North Sinai: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
North Sinai is a governorate of Egypt, number 24 of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of North Sinai Governorate at 521,436 on 1 January 2025 (265,425 men and 256,011 women), 0.49% of Egypt's 107.27 million; 4th 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 North Sinai: The Labour Force Survey publishes no employment or unemployment figures for North Sinai for 2022-2024.
- Education in North Sinai: 23.3% of people aged 10 and over in North Sinai could not read or write at the 2017 census (25.5% of women, 21.1% of men), 13th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 24.2%.
- Poverty and living standards in North Sinai: At the 2017 census 2.9% of residential buildings in North Sinai were connected to the public sewer, the lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%); in rural areas the share was 2.1%.
How fast is North Sinai's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 526,000 for 2025, up from 467,000 in 2019: growth of about 2.0% 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 North Sinai is urban?
At the 2017 census 450,328 people lived in North Sinai, 62.9% 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 North Sinai each year?
12,153 births and 2,570 deaths were registered in North Sinai in 2024: 23.5 births and 5.0 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is 6th highest 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 North Sinai?
4,220 marriage contracts and 1,498 divorces were registered in North Sinai in 2024 (provisional): 8.2 marriages and 2.9 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 many people in North Sinai have a disability?
17,704 people in North Sinai, 3.6% of the population, had a severe or absolute difficulty (disability) in 2022 (Egypt: 4.9%).
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 North Sinai?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 12.7 billion of public investment to North Sinai for 280 projects, 2.1% of the public investment distributed among governorates; 12th 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 North Sinai?
That is about LE 24,356 per resident, 5th 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 North Sinai spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for North Sinai, 38% or about LE 4.9 billion, goes to transport.
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
- Ismailia 1,483,148
- Luxor 1,435,007
- Suez 804,971
- Port Said 798,407
- Matrouh 576,459
- Red Sea 414,005
- New Valley 272,750
- South Sinai 120,053
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Sources
- Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation: Citizen Investment Plan 2025/26 for North Sinai Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 270c3c2d5cf1…)
- 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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