Spot lights on the demographic profile of Egypt

ABSTRACT

Demographic studies are important in diagnosis of population characteristics, distribution and growth over time, which are used in planning and community development. To analyze data in the recent population census in comparison to previous data to assess strengths, weakness and opportunities, threats in the demographic status of Egypt. Collection, presentation and analysis of recorded data from many documented national and international resources. Population number increased by 22% from 1986 to 1996 and 18.03% from 1996 to 2006. The rate of natural increase decreased from 2.88 to 1.91%. The crude birth rate decreased from 38 to 25.5/1000. The crude death rate decreased from 9.2 to 6.38/10000 through 20 years. There was high decrease in age specific mortality rates in infants to reach 26.2/1000, below 5 years children mortality reached 20.5/1000 and maternal deaths became 84/100000 through the last 20 years. Consequently, there is an increase in life expectancy for both males [69.2 years] and females [73.6 years]. The age dependency ratio is 38%, illiteracy 29.3% and unemployment percentage 10.7% in last 10 years in Egypt. The total expenditure on health is decreasing from 3.7 in 202 to 3.09% in 2006. In 2004, 3% of population suffered from malnutrition, low birth weight infants were 12%. 9% of children below 5 years were under weight. Iron deficiency anemia in females was 24% and the percentage of handicapped was 0.06%. The recorded percentages for infrastructure facilities are 100% of health services coverage to whole Egypt, electricity coverage 99%, 95.5% for safe water supply while sanitary sewage disposal reached 82.5% in urban areas, 24.3% in rural areas in 2006. 9.4% of the population live in 916 slum areas, 43% of population have income less than 2 $ daily which is below poverty line. Over population is still a serious national problem that has adverse effects on all aspects of Egyptian's life. This problem needs all efforts, it should be faced by governmental and non governmental agencies. Education of youth to adopt small family concept, encourage women education and engagement in work, economic development in all aspects are suggested solutions. Human resources can be used in new industries, cultivation of new lands, education of illiterates. Encourage migration. In the health sector, continuous education and training of physicians. Taking more care to the preventive aspects and community health. Decentralization of demographic studies on the governmental level with continuous improvement of plans to cope with population changes in each area