Sohag Governorate (Arabic: محافظة سوهاج) lies on both banks of the Nile in Upper Egypt, between Asyut to the north and Qena to the south. Its capital is the city of Sohag, which took over from Girga as the seat of government in 1960; until then the province itself was called Girga. CAPMAS estimated the population at 5,727,271 in July 2023, packed into 1,547 km² of inhabited valley floor.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Sohag city |
| Population | 5,727,271 (CAPMAS estimate, July 2023) |
| Area | 1,547 km² of inhabited land |
| Density | About 3,700 people per km² |
| Municipal divisions | 12 marakiz, 5 aqsam, 2 new cities |
| Phone area code | 093 |
| Region | Upper Egypt |
| Distance from Cairo | About 470 km south |
Towns and Villages in Sohag Governorate
Sohag has twelve marakiz (rural districts) and five aqsam (urban districts). The list below covers 305 named settlements, from district seats of 150,000 people down to single-street hamlets. Names are grouped by markaz; valley boundaries are tight, so a few villages sit close to the line between two districts. Smaller ezbas and nagas that carry no separate name are not listed.
| Markaz | Population (July 2023) | Places listed below |
|---|---|---|
| Sohag | 614,601 | 29 |
| Akhmim | 503,797 | 11 |
| Tima | 491,849 | 48 |
| Tahta | 331,199 | 47 |
| Saqultah | 237,732 | 14 |
| El Maragha | 451,722 | 28 |
| Juhaynah West | 312,706 | 13 |
| El Munsha | 463,206 | 33 |
| Girga | 379,869 | 29 |
| El Balyana | 601,589 | 29 |
| Dar el-Salam | 471,398 | 19 |
| Al-Usayrat | 224,298 | 5 |
Sohag
The markaz wraps around the governorate capital on the west bank. Two urban aqsam, Sohag 1 and Sohag 2, cover the city itself and add another 278,000 residents.
- Al ‘Izbah wa al ‘Arab
- Al Hajarisah
- Al Hammadiyah
- Al Muhamidah
- As Sal’a
- Ash Shaykh Makram
- Awlad ‘Azzaz
- Awlad Nusayr
- Awlad Shulul
- Baja
- Balasfurah
- Bani Zar
- Bindar al Kirmaniyah
- Dimnu
- Idfa
- Jazirat Mahrus
- Jazirat Shandawil
- Khuss al Busah
- Nag Hastantrwi
- Nag Tammam
- Nag al Bikhayitah
- Nag al Ghawanim
- Nag el-Sharafat
- Qilfaw
- Rawafi’ al Qusayr
- Sohag
- Tunis
- Waninah
- Wanninah ash Sharqiyah
Akhmim
Akhmim sits on the east bank opposite Sohag city. It was Panopolis in Greek times and still runs handloom weaving workshops; New Akhmim, a desert-edge new town, is being built east of it.
- Abar al Waqf
- Akhmim
- Al ‘Anbariyah
- Al ‘Isawiyah Sharq
- Al Ahaywah Sharq
- Al Hawawish
- Al Kawlah
- As Sawami’ah Sharq
- Awlad Madi
- Nidah
- Nugu at Tulul
Tima
Tima is the northernmost markaz, on the border with Asyut. Its villages carry the Nazlat prefix, which marks a hamlet founded on a river bank.
- ‘Ezbet ‘Atwa
- ‘Ezbet el-Sabbagh
- Al ‘Ataminah
- Al ‘Izbah al Mustajaddah
- Al Arba’in
- Al Hadiqah
- Al Hallaqi
- Al Hasamidah
- Al Hima’
- Al Hishah
- Al Jaridat
- Al Jibab
- Al Kawamil
- Al Madmar
- Al Mawatin
- Al Waqat
- Ar Rayayinah al Mu’allaq
- Ash Shawka
- Kawm Gharib
- Kawm Ishqaw
- Kawm al Hamid
- Mishta
- Nag Hammad Matrud
- Nag Qandil
- Nazlat ‘Abd Allah
- Nazlat ‘Arab al ‘Ama’im
- Nazlat ‘Atiyah Musa
- Nazlat ‘Umran Khamis
- Nazlat Fazza’
- Nazlat Hajir Mishta
- Nazlat Mansur
- Nazlat Sa’id
- Nazlat Tuma
- Nazlat ad Duwayk
- Nazlat al Ashraf
- Nazlat al Barudiyah
- Nazlat al Ghurfah
- Nazlat al Hilali
- Nazlat as Suq
- Nazlat ash Shaykh Jum’ah
- Qaw Gharb
- Salamun
- Salim al Gharbiyah
- Salim ash Sharqiyah
- Tall az Zawaki
- Tima
- Umm Dawmah Qibli
- Umm Dumah
Tahta
Tahta town is the largest settlement in the north of the governorate. A separate kism covers its urban core and holds another 189,932 people.
- ‘Arab Bikhwag
- ‘Arab Bikhwaj
- ‘Izbat Zayn ad Din
- ‘Izbat al Khizindariyah
- Al Haridiyah al Bahriyah
- Al Haridiyah al Qibliyah
- Al Jubayrat
- Al Kawm al Ahmar
- Al Kawm al Asfar
- Al Qubaysat
- As Sawalih
- As Sawami’ah Gharb
- As Sufayhah
- Ash Shaykh Mas’ud
- Ash Shaykh Rahumah
- At Talihat
- Bani ‘Ammar
- Bani Harb
- Banja
- Jazirat al Haridi
- Kawm Badr
- Kawm Na’il
- Kawm ad Duwayr
- Nag Abu Laylah
- Nag Hamad
- Nag Hammu’de
- Nag Idris
- Nag Khalifa
- Nag el Tawalib
- Nazlat ‘Abbadah
- Nazlat ‘Ali
- Nazlat ‘Imarah
- Nazlat Abu Mughayzil
- Nazlat Abu Ra’s
- Nazlat Hamid
- Nazlat Khatir
- Nazlat Matar
- Nazlat Musallam
- Nazlat Nasr
- Nazlat Yahya
- Nazlat al Haridi
- Nazlat al Qadi
- Nazlat ash Shaykh Hammad
- Sahil Tahta
- Sawalim Tahta
- Shatturah
- Tahta
Saqultah
Saqultah is the smallest of the northern marakiz by population. Sugarcane and wheat dominate its fields.
- ‘Urban Bani Wasil
- Al ‘Awwamiyah
- Al Awameyah
- Al Kitkatah
- Al Qaramitah
- Al Qaramitah Gharb
- At Tawayil
- Fawjilay
- Nag Sharaf
- Nag el-Marawana & el-Misallamiya
- Nag el-Saqya
- Sa’d Allah
- Saqultah
- Siflaq
El Maragha
El Maragha lies between Tahta and Sohag. Basuna and Shandawil are among its larger farming villages.
- Abu ‘Aziz
- Al ‘Araba bi Suhaj
- Al ‘Umur
- Al Butakh
- Al Gharizat
- Al Haridiyah
- Al Jazazrah
- Al Maraghah
- Al Waqdah
- As Samarinah
- Ash Shaykh Shibl
- Ash Shaykh Yusuf
- Awlad Isma’il
- Bahalil al Jazirah
- Bani Hilal
- Bani Wishah
- Basunah
- Bawit
- Bihtah
- El-Firasiya
- Fazarah
- Iqsas
- Nag ‘Aula Abu Zeid
- Nag Ghazali
- Nag Hilal
- Nag Nikheidar
- Nag el Baqatra
- Shandawil
Juhaynah West
Juhaynah West takes its name from the Juhaynah Arab tribe that settled here. The town is a market centre for the surrounding wheat and clover fields.
- ‘Inaybas
- Al Harafishah
- Al Qurayyah
- Banhaw
- Fazarah bil Qaryah
- Juhaynah
- Nag Salih ‘Abd Allah
- Nag el Hish
- Nazzah
- Nazzat al Hajir
- Nazzat al Muhazzimin
- Nugu al Bus
- Qaryat ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib
El Munsha
El Munsha stands on the east bank south of Akhmim. It was Ptolemais Hermiou, a Greek foundation and once the largest city in Upper Egypt.
- ‘Awamir al ‘Asirat
- Ad Duwayrat
- Al ‘Ama’idah
- Al Ahaywah Gharb
- Al Bawarik
- Al Bayyadiyah Bin Nazir
- Al Himas
- Al Hirayzat al Gharbiyah
- Al Hirayzat ash Sharqiyah
- Al Khananisah
- Al Minshah
- An Nuwayrah
- Ar Ruwayhib
- As Saqriyah
- Ash Shawawlah
- Awlad ‘Ali
- Awlad Gharib
- Awlad Hamzah
- Awlad Jabbarah
- Az Zarah
- Az Zawak al Gharbiyah
- Az Zawak ash Sharqiyah
- Az Zuk ash Sharqiyah
- El-Deir
- El-Kola Nag
- Jazirat Awlad Hamzah
- Jazirat al Muntasir
- Kawm Baddar
- Kharifat al Minshah
- Nag al Ahaywah
- Nag ar Rashaydah
- Nag ash Shaykh Ibrahim
- Rawafi’ al ‘Isawiyah
Girga
Girga was the provincial capital until 1960 and gave the governorate its old name. Its urban kism holds a further 169,144 people.
- Al ‘Awamir Bahri
- Al ‘Awamir Qibli
- Al Bayadi wa al Qaryah
- Al Birba
- Al Khalafiyah
- Al Majabirah
- Al Masa’id
- Al Mashawidah
- Al Qur’an
- Al Qurayyah
- Aulad el-Sheikh
- Awlad Bahij
- Awlad Yahya Bahri
- Az Zanqur
- Bani ‘Aysh
- Bayt ‘Allam
- Bayt Khallaf
- Bayt al Khuraybi
- Bindar
- Bindar ash Sharqiyah
- Girga
- Kawm Ishkilu
- Kawm as Sa’aydah
- Kharifat Jirja
- Mazatat ash Shaykh Jabr
- Nag Hashim
- Nag al Masha’ikh
- Nag as Sarawirah
- Nag el-‘Alawna
El Balyana
El Balyana is the southernmost markaz and the most populous. Abydos, the burial ground of the first pharaohs and site of the temple of Seti I, lies in its farmland at Al-Araba al-Madfuna.
- ‘Izbat al Islah
- Al Balyana
- Al Basikiyah
- Al Hallafi
- Al Harajah Qibli
- Al Hijz
- Al Hubayl
- Al Wahliyah al Kabirah
- As Sahil Bahri
- As Sahil Qibli
- As Samata
- Ash Shaykh Barakah
- Ash Shaykh Marzuq
- Bani Humayl
- Bardis
- Barkhil
- Minshat Bardis
- Nag Abu Sitayt
- Nag Bani Khalid
- Nag Jad al Karim
- Nag Mazin
- Nag al ‘Assarah
- Nag al Ghunaymiyah
- Nag al Harjah
- Nag at Tawadir
- Nag el Shululiya
- Nugu Bardis
- Wahliyat as Samman
- Wahliyat ash Shaykh Ahmad
Dar el-Salam
Dar el-Salam covers the east bank villages south of El Munsha. El-Kosheh and the Balabish villages are its best known settlements.
- Al Ambir
- Al Balabish
- Al Balabish Bahri
- Al Balabish Qibli
- Al Khayyam
- Al Kushh
- Al Qusah
- An Naghamish
- Awlad Khalaf
- Awlad Salim Bahri
- Awlad Tuq Gharb
- Awlad ash Shaykh
- Dar as Salam
- Nag ‘Arab as Sabhah
- Nag Beni Birza
- Nag Birmanah
- Nag Jad al Karim
- Nag al Hamdat
- Nag ash Shaykh Mubadir
Al-Usayrat
Al-Usayrat was carved out of neighbouring districts and is the least populous markaz. Only a handful of its villages are separately mapped.
- Awlad Tawq Sharq
- Awlad Yahya Qibli
- Mazatah Sharq
- Nag Awlad Khalifah
- Nag Mazin Qibli al Jisr
Geography
Sohag runs about 125 km along the Nile in the middle of Upper Egypt. The river splits the governorate into a wide west bank plain and a narrower east bank strip, with limestone cliffs closing in on both sides. Beyond the cliffs the land turns to desert, and almost the whole population lives within a few kilometres of the water.
It borders Asyut Governorate to the north, Qena Governorate to the south, the Red Sea Governorate to the east and the New Valley Governorate to the west.
Demographics
The population has grown from 3,123,114 at the 1996 census to 4,967,409 in 2017 and an estimated 5,727,271 in July 2023. That is an increase of 83 percent in 27 years. Roughly four in five residents live in villages rather than towns, one of the highest rural shares in Egypt. Density on inhabited land runs near 3,700 people per km², so farm plots are small and often split between heirs.
Economy and Local Life
Farming employs most of the workforce. Sugarcane, wheat, maize, cotton, clover and onions are the main crops, and Sohag is one of Egypt’s largest onion exporters. Akhmim keeps a hand weaving trade that has run since antiquity, producing cotton and silk shawls. Sohag University, independent since 2006, and the governorate hospital network are the largest non farm employers. Weekly markets in Tahta, Girga and Tima set the rhythm of village trade.
History
Abydos was Egypt’s oldest royal cemetery, holding the tombs of First Dynasty kings, and later the cult centre of Osiris. The temple Seti I built there around 1290 BC still carries the king list that fixed the order of the pharaohs. Akhmim was Panopolis under the Greeks and a textile town under the Romans. West of Sohag city stand the White Monastery and the Red Monastery, fifth century Coptic foundations linked to Shenoute of Atripe. Girga served as the administrative capital of the whole of Upper Egypt under the Ottomans, and kept the provincial seat until 1960.
Getting There
The Cairo to Aswan railway runs through Sohag, Tahta, Girga and El Balyana, with express trains reaching Cairo in about seven hours. The Nile valley agricultural road and the newer Eastern Desert road both serve the governorate, and the Sohag to Red Sea road crosses to Safaga on the coast. Sohag International Airport handles domestic flights and services to Gulf destinations.
FAQ
What is the capital of Sohag Governorate?
Sohag city, on the west bank of the Nile, has been the capital since 1960. Girga held the seat before that.
How many districts does Sohag have?
Twelve marakiz and five aqsam, plus the two new cities of New Sohag and New Akhmim.
What is the population of Sohag Governorate?
CAPMAS estimated 5,727,271 people in July 2023. The 2017 census counted 4,967,409.
How many villages are in Sohag?
This page lists 305 named settlements across the twelve marakiz. Many smaller hamlets are counted with their parent village and carry no separate name.
What is Sohag known for?
Abydos and the temple of Seti I, the White and Red Monasteries, Akhmim’s handwoven textiles, and onion and sugarcane farming.
How far is Sohag from Cairo?
About 470 km south by road or rail, roughly six to seven hours by express train.