including Northern New Jersey and New York City is home to by far the largest Egyptian population in the United States 2 3 4 As of 2012 there were 143 085 Egyptian born residents in the United States 13 In 2016 there were 181 677 foreign born Egyptians in the United States according to the US Census Bureau s 2016 estimates 9 The Arab American Institute indicates that Egyptians are among the larger Arab American populations in the country 14 Considering the foreign born population in 2016 Egyptian immigrants represented the second largest group of the Arab foreign born population in the United States They followed the Iraqis who accounted for 221 587 foreign born individuals After the Iraqi and Egyptian foreign born populations the Lebanese foreign born population in the United States represented 128 608 first generation immigrants in 2016 Although the Lebanese foreign born population was the leading Arab immigrant population in the US from 1960 till the 1990s the Egyptian foreign born population took the lead at the start of the millennium increasing in more than ten times its size of 1960 9 According to US Census Bureau data around 123 489 people self reported Egyptian ancestry alone and a further 19 343 people self reported Egyptian ancestry in combination with another ancestry 15 Following consultations with MENA organizations the Census Bureau also announced in 2014 that it would offer a new MENA ethnic option for populations from the Middle East North Africa and the Arab world 16 Most Egyptians in the United States live in the New York City Northern New Jersey Long Island area 39 020 The next largest concentrations of Egyptians are in Los Angeles Long Beach Santa Ana 19 170 Washington D C Arlington Alexandria 5 770 Nashville Davidson Murfreesboro Franklin 3 865 Chicago Joliet Naperville 3 705 Riverside San Bernardino Ontario 3 630 Miami Fort Lauderdale Pompano Beach 3 625 Philadelphia Camden Wilmington 3 280 Houston Sugar Land Baytown 2 820 San Francisco Oakland Fremont 2 745 and other areas 55 455 There is also a significant Egyptian community in the Detroit metropolitan area especially around Dearborn 13 Predominant means of entry editIn the total foreign born Egyptian population of 2016 67 were naturalized US citizens A majority of 32 of foreign born Egyptians in 2016 gained legal permanent resident LPR status as immediate relatives of US citizens the primary means of entry for most US foreign born populations Therefore social networks through familial ties remain the primary means of entry for Egyptians obtaining LPR status nonetheless almost as many precisely 29 enter through Section 203 c of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990 17 In 2016 the third major channel of obtaining LPR status in the US for Egyptian first generation immigrants were as refugees and asylees The share of the Egyptian foreign born population obtaining LPR status as refugees or asylees was at 23 in 2016 These figures were particularly high following the 2011 uprisings and post revolutionary period in Egypt Specifically 2 571 foreign born Egyptians were affirmatively granted asylum status in 2012 compared to 751 in 2011 Nevertheless these numbers decreased to 690 affirmative asylum status in 2016 17 Religion editIn contrast to the population of Egypt where Muslims constitute approximately 90 of the population a larger percentage of Egyptian Americans are Coptic Christians 7 Socioeconomic status editThe first immigrants of Egypt that arrived in United States were mainly university graduates and some Egyptians who had come seeking further education Among these immigrants were doctors accountants engineers lawyers and even teachers from major universities The second wave had university degrees but had to accept menial jobs many of them drove taxicabs or waited on tables in restaurants Some citizens even became entrepreneurs 12 The Egyptian foreign born population in the US is characterized by a relatively high educational status and professional attainment in comparison to the total US population In 2016 Egyptian first generation immigrants were more than twice as likely to have a bachelor s degree in comparison to the total US population and 20 received a graduate or professional degree versus 12 3 of the US population 18 This high level of educational attainment may be part of a wider phenomenon of skilled Egyptian migration to the US In other words the high rates of unemployment for educated young people in Egypt versus the educational and professional opportunities in the US make immigration an appealing alternative This is especially true in periods of political uncertainty like the 1970s or following the 2011 uprisings in Egypt Furthermore since many Egyptian immigrants enter the US through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program which requires a certain educational level it is understandable that immigration policies have also pushed the more educated Egyptians to migrate to the US 19 Concerning occupational differences the Egyptian foreign born population and the American populace do not showcase startling divergences Yet in 2016 estimates by the US Census Bureau both groups tended to contrast at the more extreme ends of the professional market Indeed Egyptian first generation immigrants in 2016 outnumbered the US population in the management business science and arts occupations Nearly 50 of the Egyptian foreign born population was employed in these occupations whereas 37 of the US population was represented in these sectors On the other hand the share of Egyptian immigrants in the natural resources construction and maintenance occupations represented under 4 of the Egyptian foreign born population while almost 9 of the American population appeared in this sector 18 Relations with Egypt editIn 2001 Universal Union of Egyptian Expatriates was created in order to help Egyptian Expatriates Today more than 6 million Egyptians live work and study abroad are connected A fair percentage of Egyptian Expatriates settled in the US Almost 70 75 of Egyptian Expatriates holding the membership of the UUEE are Muslims and 25 30 are Coptic On February 11 2012 a coalition of American Egyptians from around the United States launched a new advocacy organization the American Egyptian Strategic Alliance 12 Notable people editFor a more comprehensive list see List of Egyptian Americans Ahmed Zewail Mohamed M Atalla Nessa Diab Stephen Adly Guirgis Hoda Kotb Rami Malek Wendie Malick Omar Metwally Tarek Morad Amanda Sobhy Ramy Youssef Michael Mina Raef singer Abdel Nader Joe DeRosa comedian Maryana Iskander Dina Powell Mohamed A El Erian Minouche Shafik Bassem YoussefSee also edit nbsp Egypt portal nbsp United States portalArab Americans Copts Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States List of Coptic Orthodox churches in the United States North Africans in the United States Egyptian Canadians Egyptian Australians Egypt United States relationsReferences edit 2019 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimates United States Census Bureau Retrieved May 5 2022 a b Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2012 Supplemental Table 2 U S Department of Homeland Security Retrieved April 1 2013 a b Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2011 Supplemental Table 2 U S Department of Homeland Security Retrieved April 1 2013 a b Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2010 Supplemental Table 2 U S Department of Homeland Security Retrieved April 1 2013 Ten Largest African Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolmericansitan Statistical Areas 2008 2012 PDF Keck Lois T 1989 Egyptian Americans in the Washington DC Area Arab Studies Quarterly 11 2 3 103 126 JSTOR 41859060 a b c Estimates for the number of Coptic Orthodox Christians in the US range from 700 000 to more than one million out of a total 800 000 to 2 000 000 Egyptians in America NY Times 1 JS Online State s first Coptic Orthodox church is a vessel of faith Archived from the original on August 21 2011 Retrieved June 2 2008 Hiel Betsy February 2 2007 Coptics flock to welcome Baba at Pittsburgh airport University of Houston Archived from the original DOC on March 19 2009 Retrieved June 21 2009 Bureau U S Census U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved March 17 2018 a b c Bureau U S Census American FactFinder Results factfinder census gov Archived from the original on February 14 2020 Retrieved April 4 2018 Bureau U S Census U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved April 4 2018 The Egyptian Diaspora in the United States PDF a b c Egyptian Americans History Significant immigration waves Acculturation and Assimilation Cuisine Traditional clothing everyculture com Retrieved March 18 2015 a b Ten Largest African Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas 2008 2012 PDF US Census Bureau Retrieved November 3 2016 Awad Germine H 2010 The impact of acculturation and religious identification on perceived discrimination for Arab Middle Eastern Americans Cultural Diversity amp Ethnic Minority Psychology PsycNET 16 1 59 67 doi 10 1037 a0016675 PMID 20099965 Retrieved November 3 2016 We the People of Arab Ancestry in the United States PDF U S Census Bureau Department of Commerce Retrieved November 3 2016 Public Comments to NCT Federal Register Notice PDF U S Census Bureau Department of Commerce Retrieved November 3 2016 a b Yearbook 2016 Department of Homeland Security May 16 2017 Retrieved March 2 2018 a b Bureau U S Census U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved March 2 2018 Select Diaspora Populations in the United States migrationpolicy org July 21 2014 Retrieved March 2 2018 Further reading editMikhail Mona Egyptian Americans Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America edited by Thomas Riggs 3rd ed vol 2 Gale 2014 pp 61 71 onlineExternal links editAmerican Egyptian Strategic Alliance or AESA Society of Egyptian Americans Alliance of Egyptian Americans Association of Egyptian American Scholars Egyptian American Alliance of Youth Egyptian American Community Foundation Egyptian American Cultural Association Egyptian American Organization of California Egyptian American Society Challenges of Egyptian American Marriage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Egyptian Americans amp oldid 1201865549, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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