{
  "id": 10401776,
  "title": "Egypt’s rising cost of living drives birth rates down: CAPMAS report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/egypts-rising-cost-of-living-drives-birth-rates-down-capmas-report",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T08:27:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Egypt Independent",
    "slug": "egypt-independent",
    "url": "https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypts-rising-cost-of-living-drives-birth-rates-down-capmas-report/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reported a decline in Egypt's average number of children per woman from 2.85 in 2021 to 2.33 in 2025, a decrease of 18.2 percent. The report, based on the 2025 Egyptian Family Health Survey, suggested that Egypt can achieve a birth rate of 2.1 children per woman. The birth rate among adolescents (under 20 years of age) also dropped from 50 to 34.6 births per 1,000 women, a 31 percent decline. Mohamed Anis, a member of the Association of Economics and Legislation, suggested that the decline in birth rates reflects a drop in fertility rates and rising costs of living. Sociology professor Hoda Zakaria noted that lower fertility rates are more closely associated with upper and middle classes, while poorer groups sometimes view children as a source of income. Said Sadek, another sociology professor, viewed the decline in birth rates within the framework of the \"Demographic Transition Theory,\" which explains how societies move from high birth and mortality rates to low birth and mortality rates. Economic expert Sahar al-Damaty emphasized that direct financial pressures on the family budget have become the strongest driver for adopting family planning practices. Economic expert Rashad Abdo noted that the large segment of the population falling below the official poverty line has directly impacted marriage rates and the ability to start new families.",
  "summary": "An official report revealed a decline in the average number of children per woman in Egypt to 2.33 in 2025, down from 2.85 in 2021—a decrease of 18.2 percent. The report, issued on Wednesday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), presented preliminary findings from the 2025 Egyptian Family Health Survey. The … The post Egypt’s rising cost of living drives birth…",
  "key_points": [
    "Average number of children per woman dropped from 2.85 in 2021 to 2.33 in 2025",
    "Birth rate among adolescents declined by 31% from 50 to 34.6 per 1,000 women",
    "Rising cost of living identified as primary driver for declining birth rates"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}