# Sohag Governorate

Sohag Governorate (Arabic: محافظة سوهاج) is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the southern part of the country (Upper Egypt), 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.

## 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 (including falcons, eagles, cats, dogs and shrews) were also revealed in the tomb.

## 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 marakiz. In some instances there is a markaz and a kism with the same name.
Municipal Divisions :
| Anglicized name | Native name | Arabic transliteration | Population (July 2017 Est.) | Type |
| Akhmim | مركز أخميم | Akhmīm | 498,670 | Markaz |
| El Balyana | مركز البلينا | Al-Balyanā | 595,606 | Markaz |
| El Kawthar | قسم الكوثر | Al-Kawthar | 5,543 | Kism (fully urban) |
| El Maragha | مركز المراغة | Al-Marāghah | 447,222 | Markaz |
| El Munsha | مركز المنشأة | Al-Munsha'āh | 458,552 | Markaz |
| Aserat | مركز العسيرات | Al-'Usayrāt | 195,927 | Markaz |
| Dar El Salam | مركز دار السلام | Dar as-Salām | 466,727 | Markaz |
| Girga | قسم جرجا | Jirjā | 146,756 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Girga | مركز جرجا | Jirjā | 376,144 | Markaz |
| Juhaynah West | مركز جهينة الغربية | Juhaynah al-Gharbiyah | 309,544 | Markaz |
| New Akhmim | مدينة أخميم الجديدة | Madīnat Akhmīm al-Jadīdah | 0 | New City |
| New Sohag | مدينة سوهاج الجديدة | Madīnat Sawhāj al-Jadīdah | 200 | New City |
| Saqultah | مركز ساقلته | Sāqultah | 235,361 | Markaz |
| Sohag | مركز سوهاج | Sawhāj | 608,574 | Markaz |
| Sohag 1 | قسم اول سوهاج | Sawhāj 1 | 150,616 | Kism (fully urban) |
| Sohag 2 | قسم ثان سوهاج | Sawhāj 2 | 124,746 | Kism (fully urban) |
| Tahta | قسم طهطا | Ṭahṭā | 187,903 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Tahta | مركز طهطا | Ṭahṭā | 327,950 | Markaz |
| Tima | مركز طما | Ṭimā | 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 5,853,394 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

* Akhmim (Ipu or Khent-Min or Khemmis or Panopolis)
* Dar El Salam
* El Balyana
* El Mansha
* El Maragha
* El Usayrat
* Girga (Tjeny or Thinis)
* Juhayna
* Sakulta
* Sohag
* Tahta
* Tima

## Industrial zones

According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), 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

## Important sites

* Abydos (Abedju)
* Apollonos Polis (Kom Isfaht)
* Beit Khallaf
* El Hawawish
* El Salamuni
* Gabal El Haridi
* Hut-Repyt (Athribis or Wannina)
* Kom Ishqaw (Aphrodito)
* Tjebu (Djew-Qa or Antaeopolis or Qaw el-Kebir)
* Red Monastery
* White Monastery
* Sohag Museum

## Notable people

* Imad Hamdi (actor)
* Hamdy Ahmed (actor)
* George Sidhum (actor)
* Sawiris family (business family)
* Muhammad Siddiq Al-Minshawi (Quran Reciter)