Cornelis Hulsman has been invited to present a paper on disputed population data of Christians in Egypt at an international conference of the International Association of Mission Studies in Sydney, Australia, July 7-11, 2022. Estimates range between 5,09 % of population to 21,9% of population.

For possibly since the foundation of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) in Egypt at the end of the 19^th century, the Coptic Orthodox Church has been disputing the Coptic population data of the CAPMAS, always claiming far higher numbers and percentages than the CAPMAS provided. Throughout the last century non-Egyptian researchers have looked into this discrepancy and found the CAPMAS figures closer to reality than the Coptic Orthodox claims. The CAPMAS methods of collecting data are known but sadly the statistics based on the smallest administrative units have not been published. It is known that Pope Shinūda (1971-2012) asked bishops to collect Coptic population data in their respective dioceses but when one asks individual bishops, they would never reveal the results of their data collection. Also, the pope would not reveal this. That raises questions about their data collection. The conclusion only can be that the data of the CAPMAS were not convenient to the church.

Non-Egyptian Western media and Christian organizations tend to seek a compromise or follow church estimates. For decades Western media tend to write that Christians in Egypt make up 10% of population. This makes no sense since it is generally acknowledged that Christian families are on average smaller than Muslim families and thus over time one should see a decline in the percentage of Christians. Christian organization Open Doors claims Christians make up 16% of the population and links this to persecution. Yet, the claims of Open Doors and many others about persecution stand in a different light with lower numbers and attention for the consequences of widespread poverty and cultural factors. Accurate numbers may not be convenient, but they matter in efforts to promote better understanding between Muslims and Christians in Egypt.

For the paper presenting in Sydney please click full text. This paper will be presented in the section on Religious Freedom, Persecution and Mission.