Since 1976 the migration stream to the Cairo Metropolitan Area has slowed
down. Table 11.1 shows that Cairo’s share of the country’s total popula-
tion increased steadily between 1937 and 1976, but has remained constant
at 20 per cent since then. The situation of Alexandria is similar. There are
various reasons for this current stagnation of migration. In the first place,
employment opportunities have been dwindling in these big cities too, while
housing has become almost unaffordable there. For young people wishing
to start a family today the most serious problem is securing a place to live.
While formerly the bride’s father used to ask about the possessions and the
profession of the suitor, today the availability of housing has become the
crux of the matter. Another reason for the stabilization is the relatively strong
migration from Cairo out of the country. Both the qualificational level and
the financial status of employees living in Egypt’s capital are above average,
which facilitates their migration abroad. The presently accelerating wave of
emigration began in the 1960s. At that time several hundred thousand univer-
sity graduates migrated, in particular to the USA, Canada and Australia. The
number of Copts in the migration to these countries was over-proportional.
According to Coptic sources 1–2 million permanent Coptic immigrants lived
in these countries in 2001. In parallel, labour migration was also enhanced
to the Arab oil-producing countries.