South Sinai: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
South Sinai is a governorate of Egypt, number 27 of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of South Sinai Governorate at 120,053 on 1 January 2025 (61,121 men and 58,932 women), 0.11% of Egypt's 107.27 million; the 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 South Sinai: The unemployment rate in South Sinai was 14.6% in 2024 (16.7% for women and 14.1% for men), 4th highest of the 26 governorates with data (Egypt: 6.6%). In 2021 it was 33.6%.
- Education in South Sinai: 16.6% of people aged 10 and over in South Sinai could not read or write at the 2017 census (20.6% of women, 12.9% of men), 6th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 11.6%.
- Poverty and living standards in South Sinai: At the 2017 census 59.9% of residential buildings in South Sinai were connected to the public sewer, 6th highest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%); in rural areas the share was 50.8%.
How fast is South Sinai's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 121,000 for 2025, up from 107,000 in 2019: growth of about 2.1% 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 South Sinai is urban?
At the 2017 census 102,018 people lived in South Sinai, 52.9% 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 South Sinai each year?
3,408 births and 807 deaths were registered in South Sinai in 2024: 28.7 births and 6.8 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is 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 common is divorce in South Sinai?
1,110 marriage contracts and 412 divorces were registered in South Sinai in 2024 (provisional): 9.4 marriages and 3.5 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 South Sinai have a disability?
2,068 people in South Sinai, 1.8% 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 South Sinai?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 4.8 billion of public investment to South Sinai for 182 projects, 1.0% of the public investment distributed among governorates; 3rd 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 South Sinai?
That is about LE 39,982 per resident, 3rd 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 South Sinai spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for South Sinai, 25% or about LE 1.2 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
- North Sinai 521,436
- Red Sea 414,005
- New Valley 272,750
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Sources
- Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation: Citizen Investment Plan 2025/26 for South Sinai Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e3c0d6a5b1b…)
- 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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