Annual births in Egypt fall below two million for the first time in 20 years

Egypt’s fertility rate has dropped to its lowest level in nearly two decades, marking a significant demographic shift, Health Minister Khaled Abdul Ghaffar announced this week.

For the first time since 2007, the country’s total fertility rate fell to 2.41 births per woman in 2024, down from 2.54 in 2023. The decline suggests a growing societal shift toward family planning and controlled population growth, according to the minister.

Egypt, which recently recorded the eighth highest birthrate in the world, has long struggled with rapid population growth. Until now, the country was witnessing an average of four births per minute, equating to 255 births per hour or nearly 6,000 births per day.

Abdul Ghaffar noted that the number of newborns in 2024 declined to 1.968 million, compared to 2.045 million in 2023—a decrease of 77,000 births, or 3.8%. This marks the first time in nearly two decades that Egypt’s annual births have fallen below two million.

The announcement comes amid government efforts to promote family planning initiatives and curb population growth, which has long been a challenge for the country’s economic and social development.