| Sharqiyya Governorate | |
| Settlement Type: | Governorate |
| Flag Size: | 120px |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Coat of arms of Sharqia Govenorate.JPG |
| Blank Emblem Size: | 75px |
| Coordinates: | 30.7°N 31.63°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Seat: | Zagazig (capital) |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Mamdouh Mustafa El-Sayed Ahmed Gharab[1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4,180 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 7859068 |
| Population As Of: | January 2023 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | GDP |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics1 Info1: | EGP 302 billion (US$ 19.2 billion) |
| Timezone1: | EET |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | HDI (2021) |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0.73[3] · 14th |
Sharqia Governorate (Arabic: محافظة الشرقية , pronounced as /eʃ.ʃæɾˈʔejjæ/, rural: pronounced as /eʃ.ʃæɾˈɡejje/) is the 3rd most populous of the governorates of Egypt. Located in the northern part of the country, its capital is the city of Zagazig.
Bilbeis is the former capital of Sharqia. A section of the governorate once was part of the Qalyubia Governorate. There is a strong agriculture industry, poultry and fish farming in Sharqia.[4]
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.[5]
The governorate is divided into the following municipal divisions for administrative purposes, with a total estimated population as of January 2023 of 7,021,046. In some instances there is a markaz and a kism with the same name.
| Abu Hammad | Arabic: مركز أبو حماد | 465,376 | Markaz | ||
| Abu Kebir | Arabic: مركز أبو كبير | 491,984 | Markaz | ||
| El Husseiniya | Arabic: مركز الحسينية | 373,774 | Markaz | ||
| El Ibrahimiya | Arabic: مركز الأبراهيمية | 200,590 | Markaz | ||
| El Qanayat | Arabic: قسم القنايات | 74,611 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| El Qurein | Arabic: قسم القرين | 99,884 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| New Salhia | Arabic: قسم الصالحية الجديدة | 62,610 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| Awlad Saqr | Arabic: مركز أولاد صقر | 244,870 | Markaz | ||
| Zagazig 1 | Arabic: قسم اول الزقازيق | 208,682 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| Zagazig 2 | Arabic: قسم ثان الزقازيق | 245,662 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| Zagazig | Arabic: مركز الزقازيق | 933,504 | Markaz | ||
| Bilbeis | Arabic: مركز بلبيس | 889,709 | Markaz | ||
| Diyarb Negm | Arabic: مركز ديرب نجم | 532,950 | Markaz | ||
| Faqous | Arabic: قسم فاقوس | 104,244 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| Faqous | Arabic: مركز فاقوس | 654,084 | Markaz | ||
| Hihya | Arabic: مركز ههيا | 326,627 | Markaz | ||
| Kafr Saqr | Arabic: مركز كفر صقر | 302,084 | Markaz | ||
| 10th of Ramadan City 1 | Arabic: قسم أول مدينة عشرة رمضان | 87,808 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| 10th of Ramadan City 2 | Arabic: قسم ثان مدينة عشرة رمضان | 171,997 | Kism (fully urban) | ||
| Mashtool El Souk | Arabic: مركز مشتول السوق | 241,857 | Markaz | ||
| Minya El Qamh | Arabic: مركز منيا القمح | 831,505 | Markaz | ||
| Minshat Abu Omar | Arabic: مركز منشاه ابوعمر | 86,670 | Markaz | ||
| Tanis | Arabic: مركز صان الحجر | 158,443 | Markaz |
According to population estimates, in 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 23.1%. Out of an estimated 6,485,412 people residing in the governorate in 2015, 4,987,707 people lived in rural areas and 1,497,705 lived in urban areas.[6]
According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) the governorate is home to two industrial zones. They are located in New Salhia, and in 10th of Ramadan.[7]
The following cities and towns are located in Sharqia Governorate.
| Name | Population (2006 census)[8] | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th of Ramadan | 29,601 | 30.3065°N 31.7415°W | |
| Abu Hammad | 36,592 | 30.5444°N 31.6798°W | |
| Abu Kebir | 104,100 | 30.7167°N 31.6667°W | |
| Awlad Saqr | 19,515 | 30.9303°N 31.6975°W | |
| Bilbeis | 141,285 | 30.4167°N 31.5667°W | |
| Diyarb Negm | 52,611 | 30.7514°N 31.4578°W | |
| El Husseiniya | 29,565 | 30.8611°N 31.9198°W | |
| El Ibrahimiya | 35,022 | 30.7184°N 31.5631°W | |
| El Qurein | 64,559 | 30.6018°N 31.7441°W | |
| Faqous | 73,081 | 30.7333°N 31.8°W | |
| Hihya | 43,672 | 30.6687°N 31.5904°W | |
| Kafr Saqr | 30,004 | 30.7964°N 31.6261°W | |
| Mashtool El Souk | 47,153 | 30.3606°N 31.3775°W | |
| Minya El Qamh | 67,450 | 30.5153°N 31.3461°W | |
| El Salheya El Gedida | 9,350 | 30.6298°N 31.941°W | |
| Qanayat | 75,000 | 30.6152°N 31.4597°W | |
| Zagazig | 318,393 | 30.5667°N 31.5°W |