Abstract

Egypt’s population has grown at an unprecedented rate from 39.6 million in 1976 to 106.5 million in 2024. This nearly three-fold increase in population size has had far-reaching negative consequences for human well-being and the natural environment. The expansion is expected to continue in the coming decades to reach 205 million in 2100. In theory, the human impact on nature can be offset by reducing per capita consumption of natural resources, especially in the rich world, and developing green technology. However, in practice, this projected growth will undoubtedly cause further significant damage. The paper discusses two main parts after the introduction: First, it explains the demographic trends and future population projections in Egypt. The second part discusses the status of population and sustainable development in Egypt and the challenges and recommendations for achieving sustainable development.

The demographic changes experienced by developing countries are considered among the most important challenges they face, especially with regard to the development of population growth and the shift in the age structure of the population represented by the emergence of what is known as the demographic gift or window, and the implications of this shift on available economic resources and economic behavior, and thus the effects on macroeconomic variables including economic growth, unemployment and productivity. Population growth is considered one of the most important phenomena of demographic challenges, as the population increase that the world has experienced for long periods has led to an increasing doubling of the world's population, which has led to the imposition of great pressures on natural resources, especially for the least developed countries in light of backward economies and the absence of sound economic and population policies, which has resulted in economic problems in these countries that have called for the attention of researchers and economists.
The radical changes in economic policies and orientations that Egypt has witnessed over the past decades have had profound effects on various aspects of life in society and on the overall demographic, social, and economic conditions of the population, particularly the workforce, especially women. The current stage that Egypt is experiencing necessitates that women's empowerment be a primary objective in Egypt's 2030 vision and plan. The "Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030" also aims to maximize the utilization of Egypt's potential and competitive advantages, achieve social justice, and provide a decent life for all citizens. In early 2017, the year in which the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt declared it the Year of Women, the government launched the National Strategy for Empowering Egyptian Women 2030, building upon the Sustainable Development Strategy by focusing on (a) political empowerment and enhancing women's leadership role, (b) women's economic empowerment, (c) women's social development, and (d) women's protection.