Cairo: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
Cairo is a governorate of Egypt, the largest of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of Cairo Governorate at 10,390,238 on 1 January 2025 (5,349,934 men and 5,040,304 women), 9.69% of Egypt's 107.27 million; the largest of the 27 governorates. The estimate is built from the 2017 census plus registered births and deaths since.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Cairo: The unemployment rate in Cairo was 11.9% in 2024 (21.0% for women and 9.2% for men), 5th highest of the 26 governorates with data (Egypt: 6.6%). In 2021 it was 13.7%.
- Health in Cairo: 464,588 people in Cairo, 4.6% of the population, had a severe or absolute difficulty (disability) in 2022 (Egypt: 4.9%).
- Education in Cairo: 16.2% of people aged 10 and over in Cairo could not read or write at the 2017 census (18.7% of women, 13.9% of men), 5th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 19.3%.
- Poverty and living standards in Cairo: At the 2017 census 94.0% of residential buildings in Cairo were connected to the public sewer, the highest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%).
How fast is Cairo's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 10,427,000 for 2025, up from 9,841,000 in 2019: growth of about 1.0% a year (Egypt: 1.5% a year).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow much of Cairo is urban?
At the 2017 census 9,539,673 people lived in Cairo, 100.0% of them in urban areas (Egypt: 42.4%).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow many babies are born in Cairo each year?
172,283 births and 79,550 deaths were registered in Cairo in 2024: 16.7 births and 7.7 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is joint 8th lowest of the 27 governorates.
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow common is divorce in Cairo?
138,495 marriage contracts and 50,708 divorces were registered in Cairo in 2024 (provisional): 13.4 marriages and 4.9 divorces per 1,000 people (Egypt: 8.8 and 2.6).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow much is the government investing in Cairo?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 130 billion of public investment to Cairo for 1,177 projects, 22% of the public investment distributed among governorates; the largest of the 27 governorates. Projects under the "Decent Life" (Haya Karima) rural programme are counted separately.
Source: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation · saved copyHow much public investment is there per person in Cairo?
That is about LE 12,512 per resident, 8th largest of the 27 governorates (all 27 governorates together: LE 5,515).
Source: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation · saved copyWhat is public investment in Cairo spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for Cairo, 41% or about LE 53 billion, goes to transport.
Source: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation · saved copyMore figures
- The allocation is 30% higher than in the 2024/25 plan. Source: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation · saved copy
How governorates are governed in Egypt
Governorates (27). Governor appointed by the President. Highest executive authority in the governorate over all state staff except judges.
Every tier of government in Egypt
Other governorates of Egypt
- Giza 9,702,318
- Sharqia 8,057,634
- Dakahlia 7,152,522
- Beheira 7,018,252
- Minya 6,511,377
- Qalyubia 6,240,241
- Sohag 5,889,629
- Alexandria 5,618,143
- Gharbia 5,518,645
- Asyut 5,207,922
- Monufia 4,823,447
- Faiyum 4,178,614
- Kafr El Sheikh 3,783,559
- Qena 3,735,434
- Beni Suef 3,683,155
- Aswan 1,694,000
- Damietta 1,639,894
- Ismailia 1,483,148
- Luxor 1,435,007
- Suez 804,971
- Port Said 798,407
- Matrouh 576,459
- North Sinai 521,436
- Red Sea 414,005
- New Valley 272,750
- South Sinai 120,053
Up a level: Egypt · government and power in Egypt · cities
Sources
- Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation: Citizen Investment Plan 2025/26 for Cairo Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a8492f97e3d6…)
- Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity): Statistical Yearbook 2025, part 3: tables 21-11, 21-13, 21-14, 21-15 and 21-17 (Egypt Family Health Survey 2021 by governorate) and 21-24 (people with disabilities, 2022), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 325979811b41…)
- Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity): Statistical Yearbook 2025, part 1: tables 4-3 (employed persons aged 15+ by governorate, 2019-2024) and 4-6 (unemployment rate by governorate and sex, 2021-2024), Labour Force Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1577a160ffd5…)
- Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity): Statistical Yearbook 2025, part 2: tables 11-6 (public pre-university teachers, 2019/20-2023/24), 11-8 and 11-10 (primary and general secondary pupils and teachers, 2023/24), 11-25 (schools for pupils with disabilities) and 11-40 (school drop-out, 2017 census); Ministry of Education and Technical Education, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72f291831ffa…)
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