Editing Economy of Egypt (section)

=== Poverty === 
[[File:Street Vendors of Cairo.webm|thumb|Street vendors in Cairo.]]
Egypt has struggled to implement effective policies to address poverty. Past efforts to alleviate economic burdens often benefited wealthier segments of society. For example, food, electricity, and petroleum subsidies have historically disproportionately aided the non-poor.<ref name=autogenerated39>{{cite web|last=Sayed|first=Attia|title=Poverty Eradication in Egypt|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2008/921/op13.htm|access-date=10 February 2012}}</ref>

Egypt’s fertility rate has dropped from 6.6 children per woman in the 1960s to 3.2 children per woman in 2021, though it remains high relative to global standards. The population increased from 44 million in 1981 to over 106 million today. Overpopulation remains one of the biggest challenges to confronting poverty.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Egypt Fertility Rate 1950-2021|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/EGY/egypt/fertility-rate|access-date=2021-03-07|website=www.macrotrends.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Egypt Population 1950-2022|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/EGY/egypt/population|access-date=2022-01-07|website=www.macrotrends.net}}</ref>
[[File:Egypt Poverty.jpg|thumb|Cairo slums.]]
The country’s reliance on international loans, such as from the IMF, has sometimes resulted in increased hardship for the population. In August 2022, Egypt sought another loan amid rising prices, triggering criticism of economic policies that primarily benefited elites.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/19/egypt-seeks-exceptional-treatment-imf|title=Egypt Seeks 'Exceptional' Treatment by the IMF|access-date=19 August 2022|website=Human Rights Watch|date=19 August 2022}}</ref>

The poverty rate in Egypt increased from 19 percent in 2005 to 21 percent in 2009, as reported by then Minister of Economic Development, Othman Mohamed Othman.<ref>{{cite web|last=Saleh|first=Amirah|title=Govt: Poverty rate up 2%|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/govt-poverty-rate-2|date=10 October 2009|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> The national poverty rate stood at 24.3% in 2010, rising to approximately 30% by 2015. Additionally, a 2019 World Bank report indicated that 60% of Egypt’s population was either poor or vulnerable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2019/04/30/world-bank-group-to-extend-current-strategy-in-egypt-to-maintain-momentum-on-reforms|title=World Bank Group to Extend Current Strategy in Egypt to Maintain Momentum on Reforms|access-date=30 April 2019|publisher=World Bank}}</ref> 

As of 2020, Egypt's population stood at 102 million, with 33% under the age of 14. Approximately 30% of the population lived below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/09/08/egypts-illiteracy-rate-decreased-to-24-6-in-july-2019-capmas/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=dailynewsegypt.com|date=8 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Overview|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/egypt/overview|access-date=2021-03-07|website=World Bank|language=en}}</ref> By 2021, this figure had declined slightly to 29.7% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Egypt's poverty rate declines to 29.7%: CAPMAS - Economy - Business|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/396107/Business/Economy/Egypt%E2%80%99s-poverty-rate-declines-to--CAPMAS.aspx|access-date=2021-03-07|website=Ahram Online|language=en|archive-date=13 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313123200/https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/396107/Business/Economy/Egypt%E2%80%99s-poverty-rate-declines-to--CAPMAS.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>