Population census has been known in Egypt since ancient times. The first census was carried out in 1882 and the total number of population at that time was 6.7 million. The government takes a census of the Egyptian population every ten years
• The last census conducted in 1996 put the number of population at 59.3 million.
• The 2006 census is the thirteenth to be held by the Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
According to the 2006 census figures, the population, including those living abroad, is estimated to have reached 76.5 million at a growth rate of 37% over the 1996 figure.

Population in urban areas increased by 40.22 per cent and is now standing at 30,949,689; population in rural areas rose by 64.22 per cent and is put at 41,629,341.
Cairo is the governorate with the largest reported population growth percentage (10.7%); followed by Giza (8.64%) and Sharqiya (7.36%). Meanwhile, the governorates with the lowest population increase rates are Southern Sinai, the New Valley and the Red Sea.

Family members under 6-years of age stand at 10,224,256 (14.09% of the entire population); the number of 6-to-10-year-olds are put at 5,043,247 (6.95%); 10-to-15-year-olds at 7,796,386 (10.7%); 15-to-below-45-year-olds at 34,983,045 (48.2%); 45-to-below-60-year-olds at 9,978,402 (13.75%); and 60-year-olds and above at  4,553,694 (6.27%)

The number of illiterates is estimated to have reached 16,806,657, i.e. down to 29% of the entire population. Those who can read and write are put at 12.41%; those holding intermediate education certificates at 14,283,546; and those holding graduate and post-graduate certificates at 5,476,704 (9.56%).

A count has been taken for first time of the number of school drop-outs in the age group of 6-to-18-years-old. The 2006 census figures put them at 884,776 (4.24); of which 391,563 cases have been reported in urban areas and 493,213 in rural areas.

The marital status is reported to stand at 33.29%; with 13,659,314 (29.33%) being single; 29,189,966 (62.69%) married; 437,953 divorced; and 2,942,709 (6.32%) widowed.

Labor force stands at 21,917,431 with the unemployed put at 19,877,329. The rate of unemployment is estimated at 9.31%; i.e. 2,040,102 people.

The number of permanent labor is put at 13,891,515; temporary labor stands at 1,580,323; seasonal labor at 821,397; and irregular labor at 3,584,095.

Egypt's population until May 1, 2008 reached 78.7 million according to final results of this year's census as announced Thursday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Of the population 37.2 million are males, up 22.6 percent from the 30.4 million in 1996, and 35.6 million are females which is 22.9 percent more from their count in 1996 that was estimated at 29 million.

The number of families across Egypt stood at 17.3 million in 2006 from 12.7 million in 1996 with a 36.1 percent increase.

According to the 2006 census results, Cairo is Egypt's most populous governorate with 6.8 million at an increase rate of 9.28 percent, followed by Sharqiya governorate with 5.4 million, up 7.35 percent, then Dakahliya with 5 million at a rate of 6.85 percent.

The population count was also carried out in the newly-established governorates of the Sixth of October whose population stood at 2.6 million, with an increase rate of 3.5 percent and Helwan whose population was 1.7 million with an increase of 2.4 percent.