Sohag: population, jobs, health, schools, social protection and public investment
Sohag is a governorate of Egypt, number 8 of 27 by population. CAPMAS estimated the population of Sohag Governorate at 5,889,629 on 1 January 2025 (3,041,389 men and 2,848,240 women), 5.49% of Egypt's 107.27 million; 8th 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 Sohag: The unemployment rate in Sohag was 2.9% in 2024 (13.2% for women and 2.2% for men), 2nd lowest of the 26 governorates with data (Egypt: 6.6%). In 2021 it was 3.0%.
- Health in Sohag: 234,584 people in Sohag, 4.2% of the population, had a severe or absolute difficulty (disability) in 2022 (Egypt: 4.9%).
- Education in Sohag: 33.6% of people aged 10 and over in Sohag could not read or write at the 2017 census (41.5% of women, 26.1% of men), 5th highest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 25.8%). In 2006 the rate was 38.5%.
- Poverty and living standards in Sohag: At the 2017 census 15.4% of residential buildings in Sohag were connected to the public sewer, 4th lowest of the 27 governorates (Egypt: 40.3%); in rural areas the share was 5.7%.
How fast is Sohag's population growing?
Its mid-year population is estimated at 5,938,000 for 2025, up from 5,255,000 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 Sohag is urban?
At the 2017 census 4,967,409 people lived in Sohag, 21.2% 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 Sohag each year?
138,046 births and 30,593 deaths were registered in Sohag in 2024: 23.7 births and 5.2 deaths per 1,000 people (Egypt: 18.5 and 5.7). The birth rate is 5th 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 Sohag?
53,652 marriage contracts and 8,302 divorces were registered in Sohag in 2024 (provisional): 9.2 marriages and 1.4 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 Sohag?
The government's 2025/26 plan directs LE 8.4 billion of public investment to Sohag for 521 projects, 1.4% of the public investment distributed among governorates; 9th 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 Sohag?
That is about LE 1,426 per resident, 4th 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 Sohag spent on?
The largest share of the 2025/26 plan for Sohag, 22% or about LE 1.8 billion, goes to local development.
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
- 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
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Sources
- Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation: Citizen Investment Plan 2025/26 for Sohag Governorate (خطة المواطن الاستثمارية), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7bc56012d83…)
- 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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