Aswan Governorate
Aswān Governorate | |
|---|---|
View of the city of Aswan | |
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Flag | |
Aswan Governorate on the map of Egypt | |
| Coordinates: 23°35′N 32°49′E / 23.59°N 32.82°E | |
| Country | Egypt |
| Seat | Aswan (capital) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Amr Helmy Hassan Lashin |
| Area | |
• Total | 62,726 km2 (24,219 sq mi) |
| Population (January 2024) | |
• Total | 1,685,743 |
| • Density | 26.875/km2 (69.605/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | E£76 billion (US$4.9 billion) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EGY) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | EG-ASN |
| HDI (2021) | 0.724 high · 15th |
| Website | www |
Aswan Governorate (Egyptian Arabic: محافظة أسوان) is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. It is the southernmost governorate in Upper Egypt, covering most of the area of Lake Nasser. Its capital is Aswan.
Aswan Governorate is bordered by Qena Governorate to the north, the Red Sea Governorate to the east, the New Valley Governorate to the west, and Sudan's Northern state to the south.
According to the latest estimates, the governorate has a population of approximately 1,685,743 inhabitants (as of January 2024) and occupies a total area of 62,726 square kilometres (24,219 sq mi), ranking it among the largest governorates in Egypt by area.
Current Governor is Eng. Amr Helmy Hassan Lashin, Governor of Aswan Appointed on February 16th 2026.
History
The region of present day Aswan Governorate has been inhabited for millennia. It served as the southern frontier of ancient Egypt. The area was known as Swenett in antiquity, a name derived from the ancient Egyptian symbol for trade. Its location at the First Cataract of the Nile made it a natural boundary and a strategic gateway for trade caravans.
Aswan was the source of the granite used for many ancient Egyptian monuments. The Unfinished Obelisk in its quarry demonstrates ancient stone working techniques. The city on Elephantine Island was an important administrative center with a fortress guarding the southern border.
During the Greco-Roman period, the Temple of Philae was constructed and dedicated to the goddess Isis. It remained a site of worship after the Christianization of Egypt. Recent archaeological missions have discovered rock cut tombs from this period near the Aga Khan Mausoleum.
In the 20th century, dam construction permanently altered the region. The Aswan Low Dam was completed in 1902. The Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970, created Lake Nasser. This led to the UNESCO coordinated relocation of several monuments, including the temples of Abu Simbel and Philae. The project also involved resettling the local Nubian population.