C-Section Rates in Egypt Rise to 79.3% While Birth Rates Decline

Caesarean sections accounted for 79.3% of births in 2025, up from 72.1% in 2021, according to preliminary results from the 2025 Egypt Family Health Survey by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

The rate reached 82.1% in urban areas and 77.9% in rural areas. Kafr El-Sheikh recorded the highest rate at 93.2%, while Matrouh had the lowest at 48.7%.

Maternal-care indicators remained high, with 97.1% of mothers receiving antenatal care from a health professional, 92.4% attending at least four visits, 96% of births taking place in health facilities and 98% assisted by a health professional.

At the same time, the total fertility rate fell from 2.85 children per woman in 2021 to 2.33 in 2025. Urban fertility stood at 1.92 compared with 2.65 in rural areas, while rural Upper Egypt recorded the highest regional rate at 3.02.

Around 20.3% of births in the five years before the survey were unintended, including 12% that women reported they did not want at all. Family planning use among married women stood at 65.9%, while unmet need rose to 16.2%.

Child-health findings were mixed. Infant mortality remained at 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, vaccination coverage among children aged 18 to 29 months fell to 85.9%, and anaemia affected 39.6% of children aged six to 59 months.

CAPMAS said the results remain preliminary, with the full survey expected by the end of 2026.