According to the 2025 Egyptian Family Health Survey conducted by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, the rate of cesarean section deliveries in Egypt has risen to 79.3%. This represents a substantial increase from 72.1% recorded in 2021. The survey, which covered a sample of 42,633 households across all governorates, also revealed notable regional disparities in cesarean section rates.
The survey showed that the rate of cesarean section deliveries varied significantly across governorates, with Kafr El Sheikh recording the highest rate at 93.2% and Matruh recording the lowest at 48.7%. Additionally, the survey found that 82.1% of deliveries in urban areas were cesarean sections, compared to 77.9% in rural areas. These findings suggest a widespread reliance on cesarean sections compared to natural births.
Despite the increase in cesarean section deliveries, the survey also revealed improvements in other healthcare indicators. For instance, 97.1% of mothers received prenatal care from a healthcare provider, and 92.4% received regular care, including four or more visits. Furthermore, 96% of deliveries took place in a healthcare facility, and 98% were attended by a healthcare provider.
However, the survey also highlighted several challenges. The rate of infant mortality remained steady, with 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the rate of child mortality under the age of five increased slightly from 28 to 29 deaths per 1,000 live births. Moreover, 20.3% of births in the past five years were unplanned, with 12% of these being unwanted by the parents.
The survey also found that 65.9% of married women used some form of family planning, with 64.6% using modern methods. The most commonly used method was the intrauterine device (IUD), accounting for 29.7% of users. However, the survey also revealed that 16.2% of women had an unmet need for family planning, with 6.1% seeking to space births and 10.1% seeking to stop childbearing.
The survey also highlighted significant regional disparities in family planning usage. The highest rate of family planning usage was recorded in the urban areas of the coastal region, at 72.2%, while the lowest rate was recorded in the rural areas of Upper Egypt, at 56.9%. Additionally, the survey found that 66.4% of women obtained family planning services from the public sector, while 33.6% obtained services from the private sector.
The 2025 Egyptian Family Health Survey provides valuable insights into the country's healthcare landscape, highlighting both improvements and challenges. The findings suggest that while progress has been made in areas such as prenatal care and family planning, significant work remains to be done to address issues such as infant mortality, unplanned births, and regional disparities in healthcare access.
Key points
- The rate of cesarean section deliveries in Egypt has risen to 79.3%, with significant regional disparities.
- The survey revealed improvements in prenatal care, with 97.1% of mothers receiving care from a healthcare provider.
- The rate of infant mortality remained steady, with 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
