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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 12 February 2020

Egypt's booming population officially hits 100 million

By ISABEL DEBRE
Associated Press
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's fast-
growing population hit 100
million Tuesday, the offi-
cial statistics agency an-
nounced, presenting a
pressing problem for an al-
ready overburdened coun-
try with limited resources.
The staggering figure is an
increase of 7 million since
the publication of the latest
census results in 2017.
Egypt's population has tri-
pled since 1960, with the
annual growth rate peak-
ing in 1987 at nearly 2.8%.
Every day nearly 5,000 peo-
ple are born in Egypt, the
agency estimates.
The country is trying to
cope with resurgent birth
rates and a "youth bulge"
that has reached a peak.
Roughly 62% of the popula-
tion are below age 29, ac-
cording to the U.N. Popula- In this Aug. 13, 2017 file photo, girls play on a rooftop in Boulaq El Dakrour district of Giza, Egypt.
tion Fund. Associated Press
"We're looking at the largest
cohort of young people in vast new administrative rolled out an ambitious with funding from the Euro- three years. The austerity
Egypt's history. This number capital in the desert, which family planning campaign pean Union. measures have slashed fuel
can translate into severe critics say further drains re- called "Two is Enough," try- "We are optimistic, and subsidies and dramatically
challenges or opportuni- sources in a country at risk ing to challenge deep- have reason to believe hiked up prices of every-
ties depending on how the of drought. The milestone rooted cultural traditions in these strategies are work- thing from subway fares
country chooses to invest," quickly set off alarm over rural areas, where contra- ing," said Bodiroza, citing to utility costs. The benefits
said Aleksandar Bodiroza, looming economic strain. ception is scarce and chil- a recent stabilization of have yet to trickle down
the Egypt representative "The population problem dren are viewed as a vital birth rates in most of Upper to working-class Egyp-
for UNFPA. is one of the biggest chal- labor source and insurance Egypt. tians who are struggling to
The vast majority of the lenges facing the state," policy for old age. The pro- The government faces cover their basic needs.
country's population is said Hala el-Said, the min- gram's advertising blitz in- heavy pressure to provide Youth unemployment hov-
crammed in urban areas ister of planning and eco- cludes musical videos pok- for an exploding popula- ers around 34%, the World
around the Nile, some 7% nomic development. ing fun at outdated con- tion under increasingly try- Bank reported.
of Egypt's territory. The Egypt, the most populous ceptions of child-rearing in ing circumstances. One In a press conference to
capital, Cairo, and its twin Arab nation, has been rural areas, and billboards third of the country lives in mark the occasion, el-Said
province of Giza, are home scrambling to stem its soar- with catchy slogans. poverty, according to the warned that unchecked
to a combined population ing birth rate. El-Sissi has Several government min- statistics agency. Econom- growth would compound
of 19 million, according to repeatedly lectured Egyp- istries also teamed up with ic discontent is mounting. the country's concerns and
Tuesday's figures. tians about the perils of the UNFPA to launch a To stave off financial col- jeopardize its economic re-
Cairo has become so con- overpopulation, describing more hands-on campaign lapse as part of a bailout forms, resulting in a grave
gested and overpopulated it in one speech as "among called "Your Right to Plan," from the International Mon- outlook: "a decline in shares
that President Abdel Fat- the biggest threats facing which provides access to etary Fund, the govern- of housing, educational
tah el-Sissi's government Egypt," along with terrorism. birth control in hard-to- ment has pushed through and health services and
has decided to build a The government recently reach rural parts of Egypt, tough reforms over the past job creation."q