Why Egypt’s Growth Isn’t Helping Those Who Need It

Despite Egypt's booming economy, deep-rooted inequality and poor social safety nets leave the most vulnerable struggling in poverty.

Prosperity's Shadow: Hidden Poverty

While headlines tout Egypt's impressive economic growth, few discuss the deepening poverty crisis that undermines this narrative. Food security remains a significant challenge for the Egyptian government, with availability and consumption notably declining during times of upheaval, such as the years following the 2011 uprising. Egypt's GDP growth rate dropped from 7% in 2006 to 5.1% in 2009–2010. Between 2010/2011 and 2012/2013, there was a 2,100 Egyptian pound annual decrease in per capita income, despite the yearly per capita income being $26,000. The most significant reduction in poverty rates occurred in 2017–2018, with a per capita annual income of 5,900 pounds compared to 3,900 pounds in 2015. However, the absolute poverty line was 491 pounds per month in 2017–2018, while the per capita poverty line was 736 pounds per month, or 8,827 pounds per year.

Geographically, the least impoverished regions in Egypt include Port Said, Western, and Damietta in the north, with respective poverty rates of 7.6%, 9.4%, and 14.6%, respectively. Conversely, the poorest sub-prefectures are concentrated in the south. A major contributing factor to Egypt's high poverty rate of 4.7% has been the implementation of economic reform programs during the same period. The average household income in 2004–2005 was 13,460 pounds; it increased significantly to 20,000 pounds in 2008–2009 and remained almost unchanged during 2010–2011 and 2012–2013. Growth in household income was estimated at 1,000 pounds in 2015, rising to 44,190 pounds in 2016 and recovering to 5,885,000 pounds in 2017–2018.

Of the 1,000 poorest communities in Egypt, 941 are in Upper Egypt. . .