# Giza

> city in Egypt

**Wikidata**: [Q81788](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81788)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/giza

## Summary
Giza is a major city in Egypt, serving as the capital of the Giza Governorate. Situated on the west bank of the Nile River with an elevation of 30 meters, it is classified as a large human settlement and a notable tourist destination. Founded in 642, the city has grown to a population of approximately 4.4 million people as of 2023 and is distinct from the nearby Giza Necropolis.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: City (large human settlement) and tourist destination.
- **Location**: Capital of Giza Governorate, Egypt.
- **Coordinates**: 29.987° N, 31.2118° E.
- **Area**: 187 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: 30 metres above sea level.
- **Population**: 4,458,135 (estimated as of July 1, 2023); other recorded populations include 4,367,343 (2021) and 3,021,542 (2006).
- **Inception**: 642 CE.
- **Time Zone**: UTC+02:00.
- **Official Language**: Arabic.
- **Native Name**: مدينة الجيزة (Madinat al-Jizah).
- **Local Dialing Code**: 2.
- **UN/LOCODE**: EGAGZ.
- **Website**: http://www.giza.gov.eg/English/default.aspx.

## FAQs
**What is the geographical location and physical size of Giza?**
Giza is located in Egypt within the Giza Governorate, situated at coordinates 29.987° N, 31.2118° E. The city covers a total area of 187 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 30 meters above sea level.

**How has the population of Giza changed over time?**
The city has experienced significant population growth, rising from 69,000 in 1947 to 4,458,135 in 2023. Historical records show populations of 1.5 million in 1983, nearly 3 million in 2006, and over 4.2 million by 2018.

**Is Giza the same as the Giza Necropolis?**
No, the entity "Giza" is explicitly defined as different from the "Giza Necropolis." While the city is a tourist destination, the Necropolis (home to the pyramids) is a distinct location.

**What international relationships and organizations is Giza part of?**
Giza is a member of the League of Historical Cities. It maintains sister-city or twinning relationships with Los Angeles and Istanbul.

**What are the historical and linguistic details of Giza?**
The city was founded in 642 CE. Its official name in Arabic is مدينة الجيزة, and it has numerous aliases including Gizeh, Ghizeh, and Jīzah.

## Why It Matters
Giza serves as a critical administrative and demographic hub within Egypt. As the capital of the Giza Governorate, it functions as a major urban center distinct from the archaeological sites with which it is often associated. Its inclusion in the League of Historical Cities underscores its cultural and historical relevance dating back to the 7th century. The city's rapid population growth—from under 100,000 in the mid-20th century to over 4.4 million today—highlights its escalating importance as a center of residence and commerce in the region. Furthermore, its status as a twin city to global metropolises like Los Angeles and Istanbul reflects its active engagement in international municipal cooperation.

## Notable For
- **Rapid Demographic Expansion**: The city's population has multiplied more than 60 times between 1947 (69,000) and 2023 (4.45 million).
- **Historical Status**: Recognized as a member of the League of Historical Cities due to its founding in 642.
- **Global Connections**: Maintains official twinning relationships with Los Angeles and Istanbul.
- **Administrative Role**: Functions as the capital of the Giza Governorate.
- **Distinct Identity**: Officially differentiated in knowledge bases from the Giza Plateau/Necropolis.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Giza is geographically positioned at latitude 29.987 and longitude 31.2118. It resides within the Africa/Cairo time zone (UTC+02:00). The city spans a land area of 187 square kilometers and sits at a low elevation of 30 meters.

The demographic trajectory of Giza shows consistent growth over the last century:
- **1947**: 69,000
- **1966**: 571,200
- **1976**: 1,200,000
- **1986**: 1,883,189
- **1996**: 2,521,197
- **2006**: 3,021,542
- **2018**: 4,212,750
- **2021**: 4,367,343
- **2023**: 4,458,135 (Preferred value)

### Administration and Governance
The city is the administrative seat (capital) of the Giza Governorate. Its official website is hosted at `giza.gov.eg`. Governance and civic identity are represented by specific symbols, including a coat of arms and a flag image. The city utilizes the postal code 3759914 and the local dialing code 2. The official language of the municipality is Arabic.

### International Relations
Giza is actively engaged in international municipal cooperation. It is a confirmed member of the **League of Historical Cities**. The city has established "twinning" relationships with:
- **Los Angeles**, United States
- **Istanbul**, Turkey

### Names and Etymology
The city is officially known in Arabic as **مدينة الجيزة**. Throughout history and in various languages, it has been referred to by multiple aliases, including Gizeh, Ghizeh, Gizah, Geeza, Jiza, Jīzah, Gizèh, Guizé, Gîza, Gizhe, Guizèh, Al-Dschiza, Gize, Giseh, al-Gīza, Gisa, and various non-Latin script variations such as ギザ (Japanese), 吉薩, 吉札, 基泽, 基沙, 基萨, Гиза (Russian), and 기제 (Korean).

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
Giza is indexed in numerous international databases, library catalogs, and geographical thesauruses. Key identifiers include:
- **Geographical**: GeoNames ID 360995; UN/LOCODE EGAGZ; OpenStreetMap Node ID 27565120; Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID 7001445.
- **Libraries & Bibliography**: VIAF ID 3146029517935821906; Library of Congress Authority ID n80146419; GND ID 4021093-5; BNF ID 169430332.
- **Encyclopedic**: Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID `place/Al-Jizah-Egypt`; Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary; Great Soviet Encyclopedia; World History Encyclopedia ID `giza`.
- **Digital & Social**: Facebook Location ID 114477788569282; TripAdvisor ID 294202; Quora Topic `Giza-Egypt-3`; Who's on First ID 421204393.

### Media and Visual Representation
The city's visual representation in knowledge bases includes a specific page banner and a locator map image. It also has associated images for its flag and coat of arms. The city is documented as the subject of a Wikipedia page with 113 sitelinks across languages including English, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, and many others. It is categorized under "Category:Giza" for general topics, "Category:Maps of Giza" for cartography, and "Category:People from Giza" for biographical entries.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.ibb.istanbul/icerik/kardes-sehirler)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://www.lhc-s.org/member_cities/index.php)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Source](http://www.citypopulation.de/Egypt-Cities.html)
8. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/egypt/cities/)
9. Great encyclopedic dictionary
10. Soviet Encyclopedic Dictionary
11. Africa: An Encyclopedic Reference
12. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
13. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1950–1958)
14. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
15. GeoNames
16. BBC Things
17. [Source](http://www.geonames.org/360995)
18. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
19. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Giza;3905678.html)
20. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Giza-5YANY)
21. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/3da8b753-868c-4513-b086-b9c63fa15e0d)
22. museum-digital