The population of Egypt reached 104 million people, the Central Agency for Population Mobilization and Statistics announced. In seven months and eleven days, the number of Egyptians increased by one million. This means an increase of 4,525 people per day, 188.5 per hour, 3.1 per minute, or one child born every 19 seconds.
The highest growth rates were in the districts of Asyut, Suhaj, Qena, Minya, and Beni Suef. According to official data, between 10 and 14 million Egyptian citizens live abroad.
High growth and overpopulation are among the most serious problems facing this North African country. The government aims to reduce the birth rate by providing wider access to free contraceptives, information campaigns, and financial incentives for low-income families with one or two children.