Egyptian authorities have announced a notable decline in population growth rates, with the daily average number of births decreasing by 220 per day. This development, considered a "watershed moment" by experts, reflects the success of government policies in addressing one of the nation's greatest challenges. Egypt's population reached 108 million domestically, an increase of one million in just 287 days (from November 2024 to August 2025), which is 19 days longer than the period it took to increase from 106 to 107 million, indicating a significant slowdown in the population growth rate.

Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development, explained that official statistics show a steady decline in birth rates over the past five years, reflecting the success of field efforts in enhancing awareness programs, improving family planning services, and providing comprehensive healthcare. The fertility rate has decreased from 3.5 children per woman in 2014 to 2.41 children per woman in 2024. Upper Egypt governorates recorded the highest birth rates, while governorates like Port Said and Damietta recorded the lowest.

Population growth has long been a significant challenge to Egypt's development plans, as economic growth rates have not kept pace with rapid population growth, leading to immense pressure on public services. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has described the population issue as a "battle for survival" and the biggest challenge facing the state. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that population growth continues to affect economic, social, and environmental resources, hindering efforts to improve living standards.

Meanwhile, Atef El-Sheitany, former rapporteur of the National Population Council, described the decline in birth rates as an "important indicator of the effectiveness of population policies." He explained that this decline is a continuation of a downward trend that began years ago, with the number of births falling for the first time in decades to less than two million annually. The fertility rate has also decreased from 3.5 children per woman in 2014 to 2.4 children per woman in 2024, reflecting improved societal awareness and the success of population programs.

Regional Perspective

The decline in birth rates in Egypt represents a strategic turning point for economic and social development. If this population slowdown is properly invested, it can alleviate pressure on infrastructure and public services, and increase per capita GDP. Experts indicate that the current age structure, with youth comprising about 30% of society, represents a golden opportunity to achieve a "demographic dividend" if investment is directed towards education, training, and employment for this group, transforming them from a burden into an effective productive force driving development.

Analysis

Experts emphasize a direct relationship between population growth and economic growth, stating that Egypt needs an economic growth rate exceeding 5-6% annually for citizens to feel the fruits of development amidst previous population growth. The decrease in birth rates reduces the pressure on state resources in vital areas such as education, health, housing, and food, allowing the state to redirect resources towards improving the quality of services and increasing investment in human capital. Egypt's GDP growth rate rising to 4.77% in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024-2025 indicates an economic recovery that could benefit more from this positive demographic shift, opening new horizons for sustainable development and improving citizens' living standards in the long term.