During the period (1981/82-2005/06) the issue of overpopulation is considered a real challenge that blocks the progress of development in Egypt. This is because the number of population over the past 25 years reached about 29.7 million and increased from about 43.9 million in 1981/82 to 73.6 million in January 1, 2006. The issue of overpopulation has always tapped the state priorities, so, the period (1981-2006) witnessed the application of the system demographic policies. This system included applying media education, health programmes, family planning programmes, caring for motherhood and childhood in addition to the creation of the National Council for Population and the National Council Childhood and Motherhood. These efforts have contributed to a fall in the population growth rate and change in individuals' attitude towards organizing the level of fertility and adopting a small family concept.

 

The period forms (19891/82), till January 2006 witnessed an increase in number of population as follows:

 

- Number of Population in 1981/82 showed about 43.9 million.

- Number of Population in 1986 showed about 50.4 million.

- Number of Population in 1996 hit about 61.4 million.

- Number of Population (at home and abroad) as of January 1,2006 is estimated at about 73.6 million.

The period (1981-2006) witnessed a decrease in the population growth rate from about 3 percent in the beginning of 1980s to 2.8 percent in 1986 and from about 2.1 percent in 1996 to reach 1.91 percent by the end of 2005.

 

- Birth rate decreased during the period (1981-2006) to 25.49 per thousand by the end of 2005. Despite the breakdown of normal population growth, the number of population is still large. Improvement in the health conditions and medical and health care development achieved in Egypt during period (1981-2006) have the great effect in decreasing the mortality rate to reach 6.38 per thousand by the end of 2005.

 

The period (1981-2006) witnessed an increase in life expectancy at birth to reach 69.2 years for males and 73.6 years for females by the end of 2005, against 58.1 years for males and 60.6 years for females in 1981/82.

  

 

 

 

Population Age

The population age pyramid is characterized by being based on a wide base of youth, were population percentage by age groups is represented as follows:

- Under 10 years age group reached about 24.4 percent.

- 10 from to less than 15 years around: 13.3 percent.

- From 15 to less than 40 years about: 37-3 percent.

- From 40 to less than 60 years age about: 40-8 percent

- Over 60 years about: 5.8 percent

 

Report of the Central Authority for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), January 1, 2005.

 

* Work force increased from 11.1 million in 1981/82 to about 21.8 million in 2005/06 with an increase of 10.7 million, female participation in workforce increased from 9.4 percent in 1981/82 to reach 22.6 percent in 2006.

* Number of employment increased from about 10.5 million in 1981/82 to 19.7 million in 2005/06 with an increase of 9.2 million.

* Number of unemployed increased from 570,000 in 1981/82 and 5.1 percent of workforce to 2.08 million in 2005/06 and 9.6 percent of workforce.

 

The problem of unemployment is considered one of the main challenges facing the national economy. Therefore, economic polices adopted by the state is keen on facing such problem, either in a direct way by adopting employment programs, aiming to provide financial and technical support to small-size enterprises and to the un-organized sector, or in an indirect way by providing the suitable investments which contributes to increasing employment rates.

 

The state started applying the national program for employment that includes a number of qualitative programs:

 

- The government administrative authority employment program.

- Effectuating the recruiting network affiliated to the Ministry of Workforce, and the programs of the Social Fund for Development.

- Employment programs in local administration units, mainly public works projects in rural areas.

- Expanding agricultural reclamation programs and distributing them on young graduates. The problem of unemployment is a main priority of President Hosni Mubarak's platform, aiming to provide about 4.5 million job opportunities over six years. The 2006/07 plan aims to provide about 650,000 job opportunities; containing all the Labor market newcomers, as well as decreasing the unemployment rate.

 

* Number of employees in the state administrative authority increased from 2.2 million in 1981/82 to about 56 million in 2005/06. The salaries of employees increased from LE 1.5 billion in 1981/82 to about LE 45.8 billion in 2005/06.

- Number of job opportunities provided by the Social Fund for Development reached about 1159.2000 job opportunities during the period 1992-2005.

- A number of 42,000 job opportunities were provided by youth employment authorities in governorates and about 9400 job opportunities in the projects of Local Development Fund, as well as 19,000 job opportunities in (Shorouq) project.

(1)  Egyptian Achievements Book, Decision and Support Centre (IDSC), Cabinet Information, March 2006

(2) Report of the Central Authority for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), 2006.

* Report of the Central Authority for Public Mobilization and statistics (CAPMAS), January 2006.

*  Ibid

(1) 24 years of Achievements, State Information Service

(2) Socio-economic Development Plan 2006/07