Sohag Governorate

Sohag Governorate
Governorate
View of Sohag
View of Sohag
Flag of Sohag Governorate
Flag
Official logo of Sohag Governorate
Sohag Governorate on the map of Egypt
Sohag Governorate on the map of Egypt
Coordinates: 26°34′N 31°42′E / 26.56°N 31.7°E / 26.56; 31.7
Country Egypt
SeatSohag (capital)
Government
 • GovernorAhmed Abdullah Al Ansari[1]
Area
 • Total
1,547 km2 (597 sq mi)
Population
 (January 2024)[2]
 • Total
5,853,394
 • Density3,800/km2 (9,800/sq mi)
GDP
[3]
 • TotalEGP 108 billion
(US$ 6.9 billion)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
HDI (2021)0.685[4]
medium · 21st
Websitewww.sohag.gov.eg

Sohag Governorate (Arabic: محافظة سوهاج) is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the southern part of the country (Upper Egypt), and covers a stretch of the Nile Valley.[5] Since 1960, its capital has been the city of Sohag. Prior to that, the capital was the city of Girga and the name of the governorate was Girga Governorate.[6]

Overview

Al Hager Bawlad Yehya, Markaz Dar El-Salam, Sohag Governorate, Egypt

The rate of poverty is more than 60% in this governorate but recently some social safety networks have been provided in the form of financial assistance and job opportunities. The funding has been coordinated by the country's Ministry of Finance and with assistance from international organizations.[7]

In early 2019, some residents of the poorer villages of Sohag were able to move into their new homes built, in part, with aid from the National Bank of Kuwait. There was a celebration for the completion of 115 homes where residents also received cattle and other gifts.[8]

Archaeology

In April 2019, the archaeological mission of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities led by Mostafa Waziri uncovered a tomb of a nobleman called Toutou and his wife at al-Dayabat archaeological site dating back to the Ptolemaic Kingdom. The tomb contained two tiny rooms with two limestone sarcophagi as well as a well-preserved mummy and mummified animals (including falcons, eagles, cats, dogs and shrews) were also revealed in the tomb.[9][10][11]

Municipal divisions

The governorate is divided into municipal divisions with a total estimated population as of January 2024 of 5,853,394. In the case of Sohag governorate, there are two new cities, five agsam and twelve marakiz. In some instances there is a markaz and a kism with the same name.[2]

Municipal Divisions
Anglicized name Native name Arabic transliteration Population
(July 2017 Est.)		 Type
Akhmim مركز أخميم Akhmīm 498,670 Markaz
El Balyana مركز البلينا Al-Balyanā 595,606 Markaz
El Kawthar قسم الكوثر Al-Kawthar 5,543 Kism (fully urban)
El Maragha مركز المراغة Al-Marāghah 447,222 Markaz
El Munsha مركز المنشأة Al-Munsha'āh 458,552 Markaz
Aserat مركز العسيرات Al-'Usayrāt 195,927 Markaz
Dar El Salam مركز دار السلام Dar as-Salām 466,727 Markaz
Girga قسم جرجا Jirjā 146,756 Kism (urban and rural parts)
Girga مركز جرجا Jirjā 376,144 Markaz
Juhaynah West مركز جهينة الغربية Juhaynah al-Gharbiyah 309,544 Markaz
New Akhmim مدينة أخميم الجديدة Madīnat Akhmīm al-Jadīdah 0 New City
New Sohag مدينة سوهاج الجديدة Madīnat Sawhāj al-Jadīdah 200 New City
Saqultah مركز ساقلته Sāqultah 235,361 Markaz
Sohag مركز سوهاج Sawhāj 608,574 Markaz
Sohag 1 قسم اول سوهاج Sawhāj 1 150,616 Kism (fully urban)
Sohag 2 قسم ثان سوهاج Sawhāj 2 124,746 Kism (fully urban)
Tahta قسم طهطا Ṭahṭā 187,903 Kism (urban and rural parts)
Tahta مركز طهطا Ṭahṭā 327,950 Markaz
Tima مركز طما Ṭimā 486,899 Markaz

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1937 1,118,402—    
1947 1,283,468+14.8%
1957 1,449,000+12.9%
1966 1,689,000+16.6%
1976 1,924,960+14.0%
1986 2,455,134+27.5%
1996 3,123,114+27.2%
2006 3,747,289+20.0%
2015 4,603,861+22.9%
2017 4,995,155+8.5%
2018 5,063,000+1.4%
2023 5,669,652+12.0%
sources:[12][13][14][15][2]

According to population estimates, in 2024 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 21.4%. Out of an estimated 5,853,394 people residing in the governorate in 2024, 4,600,768 people lived in rural areas and 1,252,626 lived in urban areas.[15]

Cities and towns

Industrial zones

According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment (MOI), the following industrial zones are located in this governorate:[16]

  • Al Kawthar District
  • Al Ahaiwa
  • Beit Dawood, west of Gerga
  • West Of Tahta
  • (New urban community industrial zone) New Sohag

Important sites

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "رسمياً.. المحافظون الجدد ونوابهم يؤدون اليمين الدستورية أمام الرئيس". Almasry Alyoum (in Arabic). 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "ﻋـــﺩﺩ ﺍﻟﺳﻛــﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺗﻘﺩﻳﺭﻯ ﻟﻸﻗﺳــﺎﻡ" (PDF). www.capmas.gov.eg (in Arabic). January 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  3. ^ "GDP BY GOVERNORATE", mped.gov.eg
  4. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Table - Global Data Lab". globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Sohag Governorate". google.come. Google Map.
  6. ^ Law, Gwillim (1999). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998 (snippet view). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7864-0729-3. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Social Solidarity Ministry to provide citizens with disabilities financial support". Egypt Independent. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  8. ^ Al-Ghwait, Khaled (31 January 2019). "Orman and Bank of Kuwait celebrate the completion of the development of 115 houses in Sohag" (in Arabic). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  9. ^ "In Photos: Ptolemaic-era tomb discovered in Upper Egypt's Sohag - Ancient Egypt - Heritage". Ahram Online. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Ptolemaic-era tomb discovered in Upper Egypt's Sohag". The Archaeology News Network. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Ptolemaic-era tomb discovered in Upper Egypt - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  12. ^ Law, Gwillim (23 November 1999). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 Through 1998. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6097-7.
  13. ^ "Sohag Governorate Subdivisions". CityPopulation.de. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  14. ^ "اPop. Estimates by Governorate 1/1/2018". www.capmas.gov.eg. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Population Estimates By Sex & Governorate 1/1/2015" (PDF). CAPMAS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Industrial Zones of Governorate". Ministry of Investment Egypt. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.