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.[6]
Municipal divisions
The governorate is divided into the following municipal divisions for administrative purposes with a total estimated population as of January 2023 of 1,643,211. In some instances there is a markaz and a kism with the same name.[3]
According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 42.3%. Out of an estimated 1,431,488 people residing in the governorate, 826,543 people live in rural areas as opposed to only 604,945 in urban areas.[7]
According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment (MOI), there is an industrial zone called El Shalalat located in this governorate:[8]