Egypt is close to achieving the goal of a birth rate of 2.1 children per woman by 2027

It seems that Egypt is close to achieving the strategic goal of the urgent plan for family planning and reaching a rate of 2.1 children per woman, as a report issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics revealed that the preliminary results of the Egyptian Family Health Survey for the year 2025 showed a decrease in the average number of children per woman to 2.33 children compared to 2.85 children in 2021, which represents a decrease of 18.2 percent.

The report indicated a decline in the birth rate of teenage girls under the age of 20 to 34.6 births per thousand women, compared to 50 births in 2021, a decrease of 31 percent.

Expanded use of family planning methods

The report indicated an increase in the use of contraceptives and family planning methods, especially long-acting methods such as IUDs and hormonal capsules, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper.

Major General Engineer Akram El-Gohary, head of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, which is the official body responsible for collecting, producing, and disseminating data and statistics in Egypt, pointed to the high levels of awareness among unmarried young people between the ages of 15 and 29 years, especially regarding approval of the use of family planning methods before the first pregnancy, to 28 percent, compared to only 18 percent in 2021, according to “Youm7” newspaper.

The report showed that women have become more aware of reproductive health and resort to seeking health care during pregnancy, as the percentage of women who received regular pregnancy care increased to 92.4 percent, the percentage of births at the hands of a qualified service provider increased to 98 percent, and births within health facilities to 96 percent.

Why is childbirth declining in Egypt?

Dr. Saeed Sadiq, professor of sociology, told Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that the decline in childbearing rates in Egypt, especially among teenage girls, is due to several factors, most notably the increased interest in education, the exit of women to work, in addition to the delay in the age of marriage.

He added that difficult economic conditions force some families to postpone pregnancy, all of which has raised awareness of the importance of family planning and women's health.

If the trend continues as it is, Akram Al-Gohary expects the birth rate to reach 2.1 children per woman during the period from 2025 to 2027, according to what was reported by the Akhbar Al-Youm electronic portal.

This may raise questions about the possibility of future changes in the shape of the population pyramid in Egypt. In this regard, Saeed Sadiq told Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that the population problem is not only related to the number of residents, but rather to their social and economic characteristics and the state’s ability to provide for their needs.

He also explained that the increase in population poses challenges related to the provision of food, water and resources, especially with the limited area of ​​agricultural land.

From data to decision making

For his part, the head of the Public Mobilization and Statistics Authority stressed that statistical indicators are not just numbers, but rather provide a strong basis for correcting policies, formulating development plans, and dealing with societal issues.

As an example, the results of the Egyptian Household Health Survey in 2021 contributed to supporting the formulation of the National Population and Development Strategy 2023-2030, while the results of the current survey will provide a diagnosis of the levels of progress in achieving the planned goals.

It is noteworthy that the current survey has not yet finished, and these are just preliminary results, and the final report will be issued after the rest of the survey work is completed by the end of this year, which will provide an information base that will contribute to directing the state’s resources and determining priorities for investments in the health and housing fields, especially in the places most in need, according to the Sada Al-Balad news website.

Review: Salah Sharara