Sohag Governorate

Sohag is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the southern part of the country, and covers a stretch of the Nile Valley. 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.

WWW sohag.gov.eg

Overview

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.
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.

Archaeology

In 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 were also revealed in the tomb.
In January 2026, archaeologists announced the discovery of a Byzantine-era monastic complex at Al-Qarya bi-Al-Duweir in the Tema district. The Egyptian archaeological mission, conducted by the Supreme Council of Antiquities, uncovered the foundations of multiple mudbrick buildings that formed a monastic residential settlement dating to the Byzantine period. The remains include rectangular halls, cells believed to have served as monks’ living and worship spaces, and plastered walls with niches, while courtyards and small circular structures likely functioned as communal areas. Evidence of a central church with a nave, choir and sanctuary suggests organized religious life, and ancillary features such as red-brick and limestone basins indicate water storage or auxiliary functions. Artefacts recovered at the site included storage amphorae and Coptic-inscribed ostraca.

Municipal divisions

The 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 markaz. In some instances there is a markaz and a kism with the same name.

Anglicized name	Native name	Arabic transliteration	Population	Type
Akhmim	مركز أخميم		498,670	Markaz
El Balyana	مركز البلينا		595,606	Markaz
El Kawthar	قسم الكوثر		5,543	Kism
El Maragha	مركز المراغة	'	447,222	Markaz
El Munsha	مركز المنشأة		458,552	Markaz
Aserat	مركز العسيرات	'	195,927	Markaz
Dar El Salam	مركز دار السلام		466,727	Markaz
Girga	قسم جرجا		146,756	Kism
Girga	مركز جرجا		376,144	Markaz
Juhaynah West	مركز جهينة الغربية	'	309,544	Markaz
New Akhmim	مدينة أخميم الجديدة		0	New City
New Sohag	مدينة سوهاج الجديدة		200	New City
Saqultah	مركز ساقلته	'	235,361	Markaz
Sohag	مركز سوهاج	'	608,574	Markaz
Sohag 1	قسم اول سوهاج	'	150,616	Kism
Sohag 2	قسم ثان سوهاج	'	124,746	Kism
Tahta	قسم طهطا	'	187,903	Kism
Tahta	مركز طهطا	'	327,950	Markaz
Tima	مركز طما	'	486,899	Markaz

Population

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 people residing in the governorate in 2024, 4,600,768 people lived in rural areas and 1,252,626 lived in urban areas.

Cities and towns

Industrial zones

According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, the following industrial zones are located in Sohag:

Zone name

El Ahaywa Industrial Zone

El Kawthar Industrial Zone

Industrial Zone West of Tahta

New Sohag City Industrial Zone

Bet Daoud Industrial Zone West of Gerga