List of cities in Egypt

General map of Egypt, with main cities

The cities and towns of Egypt are the urban administrative units of the Republic of Egypt. Egypt comprises 249 populated cities within the country's 27 governorates.[1][2] Some of these cities fall directly under the authority of the governorate in which they are located, while others are managed by the New Urban Communities Authority, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities. The New Urban Communities Authority was established to create new urban centers to attract residents away from the Nile Valley and Delta.[3]

Besides being one the first states in the history of the world, and one of the oldest cradles of human civilization, Egypt is also one of the oldest in terms of urban development.[4][5] Urban formation in the country began in prehistoric times, starting with the formation of villages consisting of groups of Egyptian families living together in one place, on or near the banks of the Nile River.[6] Each village had its own deity. The Egyptians then began to utilize the Nile River, digging canals and waterways to facilitate agriculture. Cities began to emerge through the merging of groups of villages, each with its own ruler and deity. Temples were built, markets arose, and trade and industry flourished alongside agriculture throughout ancient Egyptian history. Some ancient cities have survived to the present day for thousands of years.[7] The establishment of cities has continued throughout history as needed, whether to attract populations and reduce overcrowding in certain areas, or for specific purposes such as industry and trade, or as garrisons and border posts to protect the country along its land or sea borders. The Egyptian Constitution guarantees the possibility of establishing new administrative units, such as cities, and modifying or abolishing their administrative boundaries, taking into account economic and social conditions as regulated by Egyptian law.[8]

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Cities and towns that need to be added

A

  • Al-Qinayat

B

  • Borg El Burullus
  • Bayadiya

E

  • El Basaliya
  • El Bayadiya

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  • Minyet El Nasr

S

  • Sers El Lyan

Largest cities

NameArabicGovernorateArea codePopulation (2023 estimate)[11]Photo
Cairo*القاهرةCairo(+20) 210,000,000
AlexandriaالاسكندريةAlexandria(+20) 35,362,517
Giza*الجيزةGiza(+20) 24,458,135
Shubra El Kheima*شبرا الخيمةQalyubia(+20) 21,275,700
Port Saidبور سعيدPort Said(+20) 60791,749
SuezالسويسSuez(+20) 60716,458
MansouraالمنصورةDakahlia(+20) 50632,330
El Mahalla El Kubraالمحلة الكبرىGharbia(+20) 40614,202
TantaطنطاGharbia(+20) 40597,694
AsyutاسيوطAsyut(+20) 88562,061
FaiyumالفيومFaiyum(+20) 84531,861
Khusus*الخصوصQalyubiyya502,864
ZagazigالزقازيقSharqia+(20) 55460,501
IsmailiaالاسماعيليةIsmailia(+20) 69

(+20) 64

450,388
AswanاسوانAswan(+20) 97401,890
6th of October (city)*السادس من أكتوبرGiza376,302
DamanhurدمنهورBeheira(+20) 45329,572
New Cairo*القاهرة الجديدةCairo(+20) 2319,488
DamiettaدمياطDamietta(+20) 57312,863
MinyaالمنياMinya(+20) 86298,021
Beni Suefبنى سويفBeni Suef(+20) 82294,125
LuxorالاقصرLuxor(+20) 95284,952
SohagسوهاجSohag(+20) 93278,425
Shibin El Komشبين الكومMonufia(+20) 48277,991
QenaقناQena(+20) 96264,498
10th of Ramadanالعاشر من رمضانSharqia263,321
MallawiملويMinya(+20) 86223,435
HurghadaالغردقةRed Sea(+20) 65214,247
ArishالعريشNorth Sinai(+20) 68204,391
Kafr El Sheikhكَفرُ الشَّيْخKafr El Sheikh(+20) 47198,197
BilbeisبلبيسSharqia198,167
Marsa Matrouhمرسى مطروحMatrouh(+20) 46193,293
BanhaبنهاQalyubia(+20) 13187,469

* Cities that are part of Greater Cairo metropolitan area.

See also

Further reading

  • Chaichian, Mohammad A. (2009). Town and Country in the Middle East: Iran and Egypt in the Transition to Globalization. New York: Lexington Books. ISBN 9780739126776.

References

  1. ↑ "Egypt Cities Database | Simplemaps.com". simplemaps.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Egypt Cities by Population 2026". World Population Review. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "List of cities and towns in Egypt | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Livesay, Jacob. "What is the oldest country in the world? Why historians debate which came first". USA TODAY. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "Timeline of ancient Egypt". The British Museum. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Ancient Egypt | History, Government, Culture, Map, Gods, Religion, Rulers, Art, Writing, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Egypt: Governorates, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Ancient Egypt: Civilization, Empire & Culture". HISTORY. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Elsirgany, Soha (15 October 2016). "Artists bring colour and hope to Egypt's El-Borollos as part of a two week symposium". Ahram Online.
  10. ↑ "About Sars El Lyan". monofeya.gov.
  11. ↑ "Egypt: Governorates, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 9 August 2025.