Military Personnel as a Percentage of Population in Egypt, 1987-2016

In Egypt, military personnel as a percentage of the population showed a gradual decrease from 0.9% in the late 1980s to 0.5% by 2016. This decline reflects Egypt's shifting socio-political landscape and its focus on urban growth, especially in the Nile Delta region. As Egypt’s urban population expanded, there was less emphasis on expanding military personnel relative to population growth.

A slight increase in 2004 to 0.7% coincided with regional tensions, yet Egypt’s consistent focus on urbanization and economic reforms saw the percentage drop steadily thereafter. By 2016, the military personnel percentage stabilized at 0.5%, illustrating Egypt’s rebalancing of military capacity while fostering urban and economic development.