Hend Mahmoud, 32, a web developer living in Egypt, spoke with Egyptian Streets about a decision that, in her mother’s generation, would have been unthinkable. “Many women my age have either chosen to postpone or completely give up the idea of having children,” she said, “even though we were raised with the idea that having a child is every woman’s dream.” Egypt has long grappled with its fast-growing population, putting pressure on infrastructure, education, and employment. However, in the first quarter of 2025, Egypt’s population grew at a record-low rate of 1.34 percent, according to an April report by Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Yet, the population has reached 107 million overall. As of early 2024, children under 18 make up 39.5 million, marking 37.3 percent of the population, a slight decline from 37.7 percent in 2023, according to CAPMAS. Additionally, the birth rate fell to 19.4 per 1,000 people in 2023, down from 21.1 the year before. Fertility rates have also dropped sharply, from 3.5 children per woman in 2014 to 2.41 in 2024, according to government data. The numbers reflect a quiet but profound…
