Egyptian Women Leading the Economic Scene

Updated 3/8/2024 9:00:00 AM

In recognition of their pivotal role in various aspects of life, the world celebrates International Women’s Day every year on March 8^th.

In this Factsheet, we shall celebrate the Egyptian women and explore their remarkable contribution in the economic development of the country.

Women represent 6% of Egypt’s total population. In 2023, CAPMAS estimated females’ life expectancy at 73.8 years.
Egypt’s position in the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) 2023 fell from 129th to 134^th (out of 146 countries). Regionally, Egypt came in the 10^th place among the Middle East and North Africa countries (MENA).
Egypt took the 119th place globally in terms of female educational attainment, with a score of 0.943.
The total number of female students in pre-university education reached 12.39 million, representing 48.6% of total students in this phase. Additionally, 591,930 female teachers were working in pre-university education in 2022/23.
The number of female students enrolled in higher education reached 1.8 million in 2022/23, accounting for 48.8% of total registered students. In the academic same year, 393,260 (53.3%) female students graduated from higher education.
The number of women working as higher education faculty members hit 74,235 in 2022/23, representing 52.4% of total members.
Concerning the economic participation pillar of the GGGI, Egypt ranked 145^th in terms of female labor force participation. On the other hand, Egypt came 3^rd in terms of wage equality with a score surpassing the global average.
In the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, the female labor force reached 5.8 million, making up 18.3% of Egypt’s total labor force. Females made up only 16.3% of total employment. Moreover, the unemployment rate among females reached 13.9%.
Employed females are mainly working in education, agriculture, retail, and wholesale trade sectors, with shares of 23.1%, 19.2%, and 15.6%, respectively.
Official data shows a positive correlation between females’ level of education and their participation into the labor force.
In 2022, women working in the public sector received an average weekly wage rate of EGP 2,892, compared to EGP 2,733 paid for their male peers. While in the private sector, the female’s average weekly wages reached EGP 950, compared to EGP 965 for males.
The average weekly working hours for women in the public and private sectors range between 45-50 hours, while men work between 46 and 55 hours per week.
Egypt ranks 85^th in the political empowerment pillar of the GGGI. Egypt has six female ministers in the government. Moreover, 27% of the members of the Egyptian House of Representatives are females.