Ismailia: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
Ismailia is a governorate of Egypt, number 19 of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of Ismailia Governorate at 1,483,148 on 1 January 2025 (762,198 men and 720,950 women), 1.38% of Egypt's 107.27 million; 9th smallest 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 Ismailia: The unemployment rate in Ismailia was 9.3% in 2024 (23.5% for women and 5.3% for men), 6th highest of the 26 governorates with data (Egypt: 6.6%). In 2021 it was 9.6%.
- Health in Ismailia: 55,208 people in Ismailia, 3.9% of the population, had a severe or absolute difficulty (disability) in 2022 (Egypt: 4.9%).
- Education in Ismailia: 21.4% of people aged 10 and over in Ismailia could not read or write at the 2017 census (25.3% of women, 17.7% of men), joint 10th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 22.8%.
- Poverty and living standards in Ismailia: At the 2017 census 36.7% of residential buildings in Ismailia were connected to the public sewer, 14th highest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%); in rural areas the share was 17.3%.
How fast is Ismailia's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 1,491,000 for 2025, up from 1,364,000 in 2019: growth of about 1.5% 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 Ismailia is urban?
At the 2017 census 1,303,993 people lived in Ismailia, 44.5% 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 Ismailia each year?
27,273 births and 8,358 deaths were registered in Ismailia in 2024: 18.5 births and 5.7 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is 13th 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 Ismailia?
11,702 marriage contracts and 4,804 divorces were registered in Ismailia in 2024 (provisional): 7.9 marriages and 3.3 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 Ismailia?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 15.1 billion of public investment to Ismailia for 329 projects, 2.6% of the public investment distributed among governorates; 6th 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 Ismailia?
That is about LE 10,181 per resident, 10th 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 Ismailia spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for Ismailia, 65% or about LE 9.8 billion, goes to Suez Canal Authority projects.
Source: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation · saved copyHow 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
- Cairo 10,390,238
- 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
- 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 Ismailia Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8be4b1d60e63…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.