Economy, jobs and prices in Cairo, Egypt: official figures
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%.
How many people have jobs in Cairo?
About 2,962,900 people aged 15 and over were in work in Cairo in 2024, 9.9% of Egypt's 29.93 million employed, up 10.3% on 2019 (Egypt: up 14.6%).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow many jobs do small-business loans create in Cairo?
In 2024 the MSME Development Agency funded 2,664 micro-enterprise projects in Cairo with LE 190.6 million, creating 12,705 job opportunities (4.9% of the national total).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow much drinking water is lost in Cairo?
Water companies produced 1,701.6 million cubic metres of drinking water for Cairo in 2023/24 and 23.4% of it was lost before reaching customers, joint 10th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.5%).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyIs sewage treated in Cairo?
1,552.3 million cubic metres of sewage were collected in Cairo in 2023/24 and 1,440.5 million treated (93%), at 4 treatment plants.
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow many vehicles are there in Cairo?
2,696,675 vehicles were licensed in Cairo at the end of 2024, about 260 per 1,000 residents, 2nd highest of the 27 governorates.
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyHow many roads are paved in Cairo?
Cairo had 6,306 km of roads on 30 June 2024, of which 6,123 km paved and 184 km unpaved (3%; Egypt: 18%).
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copyMore figures
- Water consumed in Cairo (homes, businesses and public uses together) came to about 344 litres per resident per day in 2023/24, 3rd highest of the 27 governorates, across 1,677,492 subscriber accounts. Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (copy published by the Ministry of Social Solidarity) · saved copy
How Cairo compares with other governorates
Unemployment rate, ages 15+ (2024)
Cairo ranks 5 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, ages 15+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Red Sea | 16.7% |
| 3 | Suez | 14.7% |
| 4 | South Sinai | 14.6% |
| 5 | Cairo | 11.9% |
| 6 | Ismailia | 9.3% |
| 7 | Qalyubia | 8.6% |
| 8 | Gharbia | 8.4% |
Drinking water lost before reaching customers (2023/24)
Cairo ranks 17 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Drinking water lost before reaching customers |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Giza | 26.3% |
| 15 | Qena | 25.1% |
| 16 | Alexandria | 23.5% |
| 17 | Cairo | 23.4% |
| 18 | Sharqia | 23.4% |
| 19 | Asyut | 22.4% |
| 20 | New Valley | 22.4% |
Licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents (2024)
Cairo ranks 2 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Sinai | 372 |
| 2 | Cairo | 260 |
| 3 | Red Sea | 245 |
| 4 | New Valley | 218 |
| 5 | Suez | 189 |
| 6 | Port Said | 182 |
| 7 | Giza | 152 |
More on Cairo: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Egypt
Sources
- 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 3: tables 15-4 (micro-enterprise projects and jobs funded by the MSME Development Agency, 2024) and 15-7 (Takaful and Karama cash-transfer beneficiaries and payments, 2022/23; Ministry of Social Solidarity), 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 2: tables 7-10 (buildings connected to public sewage, 2017 census), 8-6 (licensed vehicles, 31 December 2024) and 8-11 (road length, 30 June 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72f291831ffa…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.