Sohag Governorate (Arabic: محافظة سوهاج) is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the southern part of the country (Upper Egypt), and covers a stretch of the Nile Valley.[5] Since 1960, its capital has been the city of Sohag. Prior to that, the capital was the city of Girga and the name of the governorate was Girga Governorate.[6]
Sohag Governorate | |
|---|---|
 View of Sohag | |
 Flag  | |
 Sohag Governorate on the map of Egypt | |
| Coordinates: 26°34′N 31°42′E / 26.56°N 31.7°E | |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Seat | Sohag (capital) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Ahmed Abdullah Al Ansari[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,547 km2 (597 sq mi) |
| Population (January 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 5,853,394 |
| • Density | 3,800/km2 (9,800/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | EGP 108 billion (US$ 6.9 billion) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| HDI (2021) | 0.685[4] medium · 21st |
| Website | www |
Overview
edit
The rate of poverty is more than 60% in this governorate but recently some social safety networks have been provided in the form of financial assistance and job opportunities. The funding has been coordinated by the country's Ministry of Finance and with assistance from international organizations.[7]
In early 2019, some residents of the poorer villages of Sohag were able to move into their new homes built, in part, with aid from the National Bank of Kuwait. There was a celebration for the completion of 115 homes where residents also received cattle and other gifts.[8]
Archaeology
editIn April 2019, the archaeological mission of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities led by Mostafa Waziri uncovered a tomb of a nobleman called Toutou and his wife at al-Dayabat archaeological site dating back to the Ptolemaic Kingdom. The tomb contained two tiny rooms with two limestone sarcophagi as well as a well-preserved mummy and mummified animals (including falcons, eagles, cats, dogs and shrews) were also revealed in the tomb.[9][10][11]
Municipal divisions
editThe governorate is divided into municipal divisions with a total estimated population as of January 2024 of 5,853,394. In the case of Sohag governorate, there are two new cities, five agsam and twelve marakiz. In some instances there is a markaz and a kism with the same name.[2]
| Anglicized name | Native name | Arabic transliteration | Population (July 2017 Est.) |
Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akhmim | مركز أخميم | Akhmīm | 498,670 | Markaz |
| El Balyana | مركز البلينا | Al-Balyanā | 595,606 | Markaz |
| El Kawthar | قسم الكوثر | Al-Kawthar | 5,543 | Kism (fully urban) |
| El Maragha | مركز المراغة | Al-Marāghah | 447,222 | Markaz |
| El Munsha | مركز المنشأة | Al-Munsha'āh | 458,552 | Markaz |
| Aserat | مركز العسيرات | Al-'Usayrāt | 195,927 | Markaz |
| Dar El Salam | مركز دار السلام | Dar as-Salām | 466,727 | Markaz |
| Girga | قسم جرجا | Jirjā | 146,756 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Girga | مركز جرجا | Jirjā | 376,144 | Markaz |
| Juhaynah West | مركز جهينة الغربية | Juhaynah al-Gharbiyah | 309,544 | Markaz |
| New Akhmim | مدينة أخميم الجديدة | Madīnat Akhmīm al-Jadīdah | 0 | New City |
| New Sohag | مدينة سوهاج الجديدة | Madīnat Sawhāj al-Jadīdah | 200 | New City |
| Saqultah | مركز ساقلته | Sāqultah | 235,361 | Markaz |
| Sohag | مركز سوهاج | Sawhāj | 608,574 | Markaz |
| Sohag 1 | قسم اول سوهاج | Sawhāj 1 | 150,616 | Kism (fully urban) |
| Sohag 2 | قسم ثان سوهاج | Sawhāj 2 | 124,746 | Kism (fully urban) |
| Tahta | قسم طهطا | Ṭahṭā | 187,903 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Tahta | مركز طهطا | Ṭahṭā | 327,950 | Markaz |
| Tima | مركز طما | Ṭimā | 486,899 | Markaz |
Population
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 1,118,402 | — |
| 1947 | 1,283,468 | +14.8% |
| 1957 | 1,449,000 | +12.9% |
| 1966 | 1,689,000 | +16.6% |
| 1976 | 1,924,960 | +14.0% |
| 1986 | 2,455,134 | +27.5% |
| 1996 | 3,123,114 | +27.2% |
| 2006 | 3,747,289 | +20.0% |
| 2015 | 4,603,861 | +22.9% |
| 2017 | 4,995,155 | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 5,063,000 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 5,669,652 | +12.0% |
| sources:[12][13][14][15][2] | ||
According to population estimates, in 2024 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 21.4%. Out of an estimated 5,853,394 people residing in the governorate in 2024, 4,600,768 people lived in rural areas and 1,252,626 lived in urban areas.[15]
Cities and towns
edit- Akhmim (Ipu or Khent-Min or Khemmis or Panopolis)
- Dar El Salam
- El Balyana
- El Mansha
- El Maragha
- El Usayrat
- Girga (Tjeny or Thinis)
- Juhayna
- Sakulta
- Sohag
- Tahta
- Tima
Industrial zones
editAccording to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment (MOI), the following industrial zones are located in this governorate:[16]
- Al Kawthar District
- Al Ahaiwa
- Beit Dawood, west of Gerga
- West Of Tahta
- (New urban community industrial zone) New Sohag
Important sites
edit- Abydos (Abedju)
- Apollonos Polis (Kom Isfaht)
- Beit Khallaf
- El Hawawish
- El Salamuni
- Gabal El Haridi
- Hut-Repyt (Athribis or Wannina)
- Kom Ishqaw (Aphrodito)
- Tjebu (Djew-Qa or Antaeopolis or Qaw el-Kebir)
- Red Monastery
- White Monastery
- Sohag Museum
Notable people
edit- Imad Hamdi (actor)
- Hamdy Ahmed (actor)
- George Sidhum (actor)
- Sawiris family (business family)
- Muhammad Siddiq Al-Minshawi (Quran Reciter)
References
edit- ^ "رسمياً.. المحافظون الجدد ونوابهم يؤدون اليمين الدستورية أمام الرئيس". Almasry Alyoum (in Arabic). 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "ﻋـــﺩﺩ ﺍﻟﺳﻛــﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺗﻘﺩﻳﺭﻯ ﻟﻸﻗﺳــﺎﻡ" (PDF). www.capmas.gov.eg (in Arabic). January 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "GDP BY GOVERNORATE", mped.gov.eg
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Table - Global Data Lab". globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Sohag Governorate". google.come. Google Map.
- ^ Law, Gwillim (1999). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998 (snippet view). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7864-0729-3. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ "Social Solidarity Ministry to provide citizens with disabilities financial support". Egypt Independent. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Al-Ghwait, Khaled (31 January 2019). "Orman and Bank of Kuwait celebrate the completion of the development of 115 houses in Sohag" (in Arabic). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ "In Photos: Ptolemaic-era tomb discovered in Upper Egypt's Sohag - Ancient Egypt - Heritage". Ahram Online. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Ptolemaic-era tomb discovered in Upper Egypt's Sohag". The Archaeology News Network. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Ptolemaic-era tomb discovered in Upper Egypt - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Law, Gwillim (23 November 1999). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 Through 1998. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6097-7.
- ^ "Sohag Governorate Subdivisions". CityPopulation.de. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ "اPop. Estimates by Governorate 1/1/2018". www.capmas.gov.eg. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Population Estimates By Sex & Governorate 1/1/2015" (PDF). CAPMAS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Industrial Zones of Governorate". Ministry of Investment Egypt. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.