Monufia (Arabic: محافظة المنوفية Muḥāfaẓah Al Monofeya  IPA: [elmenoˈfejjæ, -monoˈ-]) is one of the governorates of Egypt. Monufia’s name was derived from the hieroglyphic word “Nafr”, which means “The Good Land”. It is located in the northern part of the country in the Nile Delta, to the south of Gharbia Governorate and to the north of Cairo. The governorate of Monufia is known for being the place of origin of four Egyptian presidents: Anwar Sadat, Hosni Mubarak, Adly Mansour, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The governorate is named after Menouf, an ancient city which was the capital of the governorate until 1826. The current governor (as of 2018) is Said Mohammed Mohammed Abbas.

Monufia Governorate is home to several prominent educational institutions. Chief among them is Menoufia University, established by presidential decree in 1976. Another major institution is Sadat City University, which was founded by a 2013 presidential decree after having previously functioned as a branch of Menoufia University. The region also hosts Al-Riyada University for Science and Technology in Sadat City, Delta Technological University in Quesna, and Menoufia National University in Tukh Tanbisha. Additionally, there are faculties affiliated with Al-Azhar University in Shibin El Kom and Sadat City.

The primary economic activity in the governorate is agriculture. This is due to the fertile soil and the reliable availability of irrigation water from the Nile River in the region between its two branches. Agricultural activity also extends into the desert areas of Sadat City through land reclamation projects. A wide variety of cash crops, vegetables, and fruits are cultivated throughout the governorate. In addition to agriculture, the industrial sector plays a significant role in the local economy, especially following the incorporation of Sadat City, one of Egypt’s largest industrial centers. Other industrial zones are located in Quesna, along with light industries in Shibin El Kom.

In 2006, Menoufia Governorate ranked eleventh among Egyptian governorates located in the Nile Delta and Nile Valley in terms of quality of life and service standards. Regarding transportation, the governorate is traversed by two of Egypt’s major roads: the Cairo–Alexandria agricultural road and the Cairo–Alexandria desert road. However, many of the governorate’s other roads suffer from poor conditions and neglect, despite an extensive network of connections linking various parts of the region.

Menoufia Governorate consists of nine administrative districts. Eight of these lie within the traditional borders of the governorate between the Rosetta and Damietta branches of the Nile, while one district, Sadat, is located west of the Rosetta branch. These districts include 10 cities, 70 rural local units, 315 affiliated villages, and 1,024 hamlets and sub-villages.

In 1927, Menoufia’s population was around 1,077,894. By 1947, this had increased by 61,000 people, reflecting an annual growth rate of just 0.03%. Between 1947 and 1960, the population grew by another 29,000, with a slightly higher annual rate of 1.4%. The low growth during these periods is attributed to high mortality rates and significant out-migration.

Population growth accelerated significantly between 1960 and 1976, with an increase of 363,000 (an annual growth rate of 21.7%). Between 1976 and 1986, the population increased by 561,000, representing an annual growth rate of 3.3%, largely due to improvements in public health and a decline in death rates.

Until the 1986 census, the population of Menoufia was relatively evenly distributed among its districts. In 1960, the proportion of residents in each administrative unit ranged from 7.7% to 17.8%; by 1976, this gap had widened slightly to 24%, and by 1986, ranged between 7.5% and 19%.