File Photo: A view of vehicles and pedestrians at a street market in Attaba Square in the centre of Egypt's capital Cairo. Ahram Online
Egypt's population hit 105 million on 3 June 2023. This means that in 250 days – eight months and 10 days – the population increased by one million.
The figures reflect a decrease in the average daily birth rate, with Egypt taking 245 days to reach the 105-million mark and 221 days for the preceding million.
From 3 June 2023 to 8 February 2024, there was an average of 5,599 births daily, 233 births per hour, and roughly four births per minute.
The average daily number of births decreased to 5,599 to reach 106 million, compared to 5,683 births during the attainment of 105 million, and 6,089 births to reach 104 million.
The CAPMAS said the decline in birth rates over the last five years reflects tangible efforts to address population growth, as evidenced by health survey data on Egyptian families. The fertility rate decreased from 3.5 births per woman in 2014 to 2.85 in 2021, and finally to 2.76 in 2022.
Despite this decline, the current birth rates, exceeding two million births annually, pose a significant challenge across various economic, social, and environmental sectors, according to the CAPMAS.
If current fertility rates, remaining at 2.76 children per woman, persist, Egypt's population is projected to reach 117 million by 2030 and 157 million by 2050, the CAPMAS said.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi previously said that while having children is a freedom, without regulation it could prove disastrous for the country.
El-Sisi added that Egypt needs to keep the annual population growth at 400,000 a year over the next 20 years to maintain services at their current level.
In September 2023, Egypt launched the National Population and Development Strategy (2023-2030), with the aim to achieve a balance between population growth and development by promoting reproductive health, empowering women, investing in youth, improving educational opportunities, and raising awareness of population issues.
The strategy encompasses seven pillars, which are: ensuring reproductive rights, investing in human capital, empowering women, education and learning, as well as communication and media for development, climate change and population dynamics, and governance of the population file.
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