Sharqia: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
Sharqia is a governorate of Egypt, number 3 of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of Sharqia Governorate at 8,057,634 on 1 January 2025 (4,138,174 men and 3,919,460 women), 7.51% of Egypt's 107.27 million; 3rd 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 Sharqia: The unemployment rate in Sharqia was 4.6% in 2024 (8.5% for women and 3.9% for men), 8th lowest of the 26 governorates with data (Egypt: 6.6%). In 2021 it was 6.0%.
- Health in Sharqia: 578,583 people in Sharqia, 7.5% of the population, had a severe or absolute difficulty (disability) in 2022 (Egypt: 4.9%).
- Education in Sharqia: 25.9% of people aged 10 and over in Sharqia could not read or write at the 2017 census (30.4% of women, 21.7% of men), joint 10th highest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 32.2%.
- Poverty and living standards in Sharqia: At the 2017 census 34.3% of residential buildings in Sharqia were connected to the public sewer, 10th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%); in rural areas the share was 22.4%.
How fast is Sharqia's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 8,101,000 for 2025, up from 7,459,000 in 2019: growth of about 1.4% 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 Sharqia is urban?
At the 2017 census 7,163,824 people lived in Sharqia, 24.3% 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 Sharqia each year?
136,215 births and 41,222 deaths were registered in Sharqia in 2024: 17.0 births and 5.1 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is 11th 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 Sharqia?
70,625 marriage contracts and 18,903 divorces were registered in Sharqia in 2024 (provisional): 8.8 marriages and 2.4 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 Sharqia?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 13.1 billion of public investment to Sharqia for 472 projects, 2.2% of the public investment distributed among governorates; 10th 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 Sharqia?
That is about LE 1,626 per resident, 6th smallest 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 Sharqia spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for Sharqia, 49.5% or about LE 6.5 billion, goes to housing and utilities.
Source: Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation · saved copyMore figures
- The allocation is 33.7% 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
- Cairo 10,390,238
- Giza 9,702,318
- 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 Sharqia Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08aaa23f988e…)
- 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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