The governorate is divided into municipal divisions with a total estimated population as of July 2017 of 3,181,688. In the case of Qena governorate, there is one kism, a number of marakiz and 1 new city. Sometimes a markaz and a kism share a name.
Anglicized name
Native name
Arabic transliteration
Population
Type
Abu Tesht
مركز أبو طشت
Abū Ṭisht
466,395
Markaz
El Waqf
مركز الوقف
Al-Waqf
81,806
Markaz
Dishna
مركز دشنا
Dishnā
390,637
Markaz
Farshut
مركز فرشوط
Farshūṭ
190,064
Markaz
New Qena
مدينة قنا الجديدة
Madīnat Qinā al-Jadīdah
1,534
New City
Nag Hammadi
مركز نجع حمادى
Naj' Ḥammādī
581,507
Markaz
Naqada
مركز نقادة
Naqādah
171,910
Markaz
Gebtu or Coptos
مركز قفط
Qifṭ
143,215
Markaz
Qena
قسم قنا
Qinā
236,624
Kism
Qena
مركز قنا
Qinā
451,141
Markaz
Qus
مركز قوص
Qūṣ
466,855
Markaz
Population
According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 19.7%. Out of an estimated 3,045,504 people residing in the governorate, 2,445,051 people lived in rural areas as opposed to only 600,453 in urban areas. According to population estimates from 2018 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 18.7%. Out of an estimated 3,224,000 people residing in the governorate, 2,621,000 people live in rural areas as opposed to only 603,000 in urban areas.
Cities and towns
As of 2018, nine cities in Qena had a population of over 15,000 inhabitants.
City or Town
Native Name
Arabic Name
Nov. 1996 Census
Nov. 2006 Census
July 2017 Pop. Est.
Abu Tesht
أبو تشت
Abū Tisht
10,469
13,015
17,022
El Waqf
الوقف
Al-Waqf
24,033
27,525
32,495
Dishna
دشنا
Dishnā
44,125
52,534
60,585
Farshut
فرشوط
Farshūṭ
43,796
51,052
66,447
Nag Hammadi
نجع حمادى
Naj' Ḥammādī
33,252
45,038
55,767
Naqada
نقادة
Naqādah
18,905
21,530
25,050
Qift
قفط
Qifṭ
17,918
22,063
22,465
Qena
قنا
Qinā
155,382
201,191
236,624
Qus
قوص
Qūṣ
49,054
60,068
78,959
Industrial zones
According to the Egyptian Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, in affiliation with the Ministry of Investment, there are two industrial zones in this governorate: Al-Kalaheen Industrial Zone - Qeft, and Hou Industrial Zone Nag'a Hamadi.
Projects and programs
In 1981, the Basic Village Service Program had several water, road and other projects going on in several marakiz in the Qena Governorate. In 2016, Switzerland committed to funding a solid waste management program in Qena, a project with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment that will conclude in 2021. The National Solid Waste Management Programme involves the construction of infrastructure for new as well as the expansion and improvement of existing waste treatment, landfill, and recycling facilities. In 2018, the Our District project was launched with the help and investment of Switzerland. The project is to improve land use, and living conditions for people in Qena governorate.