Egyptian Americans
الأمريكيون المصريون | |
---|---|
Total population | |
279,672 (2019 U.S. Census Bureau)[1] 1,000,000 (other estimates) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Arab Americans |
Egyptian Americans (
History
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
Demographics
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
According to
Most Egyptians in the United States live in the
Predominant means of entry
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
In contrast to the population of Egypt, where Muslims constitute approximately 90% of the population, a larger percentage of Egyptian Americans are
Socioeconomic status
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
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
- 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 Youssef
See also
- Arab 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 relations
References
- ^ "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).
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- American 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