Red Sea: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
Red Sea is a governorate of Egypt, number 25 of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of Red Sea Governorate at 414,005 on 1 January 2025 (213,912 men and 200,093 women), 0.39% of Egypt's 107.27 million; 3rd 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 Red Sea: The unemployment rate in Red Sea was 16.7% in 2024 (38.1% for women and 11.4% for men), 2nd highest of the 26 governorates with data (Egypt: 6.6%). In 2021 it was 23.6%.
- Health in Red Sea: 8,272 people in Red Sea, 2.1% of the population, had a severe or absolute difficulty (disability) in 2022 (Egypt: 4.9%).
- Education in Red Sea: 12.0% of people aged 10 and over in Red Sea could not read or write at the 2017 census (15.1% of women, 9.1% of men), the lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 12.7%.
- Poverty and living standards in Red Sea: At the 2017 census 46.1% of residential buildings in Red Sea were connected to the public sewer, 12th highest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%); in rural areas the share was 8.5%.
How fast is Red Sea's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 418,000 for 2025, up from 376,000 in 2019: growth of about 1.8% 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 Red Sea is urban?
At the 2017 census 359,888 people lived in Red Sea, 96.5% 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 Red Sea each year?
10,170 births and 2,359 deaths were registered in Red Sea in 2024: 24.8 births and 5.8 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is 3rd 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 Red Sea?
2,881 marriage contracts and 1,123 divorces were registered in Red Sea in 2024 (provisional): 7.0 marriages and 2.7 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 Red Sea?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 10.4 billion of public investment to Red Sea for 200 projects, 1.8% of the public investment distributed among governorates; 13th smallest 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 Red Sea?
That is about LE 25,120 per resident, 4th 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 Red Sea spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for Red Sea, 40.7% or about LE 4.2 billion, goes to housing and utilities.
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
- North Sinai 521,436
- 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 Red Sea Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6c3614acb12d…)
- 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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