Governorates of Egypt

Egypt, officially called the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a republic located in northern Africa. It shares borders with Gaza Strip, Israel, Libya, and Sudan and its boundaries also include the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has coastlines on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and it has a total area of 386,662 square miles (1,001,450 sq km). Egypt has a population of 80,471,869 (July 2010 estimate) and its capital and largest city is Cairo.

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Geography of Cairo

By Amanda Briney

In terms of local administration, Egypt is divided into 29 governorates that are administered by a local governor. Some of Egypt's governorates are very densely populated, like Cairo, while others have small populations and large areas like New Valley or South Sinai.

The 29 Governorates

The following is a list of Egypt's twenty-nine governorates arranged in terms of their area. For reference, capital cities have also been included.
1) New Valley
Area: 145,369 square miles (376,505 sq km)
Capital: Kharga
2) Matruh
Area: 81,897 square miles (212,112 sq km)
Capital: Marsa Matruh
3) Red Sea
Area: 78,643 square miles (203,685 sq km)
Capital: Hurghada
4) Giza
Area: 32,878 square miles (85,153 sq km)
Capital: Giza
5) South Sinai
Area: 12,795 square miles (33,140 sq km)
Capital: el-Tor
6) North Sinai
Area: 10,646 square miles (27,574 sq km)
Capital: Arish
7) Suez
Area: 6,888 square miles (17,840 sq km)
Capital: Suez
8) Beheira
Area: 3,520 square miles (9,118 sq km)
Capital: Damanhur
9) Helwan
Area: 2,895 square miles (7,500 sq km)
Capital: Helwan
10) Sharqia
Area: 1,614 square miles (4,180 sq km)
Capital: Zagazig
11) Dakahlia
Area: 1,340 square miles (3,471 sq km)
Capital: Mansura
12) Kafr el-Sheikh
Area: 1,327 square miles (3,437 sq km)
Capital: Kafr el-Sheikh
13) Alexandria
Area: 1,034 square miles (2,679 sq km)
Capital: Alexandria
14) Monufia
Area: 982 square miles (2,544 sq km)
Capital: Shibin el-Kom
15) Minya
Area: 873 square miles (2,262 sq km)
Capital: Minya
16) Gharbia
Area: 750 square miles (1,942 sq km)
Capital: Tanta
17) Faiyum
Area: 705 square miles (1,827 sq km)
Capital: Faiym
18) Qena
Area: 693 square miles (1,796 sq km)
Capital: Qena
19) Asyut
Area: 599 square miles (1,553 sq km)
Capital: Asyut
20) Sohag
Area: 597 square miles (1,547 sq km)
Capital: Sohag
21) Ismailia
Area: 557 square miles (1,442 sq km)
Capital: Ismailia
22) Beni Suef
Area: 510 square miles (1,322 sq km)
Capital: Beni Suef
23) Qalyubia
Area: 386 square miles (1,001 sq km)
Capital: Banha
24) Aswan
Area: 262 square miles (679 sq km)
Capital: Aswan
25) Damietta
Area: 227 square miles (589 sq km)
Capital: Damietta
26) Cairo
Area: 175 square miles (453 sq km)
Capital: Cairo
27) Port Said
Area: 28 square miles (72 sq km)
Capital: Port Said
28) Luxor
Area: 21 square miles (55 sq km)
Capital: Luxor
29) 6th of October
Area: Unknown
Capital: 6th of October City