Population In Egypt
Population censuses have been known in Egypt since ancient times. Records of the living and the dead were taken periodically and a centralized archive (the Royal Archive) was established to keep track of official documents.
The censuses held throughout the Twentieth Century show Egypt's population growing constantly. While the 1897 count put the number at 9.7 million, in 1947 it multiplied to 19 million. In 1976, it stood at 36.6 million, double the 1947 figure.
The first census was carried out in 1882 and the total number of population at that time was 6.7 million. The government takes a census of the Egyptian population every ten years.
• The census conducted in 1996 put the number of population at 59.3 million.
• The 2006 census is the thirteenth to be held by the Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
According to the 2006 census figures, the population, including those living abroad, is estimated to have reached 76.5 million at a growth rate of 37% over the 1996 figure.
Population in urban areas increased by 40.22 per cent and is now standing at 30,949,689; population in rural areas rose by 64.22 per cent and is put at 41,629,341.
Cairo is the governorate with the largest reported population growth percentage (10.7%); followed by Giza (8.64%) and Sharqiya (7.36%). Meanwhile, the governorates with the lowest population increase rates are Southern Sinai, the New Valley and the Red Sea.
Males have increased at 51.1%; and females at 48.88%. Meanwhile, the average number of family members is down to 4.18%.
Family members under 6-years of age stand at 10,224,256 (14.09% of the entire population); the number of 6-to-10-year-olds are put at 5,043,247 (6.95%); 10-to-15-year-olds at 7,796,386 (10.7%); 15-to-below-45-year-olds at 34,983,045 (48.2%); 45-to-below-60-year-olds at 9,978,402 (13.75%); and 60-year-olds and above at 4,553,694 (6.27%)
The number of illiterates is estimated to have reached 16,806,657, i.e. down to 29% of the entire population. Those who can read and write are put at 12.41%; those holding intermediate education certificates at 14,283,546; and those holding graduate and post-graduate certificates at 5,476,704 (9.56%).
A count has been taken for first time of the number of school drop-outs in the age group of 6-to-18-years-old. The 2006 census figures put them at 884,776 (4.24); of which 391,563 cases have been reported in urban areas and 493,213 in rural areas.
The marital status is reported to stand at 33.29%; with 13,659,314 (29.33%) being single; 29,189,966 (62.69%) married; 437,953 divorced; and 2,942,709 (6.32%) widowed.
Labor force stands at 21,917,431 with the unemployed put at 19,877,329. The rate of unemployment is estimated at 9.31%; i.e. 2,040,102 people.
The number of permanent labor is put at 13,891,515; temporary labor stands at 1,580,323; seasonal labor at 821,397; and irregular labor at 3,584,095.
Egypt's population until May 1, 2008 reached 78.7 million according to final results of this year's census as announced Thursday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Of the total population 37.2 million are males, up 22.6 percent from the 30.4 million in 1996, and 35.6 million are females which is 22.9 percent more from their 1996 count estimated at 29 million.
The number of families across Egypt stood at 17.3 million in 2006 from 12.7 million in 1996 with a 36.1 percent increase.
According to the 2006 census results, Cairo is Egypt's most populous governorate with 6.8 million at an increase rate of 9.28 percent, followed by Sharqiya governorate with 5.4 million, up 7.35 percent, then Dakahlia with 5 million at a rate of 6.85 percent.
The population count was also carried out in the newly-established governorates of the Sixth of October whose population stood at 2.6 million, with an increase rate of 3.5 percent and Helwan whose population was 1.7 million with an increase of 2.4 percent.
Population and Family Planning
While family planning (FP) is one of Egypt's national priorities, the population problem which covers population growth, demographic distribution and population characteristics stands one of the major challenges to be met if the effects of development are to be felt.
Despite the efforts exerted over the past decade, and the successes achieved, Egypt has still a long way to go to overturn the population trend. Unconventional solutions are called for, among which has been the merging of the health and population portfolios in a single cabinet-ministry which has since marked the beginning of a real attempt at integrating population policies.
A clear strategy was developed in 1996 by the Ministry of Health and Population. Its focus: the population problem is the collective responsibility of all government and non-government agencies working in the field.
The 1996 strategy seeks:
- To readily provide FP services to all members of the community;
- at affordable prices; and
- with services evenly distributed between rich and poor and urban and rural communities.
The challenges
The population pyramid is broadly-based with the young-and-soon-to-be-married representing 40 per cent, which calls for double the amount of services presently made available.
Birth rates are changing from one year to the other with death rates declining and FP prevalence rates stabilizing at 47.8 over the past three successive years. In-depth studies are required to lower birth rates and increase FP prevalence to slow down population growth rates.
FP methods, while available, are limited, falling short of fulfilling clients' needs. New modern methods should be made available.
The private sector and NGOs have been instrumental in providing FP services and implementing population characteristic-improving programs. However, obstacles have impeded a real partnership between all agencies working in the field. This is why the government has had to review its strategies.
The media has played a leading role in the population and family planning area. However, despite what has already been published in newspapers and broadcast on radio and television, FP prevalence rates have remained low. A revision of the role of the media is called for so as to keep abreast of the social, cultural and behavioral changes in the community.
The indicators tend to be taken nationwide rather than according to regions and/or sectors.
Egypt's family planning program has failed to implement many of the recommendations of the 1994 Conference on Population and Development, which sought to solve the population problem through reproductive health services and the empowerment of women and through inciting youth to contribute proactively to development programs.
In 2000, the government, attempting to face up to those challenges, revised the 1986 National Population Policy, introducing a fourth goal: to bridge the demographic social and economic gap between population groups in the various regions.
An unconventional strategy was also adopted with the purpose of slowing down birth rates and reducing fertility rates in order to raise the standards of living of the people in both the rural and urban communities with special emphasis on low-income groups.
The government has also introduced the National Population Strategy for the period 2002 to 2010.
The national population policy
Adopted with a clear vision and with an eye on introducing the latest in the world of scientific development, the policy seeks to:
- Promote family planning practices.
- Focus on women's health in their pre- and post reproductive years and help couples achieve their reproductive goals.
- Cooperate with the other agencies with the purpose of improving population characteristics.
- Promote the redistribution of Egypt's population.
- Provide health care to women at all ages.
- Provide services to remote and unattended areas.
- Provide modern family planning methods to service recipients.
- Provide training to FP service providers.
- Make FP services available to all.
- Factor reproductive health and family planning into the state-provided health package.
- Provide training for the private sector and NGOs in coordination with government agencies.
- Ensure an international presence for Egypt at world forums to highlight the country's leading role.
The indicators have been the outcome of aggressive state intervention. As a result:
• A clear strategy was developed whereby the program's strengths and weaknesses could be identified.
• Inter-agency cooperation has been achieved at all levels.
• The actual needs of each and every region were identified, and activities intensified in the areas with the most need.
External relations and family planning
Given the progress made in achieving its population goals since 1996, Egypt has occupied a prominent place among countries across the world. Its voice has been heard in the workshops held to follow up the implementation of the 1994 Conference on Population and Development.
Egypt is one of the 13 member states of Partners in Population and Development (a vehicle of South-South cooperation), which together hold one third of the world's population.
Egypt has also signed population cooperation protocols with Morocco, Tunisia, Pakistan, Mexico and Thailand. Delegations have come knocking on Egypt's door to acquaint themselves of the country's experiment.
In cooperation with donor countries, Egypt has developed a number of population programs and activities designed to serve Egyptian in their natural habitat.
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