Egypt’s population hits 104.4 million

CAIRO, Egypt

Egypt recorded a 1.6 million increase in its population in 2022, reaching 104.4 million in December, up from 102.8 million in January, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).

A street in Cairo, Egypt (courtesy)

In a statement on Wednesday, CAPMAS confirmed that the capital, Cairo, was still the most populated governorate, with some 10.2 million residing there.

Giza, located on the west bank of the Nile, was the second-most populated governorate with a population of 9.5 million, followed by Sharqiya at 7.9 million, Daqahliya at 7 million, and Beheira at 6.8 million.

Minya and Sohag governorates recorded populations of 6.3 million and 5.7 million respectively.

These were followed by Qalioubiya (6.1 million), Alexandria (5.5 million) and Gharbiya (5.4 million).

The number of Egyptians who reside abroad was approximated to be in the region between 10-14 million.

In 2021, CAPMAS said it expected Egypt’s population to reach 192 million in 2052, based on the growth trends recorded at the time.

Ahram however reports that in August the agency reported a 20 percent drop in the North African country’s fertility rate, from 3.5 births per woman in 2014 to 2.8 in 2021.

Egypt now aims to further reduce the fertility rate to 1.6 births per woman, according to adviser to the chairman of CAPMAS Hussein Abdel-Aziz.