What is the capital of Egypt?
Cairo sits on the banks of the Nile near the head of the river's delta, in the north of Egypt.
Cairo is the capital and seat of government of Egypt, a role it has held since 969. Egypt itself has an estimated population of 118,365,995 (2025).
Cairo is also the largest city in Egypt, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Cairo at a glance
| City population | 9,801,536 (2023) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 22,200,000 (2023 estimate) |
| Country | 🇪🇬 Egypt |
| Founded | 969 |
| Capital since | 969 |
| Largest city in Egypt | Cairo |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
| Currency | Egyptian pound (EGP) |
About Cairo
Cairo was founded in 969 by the Fatimid dynasty, though the area had been settled since ancient Egyptian times.
Cairo has been the capital of Egypt since 969, Cairo has been Egypt's principal city and capital since the Fatimids founded it in 969.
Cairo is Egypt's largest city and lies at the heart of the largest urban area in Africa and the Arab world.
Egypt is building a New Administrative Capital in the desert east of Cairo to relieve pressure on the crowded old city.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Cairo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Egypt?
Is Cairo the largest city in Egypt?
What is the population of Cairo?
Where is Cairo located?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Egypt on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.