The Egyptian government has initiated a census of refugees from various nationalities residing in the country, estimated to number around nine million. The initiative, led by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, aims to accurately count these individuals and assess the cost of services provided by the state for their care.
During a meeting on Monday, Madbouly emphasized the importance of precisely tallying these numbers and accounting for the state’s expenditures on services across various sectors for Egypt’s guests, who receive these services just like Egyptian citizens. The Egyptian Minister of Education and Technical Education presented a report on the number of refugee students, noting a recent increase and the consequent rise in state contributions to their educational services. The Ministry was urged to expand by establishing more new classrooms to accommodate the growing number of refugee students.
Furthermore, the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population reviewed the healthcare services provided by the state to migrants and refugees. Approximately nine million migrants and refugees from about 133 countries live in Egypt, making up 8.7% of the population, with a gender distribution of 50.4% male and 49.6% female, and an average age of 35 years. A majority of them, around 56%, reside in five governorates: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Dakahlia, and Damietta. About 60% of the migrants have been living in Egypt for approximately 10 years, with 6% integrated into the Egyptian society for about 15 years or more. Additionally, 37% of them are employed in stable jobs and established companies.
As of 2024, Egypt’s population is estimated to be around 114 million, marking a significant increase from previous years. The growth rate of the population is approximately 1.6%, reflecting a steady increase over time. The most populous cities in Egypt are Cairo, Alexandria, and Giza, with Cairo being the capital and the largest city. A majority of the population resides near the banks of the Nile River, which is the primary area of arable land in the country.
