In a significant demographic update coinciding with the World Children’s Day, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) in Egypt revealed on Monday that the country’s child population, defined as individuals under 18 years of age, has reached 39.6 million as of mid-2023. This demographic segmentation includes approximately 20.3 million males, accounting for 51.3%, and 19.3 million females, making up 48.7%.
This announcement is notably timed with the global observance of World Children’s Day on November 20, a date that also marks the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959. The day emphasizes global advocacy and action to promote and protect the rights and well-being of children worldwide.
The latest figures from Egypt show a slight decrease in the proportion of children under 18 compared to the total population. This year, the percentage has dropped from 38% in 2022 to 37.7%. Such demographic trends are crucial for policy planning and resource allocation, especially in areas like education, healthcare, and child welfare.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines a child, according to Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as “a person below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.”
The demographic landscape of Egypt in 2023 presents a country at a critical juncture, shaped by its young population and influenced by various socio-economic factors. As of 2023, Egypt’s population stands at approximately 112.7 million, with a median age of just 24.2 years, underscoring the youthfulness of its population. The total fertility rate (TFR) is 2.8 births per woman, which is above the replacement-level fertility of 2.1. This rate indicates a continued growth in population, as evidenced by the yearly change rate of 1.56%.
