Egypt records steady decline in births since 2018, while c-section rates remain high
Egypt has recorded a sustained decline in births from 2018 through 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Health’s digital birth and death registration system, now in use across more than 5,000 healthcare facilities nationwide.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the downward trend reflects the impact of national family planning and reproductive health programmes, alongside expanded service coverage and rising public awareness of responsible and planned childbirth.
He noted that most governorates reported lower birth numbers in 2025 compared with 2024, with only nine governorates registering modest increases ranging from 0.3% to 5%.
Despite the overall decline in births, the data showed that caesarean deliveries remain exceptionally high, accounting for around 80% of all births nationwide in 2025. Rates exceeded 90% in Kafr El-Sheikh, Port Said and Gharbeya, while Matrouh and South Sinai recorded the lowest levels, at below 60%.
Abdel Ghaffar said the ministry is intensifying efforts to reduce medically unnecessary caesarean sections, improve the quality of maternal and child healthcare, and promote safe, evidence-based natural childbirth practices.
Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil said Egypt’s population increase in 2025 amounted to approximately 1.34 million people, underscoring that controlling population growth remains a key pillar of the country’s sustainable development strategy.
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