Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt
Egypt: Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 42.42 million people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2020, number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt stood at 42.42 million people. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt peaked at 42.42 million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.30 million people, in 1950.
That places Egypt 10th out of 182 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.30 million people | — |
| 1955 | 5.12 million people | +19.1% |
| 1960 | 6.10 million people | +19.1% |
| 1965 | 7.57 million people | +24.2% |
| 1970 | 8.74 million people | +15.4% |
| 1975 | 10.09 million people | +15.4% |
| 1980 | 11.56 million people | +14.6% |
| 1985 | 13.32 million people | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 15.52 million people | +16.5% |
| 1995 | 18.02 million people | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 20.15 million people | +11.9% |
| 2005 | 24.58 million people | +22.0% |
| 2010 | 27.42 million people | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 34.52 million people | +25.9% |
| 2020 | 42.42 million people | +22.9% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 42.42 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.42 million people, 17.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 42.42 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.23 million people, 10.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.71 million people | 4.30 million people | 5.12 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 6.84 million people | 6.10 million people | 7.57 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.42 million people | 8.74 million people | 10.09 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 12.44 million people | 11.56 million people | 13.32 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 16.77 million people | 15.52 million people | 18.02 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.37 million people | 20.15 million people | 24.58 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.97 million people | 27.42 million people | 34.52 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 42.42 million people | 42.42 million people | 42.42 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
- 7 Pakistan 58.92 million people compare
- 8 Bangladesh 45.99 million people compare
- 9 Nigeria 43.76 million people compare
- 11 Mexico 34.17 million people compare
- 12 South Korea 30.90 million people compare
- 13 Philippines 29.67 million people compare
More reference data data for Egypt
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2851 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.956 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.4622 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 25.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 71.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 6.55 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt?
- Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Egypt was 42.42 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 42.42 million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.30 million people in 1950.
- How does Egypt rank for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Egypt ranks 10th out of 182 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Egypt data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.