The Egyptian Diaspora in the United States

RAD Diaspora Profile

Prepared for the Rockefeller-Aspen Diaspora Program (RAD)

February 2014

Summary Approximately 250,000 Egyptian immigrants and their children (the first and second generations) were living in the United States as of 2013. Though Egypt has long been a source of immigrants to the United States, an unusually high number of Egyptians (estimated at 35,000) immigrated to the United States between 2010 and 2012, which may signal a new wave of Egyptian immigration. The Egyptian diaspora is highly educated: 26 percent hold an advanced degree (compared to 11 percent of the U.S. population as a whole), and an addi- tional 38 percent hold a bachelor’s degree (compared to 20 percent). Egyptians are also more likely than the general U.S. population to be employed and work in professional or managerial occupations, although the labor force participation rate between these groups is similar. In general, high levels of education correspond to higher employment rates for the diaspora groups analyzed in the RAD series, as is the case among Egyptians.1 Seventeen percent of Egyptian diaspora households had incomes over $140,000, placing them in the top tenth of the U.S. household income distribution.

The largest populations of Egyptian immigrants are found in the New York and Los Angeles d imetropolitan a s p o r a areas, but outside of these two areas, they are widely distributed across the United States. The state with the largest number of Egyptian immigrants is California.

Considering the small size of the Egyptian diaspora in the United States, Egyptian diaspora organizations are relatively abundant. Of the 42 Egyptian diaspora organizations identified for this study, most fell into in one or more of these categories: advocates for political/human rights in Egypt, medical charities, and groups serving the Coptic community (a Christian denomination in Egypt). Although a number of new organizations were created after the Arab Spring, many appear defunct as of 2014. Only one of the diaspora organizations identified by this study, Coptic Orphans, reported annual revenue above $1 million. Three other organizations had annual revenues above $200,000: the Egyptian Cancer Network, the Egyptian Relief Association, and the American Egyptian Cooperation Foundation. Other notable nonprofits include the Egyptian American Foundation and the American Egyptian Strategic Alliance (AESA), and the Egyptian-American Rule of Law Association. Egyptians are also active in Arab diaspora organizations that involve groups of many national origins, such as the Arab Ameri- can Institute. e g y p t i a n

populations. 1 The RAD Diaspora Profile series covers U.S.-based Colombian, Egyptian, Indian, Kenyan, and Filipino diaspora The United States is not a top destination for Egyptian emigrants, many more of whom live and work in countries of the Middle East. Nevertheless, the diaspora in the United States was Egypt ’s sixth-largest source of international remittances to Egypt in 2012, having sent an estimated $880 million that year. Migrant remittances make up a large, albeit variable, share of Egypt’s GDP (7.8 percent in 2012). In absolute amounts, remittances to Egypt have surged in recent years—from about $5 billion in 2005 to an estimated $20.5 billion for 2012.

Detailed Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics2 Analysis of data from 2009-2013 shows an Egyptian diaspora in the United States of approximately 250,000 individuals, counting immigrants born in Egypt and U.S.-born individuals with at least one parent born in Egypt.

First Generation (Egyptian immigrants in the United States)

An estimated 150,000 immigrants from Egypt resided in the United States.

Slightly more than half of Egyptian immigrants (54 percent) arrived before 2000, while 46 percent arrived after 2000.

The Egyptian immigrant population has grown quickly since 1990, when approximately 70,000 Egyptian immigrants resided in the United States.3, 4 According to recent estimates, the immigrant population has surged in the past few years, increasing by 35,000 between 2010 and 2012.4 Sixty percent of the Egyptian immigrants were U.S. citizens, a share only slightly lower than the overall U.S. foreign-born population (64 percent).

Seventy-seven percent of Egyptian immigrants were of working age (18 to 64), and the remaining population was nearly equally divided between children (younger than 18) and people of retirement age (65 or older): 11 and 12 percent, respectively. The median age of first-generation Egyptian immigrants was 41.

2 Unless otherwise noted, estimates for the diaspora population and its characteristics are based on Migration Policy

collected in March of each year. All Census Bureau data were accessed from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series Institute analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Surveys, using five years of pooled data (2009-2013), Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2010),(IPUMS) http://usa.ipums.org/usa/ (Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander,. Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. 3 Estimates based on MPI analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010-2012 American Community Surveys and the 1990 and 2000 Censuses. 4 There were 138,000 immigrants from Egypt in 2010 and 173,000 in 2012 based on the American Community Survey estimates for those individual years. Note that the timeframe and source for these results are different from the general analysis, therefore population estimates may differ.

2 RAD Diaspora Profile: The Egyptian Diaspora in the United States RAD Diaspora Profile

Second Generation (U.S.-born with at least one Egyptian immigrant parent)

An estimated 100,000 U.S.-born individuals had at least one parent from Egypt.

Nearly half of second-generation individuals reported having two Egyptian immigrant parents (47 percent), while 28 percent had one U.S.-born parent, and the remainder had an Egyptian immigrant parent and an immigrant parent from another origin.

Members of the Egyptian second generation had a median age of 13, and the majority of this group was under age 18 (57 percent). Nevertheless, 42 percent of the second generation diaspora was of working age (18 to 64).

Educational Attainment

Egyptian diaspora members were more than twice as likely as the general U.S. population to have earned a university degree. Among those ages 25 and older, 26 percent of the Egyptian diaspora held a master’s degree, PhD, or an advanced professional degree, compared to 11 percent of the U.S. population overall.

Another 38 percent of Egyptian diaspora members over 25 held a bachelor’s degree as their highest credential, compared to 20 percent of the U.S. population.

The Egyptian diaspora shows increasing educational attainment across generations, with greater shares of second generation than first-generation individuals having bachelor’s and advanced degrees.

Household Income

Egyptian diaspora households had median annual incomes that were slightly higher than U.S. households overall ($59,000 versus $50,000), but Egyptian households also tended to include more members (2.9 versus 2.5 residents, on average)—meaning that Egyptian household incomes were stretched across more individuals.

Twenty-nine percent of Egyptian households reported incomes higher than $90,000, the income threshold for the top 25 percent of U.S. households overall.

Seventeen percent of Egyptian households had incomes higher than $140,000, the income threshold for the top 10 percent of U.S. households overall.

Migration Policy Institute 3 Employment

An equal proportion of Egyptian diaspora members and the general U.S. population over age 16 were in the labor force: 64 percent.

Egyptian diaspora members that participated in the labor force were slightly more likely than the general U.S. population to be employed (94 versus 91 percent). A large share of Egyptian diaspora members were employed in professional and managerial occupations compared to the general U.S. population (32 versus 20 percent). These occupations include specialized fields (e.g. engineering, science, law, or education) as well as administrative and managerial jobs (e.g. finance or human resources).

Geographic Distribution5

The states of California, New Jersey, and New York were home to the country’s largest Egyptian immigrant populations, with approximately 30,000, 20,000, and 20,000 residents, respectively.

The New York and Los Angeles metropolitan had the largest Egyptian immigrant populations: 40,000 and 20,000 respectively.

No state or metropolitan area showed a particularly high concentration of Egyptians rela- tive to their total population.

Remittance Volume6

Remittance receipts for Egypt were valued at $20.5 billion in 2012, or 7.8 percent of the country’s total GDP ($262 billion).

Egypt’s remittance inflows consistently constitute a large share of its GDP, but the share has fluctuated over the years. Between 1975 and 1995, remittances usually made up between 7 and 13 percent of the country’s GDP. More recently, remittances were below 6 percent of GDP, but in 2012 they rebounded to 7.8 percent. In terms of volume, remittances nearly quadrupled between 2009 and 2012, from $7.1 billion to $20.5 billion. The U.S.-based diaspora population was Egypt’s sixth-largest source of international remittances in 2012, with the U.S.-based diaspora having sent an estimated $880 million that year. The United States was also the fifth-most popular destination country for Egyptian migrants. The other principal sources of remittances to Egypt were Saudi Arabia, Jordan,

5 Theseand estimates Kuwait, are basedwhich on wereMPI analysis also theof the top 2008-2012 three destinations ACS. Note that geographic for Egyptian distribution emigrants. is only analyzed for the immigrant population. Second-generation Egyptian diaspora members are not included in this section.

update) and the 2012 Bilateral Remittance Matrix (both available here: http://go.worldbank.org/092X1CHHD0). GDP esti- 6 Remittancemates are from data World are taken Bank from World World Development Bank Prospects Indicators Group data. tables Population for annual estimates remittance are frominflows the and United outflows Nations (October Population 2013 Division mid-2013 matrix of total migrant stock by origin and destination.

4 RAD Diaspora Profile: The Egyptian Diaspora in the United States RAD Diaspora Profile

Tables, Maps, and Graphs

Characteristics of the Egyptian Diaspora in the United States

Egyptian Diaspora Total U.S. in the U.S.* Population

Household Income Median household income $59,000 $50,000 Average household size 2.9 2.5 Share of households with high incomes ($90,000+) 29% 25%

Share of households with very high incomes ($140,000+) 17% 10%

Employment Total population age 16 and older 180,000 239,386,000 Share in the labor force 64% 64% ... that was employed 94% 91% ... that was in a professional occupation 32% 20% Educational Attainment ** Total population age 25 and older 152,000 201,925,000 ... with less than high school education 3% 13% ... with high school or some college education 32% 57% ... with a bachelor's degree 38% 20% ... with an advanced degree 26% 11% Population Characteristics by Generation First and Second Generation Immigrant Population 246,000 73,140,000 First generation immigrant population *** 149,000 38,468,000 ... that was working age (18-64) 77% 81% ... that entered the U.S. before 2000 54% 64% ... naturalized as U.S. citizens 60% 44% Second generation population **** 97,000 34,672,000 ... that was under age 18 57% 46% ... that was working age (18-64) 42% 43% ... with only one parent from Egypt 53%

* defined as all first and second generation ** highest level reported *** all individuals who report Egypt as their place of birth, excluding U.S. births abroad **** all individuals who report having at least one parent born in Egypt

Source: All Census Bureau data were accessed from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) (Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2010), http://usa.ipums.org/usa/.

Migration Policy Institute 5 Remittance Inflows to Egypt by Sending Country and the Egyptian Emigrant Population, 2012 Egypt: Remittance Inflows by Sending Country and Emigrant Population, 2012 Saudi Arabia $5.7 billion 1,298,000 Jordan $3.8 billion 277,000 Kuwait $2.2 billion 182,000 Libya $2.1 billion 21,000 United Arab Emirates $931.0 million 712,000 United States $880.1 million 172,000 Qatar $698.1 million 144,000 p t

g y Italy $540.9 million 103,000 E Canada $296.7 million 47,000 Yemen $259.5 million 11,000 Australia $256.3 million 44,000 Oman $231.3 million 41,000 Bahrain $187.8 million 66,000 Israel $185.3 million 21,000 United Kingdom $172.3 million 30,000 $M $2,000M $4,000M $6,000M $8,000M 0K 500K 1000K 1500K Remittances Sent to Egypt Migrants from Egypt Remittances Sent to Egypt Migrants from Egypt

Source: MPI’s analysis of World Bank Prospects Group tables for annual remittance inflows and outflows (October 2013 update) and the 2012 Bilateral Remittance Matrix, the World Bank’s World Development Indicators, and the United Nations Population Division’s Matrix of Total Migrant Stock by Origin and Destination (mid-2013).

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