Religion in Egypt

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Religion in Egypt plays a significant role in the country's social structure and is institutionally supported by law. Islam is designated as the state religion of Egypt, although precise figures on religious affiliation are unavailable due to the exclusion of religious data from the 2006 census onwards. As a result, existing statistics are based on estimates provided by religious organizations and independent agencies. The majority of the population is believed to be Sunni Muslim, comprising approximately 85–95%, while the second largest religious group is the Coptic Orthodox Christian community, whose share is estimated to range between 5% and 15%.^{[note 1]} These figures remain controversial, with Christian groups asserting that census data have historically underrepresented their actual numbers.^[1]

Two major religious institutions are based in Egypt. The Al-Azhar Mosque, established in 970 CE by the Fatimids, functions as Egypt’s earliest Islamic university. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, founded in the mid-1st century by Saint Mark, serves as the central institution for the Coptic Orthodox Christian community.^[2]

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