Achieving the Demographic Dividend in the Arab Republic of Egypt: Choice, Not Destiny

Egypt had demonstrated a strong track record of managing population growth through key investments in family planning (FP) and reproductive health, and in women’s empowerment, which contributed to an impressive decline in the country’s total fertility rate (TFR), from 4.5 to 3.0 births per woman between 1988 and 2008. 

However, between 2008 and 2014, the TFR began climbing—reaching 3.4 births per woman in 2014. This reversal was not only alarming but has been seen in only a handful of countries worldwide.

This report reviews the trends and determinants of the rising fertility, the sectoral and social factors that may have contributed to the reversal in fertility decline, the economic impact of fertility rate reversal and future economic gains from an accelerated fertility decline. 

The high-level ministerial event aims to discuss the report findings and policy recommendations as well as the recent government initiatives to address the population challenges in Egypt.