Population of Egypt. Population of Egypt

Traces of early human presence have been repeatedly found on the territory of the country. Many artifacts date back to tens of thousands of years BC. The first full-fledged settlements began to appear here only about 7,000 years ago. Proof of this was the findings of archaeologists, including in the Fayum oasis.

The majority of the population of Ancient Egypt were farmers. They led a sedentary life along the banks of the Nile. The ancient Egyptian people were formed by the tribes of East and North Africa. A little later, people from tropical regions came here. The reason for the mass migration to the territory of Ancient Egypt was a deadly drought that killed entire tribes. The bed of the Nile River became an oasis of salvation for newcomers from the south.

As a result of migration, many tribes began to mix and unite. Nevertheless, there were also nomadic peoples who lived on conquests and robberies. In any case, after several hundred years, fertile lands along the banks of the Nile became increasingly scarce. That is why in this area the most powerful clans constantly fought for territory. History tells of numerous bloody battles on the banks and in the waters of the Nile.

In quiet times, peasants were engaged in cultivating the land and raising livestock. The wealthiest of them made a living by trading grain and sheep skins. What was the population of Egypt at that time, the chronicles of ancient Western historians tell. Its population barely exceeded 5 million people. However, according to various sources, the population varied up to 8 million inhabitants. Among other crafts, copper processing and pottery flourished in Ancient Egypt.

Modern administrative divisions

The country is currently divided into autocratic provinces called governorates. There are a total of 27 such administrative regions in Egypt. For a long time there were only 25 of them, but in 2008 the country’s authorities decided to form 2 more governorates. They began to be called “October 6” and “Helaun”. However, a year later they were abolished and merged into one region. The place of the 27th governorate was taken by the new administrative unit “Luxor”. It is noteworthy that each such region is divided into markazes.

Cairo is considered the largest province in terms of population. Its population is more than 8.1 million people. The second largest city is Alexandria. Its population figures are almost 2 times smaller - 4.4 million inhabitants. Next are the governorates of Ghira and Qalyubia. Their number between them is 4.3 million people. Gharbia closes the top five largest provinces in the country - just under 900 thousand inhabitants. It is also worth highlighting the governorates of Suez, Port Side and Luxor.

Population characteristics

Modern Egypt is considered the most populous state in the Middle East. Population dynamics increased sharply between 1970 and 2010. Over these 40 years, the country has seen a strong leap in medicine, as well as a “green revolution”, as a result of which agriculture has increased in productivity tenfold.

At the end of the 18th century, Egypt's population was just over 3 million. This is due to the bloody actions of Napoleon. By 1940, the number of local residents exceeded the 16 million mark.

Most of the settlements are concentrated in the Nile Delta and along the Suez Canal. Today, almost 90% of local residents adhere to Islam, the rest are Christians and followers of other religions. The modern population of Egypt is a collection of many peoples. We can distinguish such ethnic groups as Turks, Bedouins, Abazas, Greeks, etc. Interestingly, many indigenous people migrate to Arab countries and North America.

Currently, only 3% of the population belongs to the wealthy strata. There is unemployment in the country and poverty is rampant. Average daily earnings are about $2. It is worth noting the low level of literacy.

Indigenous people

Since time immemorial, Coptic tribes have lived in Egypt. They were an ethnic group of Egyptians of non-Arab origin. They should be considered the indigenous settlers of the country. The Copts were Christians, loved independence, and formed communities. According to various sources, their number ranged from 6 to 15 million people.

Nevertheless, today the indigenous population of Egypt is the Arabs. Representatives of this particular ethnic group conquered the banks of the Nile, as well as part of the Middle East, in the 7th century. Gradually, the Christian religion began to disappear, and Islam came to replace it. The reconstruction of Egyptian society was difficult and slow. The whole process took about 5 centuries. At the moment, more than 90% of Arabs live in the country.

Number by year

Egypt's demographic indicators are far from ideal, but recently there has been a slight increase in the birth rate (up to 1.5%). The average life expectancy is also a plus, which is about 73 years. As for migrants, their share varies up to 1%.

Back in 1960, Egypt's population was about 28 million. Over the years, demographics increased due to rising birth rates. The country's authorities tried their best to encourage families with three or more children.

By 1970, Egypt's population had surpassed 36 million. During the same period, there was an influx of emigrants. In 1980, the number was almost 45 million people, and in 1990 - more than 56 million.

Population in 2014

The demographic increase was just under 2%. As of 2014, Egypt's population was approximately 85.5 million. Thus, the increase amounted to more than 1.6 million new residents. Most settled in Cairo and other developed governorates.

Interestingly, more than 2 million children were born this year. At the same time, the death rate totaled only 404.5 thousand people. But there was a negative migration increase. In 2014, about 20 thousand people left the country.

Population today

Natural demographic growth remains at 1.6 million people. At the same time, migration rates continue to fall, albeit at an insignificant pace.

Egypt's current population is just over 87.2 million. According to analysts, the year-end numbers are unlikely to change much. Jumps of 0.5% in either direction are possible.

According to statistics, the population in Egypt increases by 4.5 thousand people per day.

Egypt's population ranks 15th in the world rankings. Among African and Arab states, the Egyptians are the leaders. To make your trip to Egypt more interesting, we suggest that you study the population structure in advance, as well as get acquainted with the customs and morals of the residents.

Population

According to demographers, by the end of 2015, Egypt's population reached 92.5 million inhabitants. The number of Egyptians increases every year. Thus, back in 2003, 72 million people lived in the country. Such consistently high growth is ensured by high birth rates. Over the past year, about 2.585 million people were born, and only 564 thousand Egyptians died. The population density is 92 people/km².

Due to the large number of children, the country's population is very young, which follows the pattern of developing countries. With a high birth rate, life expectancy is not very high, and adults rely on the support of the younger generation in old age. The average age in the country is 25 years, the share of children under 15 years old is 32%. Average life expectancy – 72 years:

• 70 years for men;
• 75 years for women.

The issue of mortality due to AIDS and various infections is quite acute. The Nile has long been transformed from a waterway into a breeding ground for diseases. Tourists, and local residents alike, are not recommended to swim or even wet their feet in it, or to drink tap water. Producing clean drinking water has become the most profitable business today.

The migration rate over the past year was -45 thousand people. That is, the number of those who left the country forever exceeded the number of new arrivals. Most often, Egyptians emigrate to Arab countries, Europe and the USA.

Ethnic composition

The composition of the Egyptian population is quite homogeneous. More than 95% of the residents are native Egyptians. When moving to Egypt, other citizens prefer to assimilate with the locals rather than form separate communities.

The following ethnic minorities can be distinguished:

• Turks;
• Greeks;
• Bedouins;
• Berbers;
• Nubians.

The main language for residents is Arabic, but the large flow of tourists encourages Egyptians to learn foreign languages. This is especially common among young people. It is not difficult to meet someone who speaks English, French or Berber.

Geographical distribution

Egypt is populated very heterogeneously. Almost all residents are concentrated on 7% of the country's territory, along the banks of the Nile. In such large cities as:

• Cairo;
• Alexandria;
• Giza;
• Shubra El-Khemiya;
• Port Said.

In them, the maximum population density reaches 20 thousand people/km², while in the desert it is only 23 people/km². There is also a trend towards a decrease in the rural population, which is intensively migrating to cities.

Religion and customs

More than 94% of the residents are Sunni Muslims. Among the remaining 6% of citizens, Christianity (Copts) predominates. This is one of the oldest Christian branches. The difficulty of counting Copts is complicated by a reluctance to register and indicate religion on documents.

Egyptians living in accordance with Muslim traditions strictly observe rituals. They must pray 5 times a day and do not consume pork or alcohol. During Ramadan, they do not take any water or food until sunset. At the same time, Egyptian residents understand the important role of tourism in the economic development of the state, and therefore are tolerant of the desires of tourists. The consumption of food during Ramadan by visitors during the day, as well as pork and alcohol, is not frowned upon.

There are many superstitions common among the population. Residents wear numerous talismans and amulets against the evil eye and dark forces. To protect children, they dress them up in old clothes, and in conversation they use unattractive nicknames instead of their real names. Tourists should not praise or compliment babies, or mock the superstitious practices of the Egyptians.

Level of education and employment

Literacy among the older generation is average at 75%, with significant differences by gender. 83% of men and only 67% of women can read and write. The literacy rate of youth under 24 years of age is:

• 92.4% in men;
• 92% in women.

Egyptians have almost no opportunity to receive higher education. All learning comes down to the primitive ability to read and write. Only a primary six-year education is required. Fewer children are enrolling in secondary school, and only a few receive further paid education. Specialties are mainly mastered by apprentices already in production.

The big problem is employment. Due to the lack of fertile land, rural residents flock to cities, where they also cannot find work. The average official unemployment rate for the country is 13.5%, and it is even higher among young people. The main sources of income are industry (oil and gas, chemical, food), tourism and agriculture.

Egypt's population is 87 million.
National composition:

• Egyptians (Arabs);
• Nubians, Berbers, Lebanese;
• Greeks, French, Italians;
• other nations.

The majority of Egyptians (94%) are Muslim, while the rest (6%) are Coptic Christians.
The official language is Arabic, but languages ​​such as English, French and Berber are widely spoken in Egypt.
Large cities: Cairo, El Giza, Alexandria, Luxor, Port Said.
Despite the fact that on average 75 people live per 1 km2, the densely populated area is the Nile River Valley (1,700 people live here per 1 km2), and the less populated area is the desert (only 1 person lives here per 1 km2).

Lifespan

Men in Egypt live on average to 68, and women to 73 years.
People's lives are often claimed by HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases (typhoid fever, hepatitis A).
If you are going to Egypt, do not drink tap water (only bottled water), do not walk barefoot along the banks of the Nile, do not swim in the Nile and canals (there is a risk of contracting an infection). And before your trip, get vaccinated against tetanus and polio (when planning trips to deserts and oases, get vaccinated against hepatitis A and malaria).

Traditions and customs of the people of Egypt

Many Egyptian traditions are inextricably linked with religion.
The religiosity of Egyptians does not prevent them from being tolerant of representatives of other religions. For example, Egypt provides tourists with the opportunity to drink alcoholic beverages and order pork dishes in restaurants (Muslims are prohibited from drinking strong drinks and eating the meat of a sacred animal).
Egyptians are accustomed to living according to a routine - they pray 5 times a day, and, for example, during the celebration of Ramadan, they eat and drink only after sunset.
Egyptians are very sensitive to family ties - several generations often live under one roof. But even if families live separately, they still have warm, friendly relations, and they all get together when celebrating holidays and memorable dates.
Wedding traditions in Egypt are no less interesting. Even today, a tradition has been preserved according to which the parents of future newlyweds, long before their children are of marriageable age, draw up an agreement that their children should get married. But not every family observes this tradition; young people are increasingly violating it.
Egyptians are superstitious people: they believe in omens, are afraid of the evil eye and envy, so they carry various amulets and talismans with them.
For example, in order to protect children from the evil eye, Egyptians dress them in old clothes and hide their real names, using nicknames or unattractive nicknames in communication (the Egyptians believe that this is how they protect children from evil forces).
Are you going to Egypt? Don't praise the Egyptians and their children or make fun of their superstitions.

There are not many countries in the world whose ethnic composition would be as homogeneous as in Egypt. About 98% of the population is Arab, and only about 2% are Nubians, as well as Berbers, Armenians, Greeks and other peoples.

The Egyptians are one of the Arab peoples of the Caucasian race, formed on the basis of the mixing of ancient Egyptians with Arabs, Berbers, Turks, Nubians and other peoples of North Africa and Western Asia. In appearance, Egyptians are most often people of average height, black hair, dark eyes, with wide faces, a strongly prominent chin and dark skin color. Residents of the southern part of the country are typically taller and have darker skin color.

Egyptians speak the Egyptian dialect of Arabic. State documents, books, newspapers and magazines are published in literary Arabic. English and French are widely spoken in cities. Many people from aristocratic families were educated at Western European and American universities. In Egyptian educational institutions, especially higher ones, there are many foreigners among teachers who give lectures in English and French. A significant proportion of people employed in the service and trade sectors, without being able to read and write Arabic, speak English and French. In the Siwa oasis and some other oases, the Berber language is spoken.

More than 90% of the population are adherents of Sunni Islam, which is the state religion. The Muslim clergy enjoys some influence. High government positions are occupied exclusively by Muslims.

Coptic Christians of the monophysical persuasion, numbering over 4 million people, constitute a special group of the population. They strictly adhere to the canons of the Coptic Church and rarely enter into mixed marriages. Adherents of the Coptic religion are often found in the largest cities - Cairo and Alexandria, and in the southern regions there are entire villages inhabited by Copts. A particularly significant concentration of Copts is characteristic of the governorates of As-yut, Mina, and Sohag.

Egypt's population is growing rapidly. In 1882, when the first census was carried out in the country, it numbered only 6.8 million, and in 1981 it was already over 43 million (i.e., it increased more than 6 times). The birth rate in the 80s was 38 per thousand people on average, and the death rate was 15. Thus, the natural increase was 2.3% per year. Significant population growth is due to high birth rates. Over the past ten years, the country's population has increased by an average of 1 million people per year.

The use of cheap child labor in peasant farming contributes to early marriages and large families. They are especially typical for rural areas. Children bring income to the fellahah family, and the cost of raising a child is negligible. From the age of five or six, children already take part in agricultural work. Traditions also contribute to the rapid growth of the population: a large family is a source of pride for the Muslim population, and singleness is condemned. In addition, having many children increases the prestige of a married woman in society. However, polygamy is not typical for Egypt, although the Muslim religion allows polygamy. Among the Coptic population, the birth rate is generally much lower.

Along with high birth rates, there is high mortality, especially among children. Of every seven children in a family, one usually dies at birth or at an early age. The spread of various diseases in the absence of necessary medical care largely determines the increase in mortality. In rural areas, diseases such as bilharziasis, hookworm, malaria, and trachoma are widespread. Due to the lack of good quality water in many rural settlements, peasants are forced to drink contaminated water from the Nile or from irrigation reservoirs, which leads to various gastric diseases (dysentery, typhoid fever, etc.).

The average life expectancy of Egyptians, according to the mid-70s, was about 50 years. More than 50% of the population are under 20 years of age.

The majority of men of working age are employed in various spheres of social production or do odd jobs. Women and children living in the villages are widely involved in agricultural work. In cities, only a small proportion of women participate in social production, but child labor is widely used in factories and in the service sector.

Over 98% of the population is concentrated in the Nile Delta and Valley - an area of ​​less than 4% of the country. Therefore, the population density in economically developed territories exceeds 800 people per 1 sq. km and is constantly increasing: in 1882 it was 196 people per 1 sq. km, in 1907 – 325, in 1937 – 466, in 1975 – 845 people. No other country in the world (with the exception of some extremely small states, such as Singapore and Kuwait) has such a high population density in economically developed territories and does not have such high rates of population growth.

The highest population density is about 20 thousand people per 1 sq. km - in the capital Cairo, which, together with the surrounding suburbs, makes up the governorate of Cairo. In the governorate of Alexandria, which ranks second in this indicator, the population density exceeds 6 thousand people.

External migration of the population has become widespread only in recent years; intellectuals and skilled workers are emigrating. There is no significant influx of population from abroad. However, internal migration is very developed. Huge masses of people are moving from the southern (upper) regions of Egypt to the more economically developing northern (lower) regions, as well as from villages to cities.

Large cities are growing especially rapidly. Currently, about 45% of the population of Egypt is concentrated in cities, and more than 30% - in large ones, with a population of over 100 thousand. The population of large cities is rapidly growing due to the impoverished peasants moving there.

Most Egyptians are peasant farmers, or fellahs. The village and the field are the small world in which the fellah spends his entire life. Waste crafts are not widespread in Egypt. Fellahs rarely leave their native village, limiting themselves, as a rule, to visiting the markets of nearby cities.

A special group of the population consists of Bedouin pastoralists (nomads), of whom there are approximately 30 thousand. Most of them roam the Sinai Peninsula and the Libyan Desert, breeding camels, sheep and goats. Some of the Bedouin tribes wandering in the Libyan Desert are engaged in agriculture and transhumance.

National minorities, represented mainly by Greeks, Armenians, Bejas, and Italians, are concentrated in cities. Greeks live in Alexandria and Cairo, where they are mainly engaged in trade and serve in cafes and hotels. (Some of them live in villages and are engaged in trade and usury.) Armenians are engaged in trade, as well as handicrafts. Italians are dominated by small entrepreneurs engaged in the service sector (owners of small coffee shops, shops, hotels), as well as skilled industrial and construction workers.

The lifestyle of urban residents is not much different from the lifestyle of the European urban population. However, the poorest townspeople dress almost identically to the fellahin, and their daily diet differs little from the food consumed by the fellahin. The predominant part of Egyptians living in cities are small artisans and peddlers who widely use the labor of their family members. In large cities, the number of factory workers, office workers, and students is growing.

The population of Egypt increased 7 times during the 20th century, which, in general, is not such a big increase. However, in 1900 Egypt was already a country with a large population (about 10 million at the time), and Egypt's current population (2016) of 90 million is very high considering how much of Egypt is arid desert . Therefore, Egypt has long been overpopulated - probably the worst overpopulation rate of any country in the Middle East and North Africa.

After decades of significant but steady growth, population growth in Egypt today has decreased slightly. By 2009, the rate was 1.6% per year, and there were 2.7 children per woman in Egypt. The average age is 24 years, there are about 4 births for every death. By 2050, Egypt's population is projected to be between 110 and 120 million.

Dynamics of population changes in Egypt

Peoples of Egypt

With the exception of small pure ethnic groups of Berbers and Nubians in the south of the country, the population of Egypt is represented by a mixture of predominantly Egyptians and Arabs, with an admixture of Nubian and Berber roots.

Since Egypt has always been multi-ethnic, mixing of races has been occurring in the country for at least 6,000 years. For this reason, it is difficult to pinpoint the original Egyptian nation. But it is certain that the amount of Arab blood in the people of Egypt is quite small compared to that of Egypt - although the Arabs had a strong influence on the Egyptians, bringing a change in language and cultural identification. Today's Egyptians consider themselves Arabs, as well as direct descendants of the ancient Egyptians. Both opinions are correct.

Egyptians belonging to the Coptic Church are also ethnically somewhat different from other Egyptians. Copts are generally considered the group least likely to have mixed with invading peoples since at least the Muslim era, which began in the 7th century.

Languages ​​of Egypt

In the most populated regions of Egypt, Arabic is completely dominant. There are exceptions, especially in the far south and southeast, where languages ​​closer to Sudanese are spoken.

Egypt's main foreign language is English, which is very important in both higher education and international business.

Arabic

There are at least 4 dialects of Arabic that can be considered native to Egypt. The largest dialect is known simply as Egyptian, although it is often called the Cairo dialect, which has become widespread in the Arab world thanks to many films and TV series where it is used.

The Sahidic dialect is used in a region starting south of Cairo and extending along the banks of the Nile, all the way to Sudan. In the south, greater diversity of languages ​​begins, and Nubian and Sudanese Arabic are also used here.

The two types of Bedouin Arabic are either from the Sinai, where a Syro-Palestinian dialect of Arabic is spoken, or from the western desert, where Western Bedouin is dominant.

Nubian language

Most Nubians in the south have been Arabized, and many now consider themselves Arabs even if they are not ethnically so. A large minority of them, however, still speak Nubian, either Nobin or Kenuzi-Dongola.

Nubian is spoken predominantly in segregated communities in Aswan and the Kom Ombo region.

Domari language

Domari is spoken by only a minority of houses in Egypt, which contrasts with other countries in the Middle East and North Africa where houses have generally retained their language. This may be an indicator of better assimilation compared to neighboring countries.

Domari remains a living language in the Dakahlia governorate of the Nile Delta, as well as in Luxor.

Beja language

East of the Nile, and along the Red Sea coast, the Beja people maintain their own language, also called Beja. Also east of the Nile, in the Kharga oasis, lives a Beja-speaking community - this community moved to the territory of this oasis due to the flooding of the Aswan hydroelectric complex. The regions where Beja is spoken extend far into Sudan, where it is one of the major languages.

Berber language

Berbers living in the west (in the Siwa oasis, west of the Nile, along the coast west of Alexandria) speak predominantly Arabic, but the Berber language is also strong in Siwa.

Other languages

Greek remains a living language in Alexandria and Cairo, among Egyptians with Greek roots. Armenians migrated to Egypt from the Ottoman Empire, mainly due to the Armenian genocide, and formed a strong community in Cairo.

Religion of Egypt

Egypt's population is predominantly Muslim, with a significant Christian minority. In 1980, Islam was designated as the state religion; until that time, Egypt was a secular state.

At the moment, there are no adherents of the ancient Egyptian religion, but various concepts and rituals derived from this religion can be found in modern Christianity and Islam. Some modern practices are directly borrowed from ancient cults.

Muslims

Almost all Egyptian Muslims are Sunnis. Sufism has traditionally been a significant force in Egypt, but in recent decades it has become less popular.

Popular Islam and institutionalized Islam are in opposition to each other. Islam in villages and villages is syncretic and tolerant, while Islam as practiced by most theologians has the same structure as Islamism - religious faith purified of extra-Islamic ideas, practice simplified, and values ​​and rules promoted so as if they could explain every aspect of life. Islam in Egypt is very strict - Egypt is one of the centers of Islamism, and extreme views of other faiths and the Western world are common among a large, but never measured, part of the Egyptian population.

Christians

The size of the Christian community is only estimated, and figures vary from 3% to 10%, and even up to 20%. Christians in Egypt usually overestimate this figure, while the government underestimates it. Uncertainty about the size of the Christian community will define the unfortunate majority-versus-minority politics that has been practiced in Egypt for centuries. By claiming that the size of the Christian community in the country is only 3%, Muslims can receive the majority of government funding, and have more influence in politics, culture, and education.

The vast majority of Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Church - the original church of Egypt, with its priest located in Alexandria. The Coptic Church has a descendant - the Coptic Catholic Church. There is no particular disagreement between these two churches.

Egypt's remaining Christians are concentrated primarily in the country's northern regions, the result of centuries of international trade and other forms of migration. Christians who practice Greek Orthodoxy largely reflect the long presence of Greeks in Egypt; the Melkites are of Lebanese origin; followers of Armenian Orthodoxy are descendants of refugees from Turkey (due to the Armenian genocide).

Jews

The remaining Jewish community today numbers only a few hundred people. They attend at least 3 synagogues - two in Cairo, and one in Alexandria. In the mid-1940s, the Jewish community numbered about 65,000 people. Many went to Israel, but many were expelled in 1956 during the Suez Crisis - simply because they were Jews.