Egypt

The population of Egypt is approximately 121M (2024).

The capital of Egypt is Cairo.

Egypt's GDP per capita is $3.5K (2024).

Life expectancy in Egypt is 71.81 years (2024).

Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² (387,048 sq mi).

Egypt has a moderate population density of 120 people per km², close to the global average of 60.

Egypt's population is growing rapidly at 1.7% per year — among the fastest in the world.

Based on GDP per capita, Egypt falls in the lower-middle GDP-per-person tier at $3.5K. Official World Bank income groups use Atlas-method GNI per capita, so this is a GDP-based comparison rather than an official income-group label.

Egypt reports a low intentional homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people, below the global average.

The official language of Egypt is Arabic.

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (£) as its sole official currency.

The best months to visit Egypt are March, April, October, November, December, based on climate data for the capital.

Current estimates show Egypt has a population of approximately 121 million people. This makes it the largest nation in Northern Africa, holding a subregional rank of 1 out of 6. Globally, the country is the 13th most populous out of 215 nations and ranks 3rd within the African continent. The population continues to grow at an annual rate of 1.7%.

Egypt's economy is one of the largest in its region, currently holding a global GDP rank of 41 out of 212 and ranking 2nd out of 54 countries in Africa. The latest data shows an annual GDP growth rate of 2.4%. However, with a GDP per capita of 3,338 USD, it ranks 154th globally and 16th in Africa. These figures reflect a large total output distributed across a very high population.

The adult literacy rate in Egypt is currently 79.5%, which places the nation at a global rank of 120 out of 170. Education remains a critical focus for national development, particularly in addressing the needs of the 42.8% of the population living in urban centers. Efforts continue to improve school enrollment and the quality of vocational training to support a growing workforce.

Recent data indicates that 74.6% of the Egyptian population are internet users. This digital adoption rate places the country at a global rank of 123 out of 212. Connectivity has become a priority for the government as it seeks to modernize the economy and improve access to public services for its large and increasingly urbanized population.

The unemployment rate in Egypt is estimated at 6.8% according to the latest figures. This performance ranks the country 65th out of 186 nations globally when measured from the lowest unemployment rates. While the labor market has shown resilience, the government continues to work on creating jobs for a workforce that grows alongside the 1.7% annual population increase.

Egypt is currently ranked global 13 of 215 countries in terms of population. Within its own continent, it holds a rank of regional (Africa) 3 of 54, and it is the most populous country in its subregion, ranking subregional (Northern Africa) 1 of 6.

The estimated 2026 population density is 121.1 people per km² (313.6 sq mi). However, because 96% of the country is desert, nearly the entire population resides on just 4% of the land, making the inhabited density along the Nile one of the highest in the world.

Egypt’s population is growing at an annual rate of 1.73%. Current data indicates an estimated net population change of 5,534 people per day. This growth is driven by approximately 6,678 daily births, which significantly outpace the estimated 1,758 daily deaths.

The current fertility rate in Egypt is 2.735 births per woman according to latest official 2024 data. While this is lower than historical levels, it remains high enough to contribute to consistent population growth, prompting the government to expand national family planning and awareness programs.

Approximately 42.8% of Egypt's population lives in urban areas. Major cities like Cairo and Alexandria are the primary centers of this urbanization, with Cairo alone serving as one of the most densely populated metropolitan hubs in both Africa and the Middle East.