The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

We are always boasting about the hustle and bustle of the city we call home, but how loud is this hustle and bustle? Well, let’s just say that Cairo has been ranked as the second noisiest city in the world, according to the Worldwide Hearing Index. Jokes aside though, this ranking needs to be taken seriously. 

Mimi Hearing Technologies established the Worldwide Hearing Index, as a means to measure the effect of noise pollution on hearing loss. On average, Cairo is ahead by over 10 years when it comes to hearing loss. In other words, if you are a 30 year old living in Cairo, then you will experience the hearing loss of a 40 year old. 

Guangzhuo, China was found to be the noisiest city in the world, while the report ranked Cairo in second place. Cairo was followed by Paris, Beijing, and Delhi. Note that while Delhi was the fourth worst in noise pollution, it is actually home to the highest hearing loss average. This tells us that noise distribution plays a factor here: residents of more crowded places, like Mohandessin or Shubra, may actually be more prone to hearing loss than residents of less crowded and more remote areas, like New Cairo and/or 6th of October. 

Dr. Daniel Fink, the Chairman of the Quiet Coalition, told The Guardian that “noise pollution causes hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, strokes and death.” We all understand that noise makes people more irritable, but we never thought it could have such grave medical and physical consequences. 

Back in 2007, the Egyptian National Research Center reported that noise levels in Cairo average around 90 decibels, and are never less than 70 decibels. That was 11 years ago. Dr. Thomas Münzel, from the Mainz University Medical Centre, has stated that “though there is no set threshold to establish risk, we do know that anything above 60 decibels can increase risk for heart disease.”

So when thinking about your daily habits, or when considering a move to a new home, keep those reports in mind. This is no less than your health, and the health of your loved ones, at stake here. Noise pollution is not just some frivolous filler we used to write about in our elementary school projects. It poses serious health risks.