Egypt's population might hit 140 million in 2030 if the current rate of population growth continues, the rapporteur of the country's National Population Council said on Sunday. The country's current growth rate is 2.4 percent, according to a June announcement by the state's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Speaking on Sunday, the council's Tarek Tawfik said that the average birth rate had increased between 2008 and 2012 due to the scarce use of birth control methods. According to Tawfik, more than 72 percent of Egyptians live in rural areas, an indication of higher birth rates in such governorates. He said that there are problems such as a lack of infrastructure, especially in Upper Egypt and other rural governorates as well as a rise in poverty and unemployment rates. According to the United Nations Population Fund in Egypt, the national council has been tasked by the government with developing a "National Population Strategy" for 2015-2030. The strategy seeks to improve the quality of life of all Egyptians by focusing on family planning and reproductive health, fostering young people's health and civic engagement, advancing women's economic empowerment and strengthening girls' education. Tawfik said that of Egypt's current population of 91 million, 27.1 percent of the population live in urban areas while the rest live in rural areas. He added that 77 percent of the population live on only 5 percent of the country's total area, adding that 55.2 percent of the population were dependent on others to provide a decent life for them. In June, Egypt's population hit 91 million – excluding 8 million Egyptian expats - only six months after the population reached a landmark 90 million, according to CAPMAS. CAPMAS says that the country's current population growth rate is five times that of developed countries and double the rate of other developing countries. Source: Ahram Online
