Quick facts
Cairo overview
Cairo (orange) and the other large cities of Egypt
Cairo lies in Egypt at 30.06°N, 31.25°E, about 23 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Cairo (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Egypt: the next largest cities are Alexandria (5,263,542), Giza (4,367,343), Shubrā al Khaymah (1,240,289). Together, the three largest cities hold 16% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Shubrā al Khaymah, about 7 km away, followed by Giza (7 km).
Egypt as a whole has a live population of 120,609,019 (+1.4% a year) and ranks #13 of 238 countries — see the Egypt population page for the full statistics and the Egypt atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Cairo
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Shubrā al Khaymah Qalyubia | 7 km | 1,240,289 |
| Giza Giza | 7 km | 4,367,343 |
| Al Khuşūş Qalyubia | 12 km | 488,904 |
| Qalyub Qalyubia | 14 km | 156,363 |
| Al-'Ubūr Qalyubia | 29 km | 138,987 |
| Ashmūn Monufia | 37 km | 124,483 |
| Banhā Qalyubia | 45 km | 182,254 |
| Bilbeis Sharqia | 50 km | 185,237 |
Largest cities in Egypt
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CairoCapital | Cairo | 9,606,916 |
| 2 | Alexandria | Alexandria | 5,263,542 |
| 3 | Giza | Giza | 4,367,343 |
| 4 | Shubrā al Khaymah | Qalyubia | 1,240,289 |
| 5 | Port Said | Port Said | 780,515 |
| 6 | Suez | Suez | 699,541 |
| 7 | Al Mansurah | Dakahlia | 621,953 |
| 8 | Al Maḩallah al Kubrá | Gharbia | 592,573 |
| 9 | Tanta | Gharbia | 576,648 |
| 10 | Assiut | Asyut | 528,669 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cairo?
Cairo has about 9,606,916 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Cairo the capital of Egypt?
Yes — Cairo is the national capital of Egypt.
How big is Cairo compared with the rest of Egypt?
Its 9,606,916 residents are 8% of the 120,609,019 people living in Egypt today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Cairo?
In Egypt, at latitude 30.06 and longitude 31.25, 23 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Shubrā al Khaymah (7 km), Giza (7 km), Al Khuşūş (12 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Cairo Population 2026 — Egypt. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/egypt/cairo/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/egypt/cairo/">Cairo Population 2026 — Egypt</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.