Egypt's Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said Sunday that the country's daily births have fallen by 220, as part of a national strategy to curb population growth, one of the biggest challenges to its economy. The average number of births declined to 5,165 per day, down from 5,385, according to figures from the state statistics agency CAPMAS. The fertility rate also dropped to 2.41 children per woman in 2024, compared with 3.5 in 2014. Egypt's population reached 108 million in August, adding one million people in 287 days. That pace is slower than the 268 days it took to climb from 106 million to 107 million, signalling a deceleration in growth, the minister said. He credited awareness campaigns, improved family planning services and expanded healthcare coverage. But he cautioned that unchecked population growth still strains Egypt's economic, social and environmental resources. The government is working with ministries, local authorities, Al-Azhar and the Coptic Church to implement the National Population Strategy, which aims to stabilise growth and support sustainable development. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
