Egypt’s Population Clusters Along the Nile, Not the Suez Canal

The vast majority of Egyptians live in the Nile Valley and Delta—a narrow green ribbon through the desert. The Nile provides water for drinking, irrigation, transport, and fertile silt. Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and most major cities sit on or near the river.

The Suez Canal is a vital shipping lane connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, but its banks are sparsely populated—mainly port facilities, military bases, and the cities of Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez at its termini.