What is the population of Egypt in 2026?
Egypt has a population of 118,365,995 people (2025 estimate), which is 13th in the world and about 1.43% of the global total.
Officially Arab Republic of Egypt
Population 2025
118,365,995
1.43% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+1.56%
+1,841,775 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
115/km²
995,450 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
24.5 years
Life expectancy 71.8 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Egypt
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning northeastern Africa and the Sinai Peninsula in Asia. It is the most populous country in the Arab world and Africa's third-most populous nation. Egypt's ancient civilization along the Nile River is one of humanity's oldest, producing the pyramids, hieroglyphics, and pharaonic culture. Modern Egypt controls the strategic Suez Canal and is a key player in Middle Eastern and African politics.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Cairo
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- EG · EGY
- Demonym
- Egyptian
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP £)
- Government
- Republic
- State inception
- 1922
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +20
- Internet TLD
- .eg, .مصر
- Land neighbours
- 4
Languages
- Arabic
Religions
- Sunni Islam (90%)
- Coptic Christianity (10%)
Demographics
Egypt's population of 105+ million is growing by 1.5 million annually, straining resources. About 95% of Egyptians live in the Nile Valley and Delta (4% of territory). The median age is 23.8 years, reflecting a young population. About 43% live in urban areas, with Greater Cairo's 21+ million making it Africa's and the Arab world's largest city. Ethnic Egyptians are the vast majority, with Coptic Christians comprising 10-15%.
Economy
Egypt's economy is the second-largest in Africa by nominal GDP. Key sectors include tourism (pyramids, Red Sea resorts), the Suez Canal (earning $9+ billion annually), remittances, oil and gas, and agriculture. The country faces challenges from poverty (30%), high youth unemployment, inflation, and reliance on wheat imports (world's largest importer). IMF programs and Gulf investment support ongoing reforms. The new administrative capital is under construction.
Major exports
- Crude petroleum
- Refined petroleum
- Natural gas
- Gold
- Fertilizers
- Vegetables
- Cotton
Major imports
- Refined petroleum
- Wheat
- Crude petroleum
- Cars
- Corn
- Pharmaceuticals
- Plastics
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Egypt covers 1 million km², but only 4% is habitable (the Nile Valley and Delta). The Sahara Desert dominates 96% of the territory. The Nile River, the world's longest, is Egypt's lifeline. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Landscapes include the Sinai Peninsula's mountains and beaches, Western Desert oases, and the fertile Delta. Climate is hot desert with virtually no rainfall inland.
Natural resources
- Petroleum
- Natural gas
- Iron ore
- Phosphates
- Manganese
- Limestone
- Gypsum
- Talc
- Lead
- Zinc
Climate
- Hot desert, Mediterranean on coast
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 32.0%
- Age 15–64
- 62.9%
- Age 65+
- 5.1%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 30 | 91 |
| 95-99 | 738 | 1,982 |
| 90-94 | 8,303 | 19,878 |
| 85-89 | 42,882 | 88,983 |
| 80-84 | 136,577 | 241,162 |
| 75-79 | 389,147 | 585,260 |
| 70-74 | 756,657 | 1,001,811 |
| 65-69 | 1,234,403 | 1,454,536 |
| 60-64 | 1,739,662 | 1,860,946 |
| 55-59 | 2,202,285 | 2,202,961 |
| 50-54 | 2,649,765 | 2,565,400 |
| 45-49 | 3,156,673 | 3,054,186 |
| 40-44 | 3,715,385 | 3,621,739 |
| 35-39 | 4,246,106 | 4,149,855 |
| 30-34 | 4,419,407 | 4,241,146 |
| 25-29 | 4,581,685 | 4,378,015 |
| 20-24 | 4,977,188 | 4,775,475 |
| 15-19 | 5,494,433 | 5,257,492 |
| 10-14 | 6,398,892 | 6,103,618 |
| 5-9 | 6,651,664 | 6,350,503 |
| 0-4 | 6,038,261 | 5,743,074 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 21,148,164 |
| 1960 | 26,896,479 |
| 1970 | 34,623,990 |
| 1980 | 43,950,413 |
| 1990 | 58,396,618 |
| 2000 | 73,083,284 |
| 2010 | 89,196,072 |
| 2020 | 109,315,124 |
| 2030 | 127,139,322 |
| 2040 | 145,213,654 |
| 2050 | 161,630,192 |
| 2060 | 174,845,206 |
| 2070 | 185,940,690 |
| 2080 | 194,292,900 |
| 2090 | 199,500,190 |
| 2100 | 201,895,184 |
History
Egypt's history spans 5,000+ years from the unification under the first pharaohs (c. 3100 BC) through periods of Greek, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and British rule. Ancient Egypt produced monumental achievements—pyramids, temples, hieroglyphics. Arab conquest in 641 AD brought Islam. Modern Egypt emerged with Muhammad Ali's dynasty (1805-1952). The 1952 revolution established the republic. Egypt signed the first Arab-Israeli peace treaty in 1979.
Culture
Egyptian culture blends pharaonic heritage, Arab-Islamic traditions, and Mediterranean influences. Cairo is a cultural capital of the Arab world—home to Al-Azhar (founded 970 AD, Islam's most prestigious university), Arabic film and music industries, and Nobel literature laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Egyptian cuisine includes ful medames, koshari, and molokhia. The Egyptian dialect is widely understood across the Arab world through media influence.
Current Challenges
Egypt faces water scarcity (dependent on Nile, disputed with Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam), rapid population growth straining resources, high youth unemployment, poverty, and political restrictions. Desert encroachment threatens agriculture. Cairo suffers from severe pollution and congestion. Economic reforms have improved growth but also raised living costs. Climate change threatens the low-lying Delta.
Future Outlook
Egypt's strategic location ensures continued importance. The expanded Suez Canal, natural gas development, and tourism revival offer economic opportunities. Population is projected to reach 160 million by 2050, requiring massive job creation. Egypt aims to become a regional energy hub while addressing water security, demographic pressures, and diversifying beyond traditional sectors.
Highlights
What Egypt Is Known For
- 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Pyramids
- Controls the Suez Canal (12% of global trade)
- Home to Al-Azhar, Islam's most prestigious university
- Most populous Arab country
- Built the world's first nation-state (c. 3100 BC)
Interesting Facts About Egypt
- The Great Pyramid of Giza was the world's tallest structure for 3,800 years
- Ancient Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar
- Cleopatra lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the pyramids' construction
- Egypt has the oldest dress in the world (5,000 years old)
- The Suez Canal is the world's longest canal without locks
- Cairo is called 'the city that never sleeps'—shops open until late
- Egypt has more than 100 pyramids, not just the famous three
How Egypt Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Egypt | 118.4M |
Major Cities in Egypt
2 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.
- Cairo22.2M · +1.89%
- Alexandria5.48M · +1.85%
Countries Bordering Egypt
4 land borders.
- Israel10.1M · +1.20%
- Libya7.46M · +1.05%
- State of Palestine5.41M · +2.33%
- Sudan51.7M · +2.38%
Egypt Population FAQ
Is the population of Egypt growing or shrinking?
Egypt's population is growing at +1.56% per year, a change of roughly 1,841,775 people annually.
What is the capital of Egypt?
The capital of Egypt is Cairo.
What is the largest city in Egypt?
Cairo is the largest metropolitan area in Egypt, with about 22.2M people.
How densely populated is Egypt?
Egypt has 115/km² across 995,450 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Egypt?
Life expectancy at birth in Egypt is 71.8 years (2024).
What is the median age in Egypt?
The median age in Egypt is 24.5 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Egypt in?
Egypt is in Africa.